Baking Soda Treatment

[SpikeC]

Get a separate board for garlic and onions! (the solution is always more tools!)

[mr drinky]

Get a separate board for garlic and onions! (the solution is always more tools!)

That is not a bad idea. I am in the process of buying three new boards from three different vendors. I might dedicate one for garlic and onions.

k.

[SpikeC]

Another list that I am on is known as "The Support Group From Hell". I think that this place fits that as well!

[EdipisReks]

i only find that my boards (a maple Boos and an end grain birch Ikea that i picked up several years ago and heavily refinished) pick up smells when they need a waxing. i'd suggest sanding, oiling a few times, and then coat with a bee's wax paste. i make for own paste, originally for my vulcanite pipe stems (50% or so white bee's wax and 50% or so mineral oil, by volume), and it works great on my boards. i just heat the paste, rub it on the board with a cloth, let it sit, and then buff it off with a rag.

[DWSmith]

I am in the process of buying three new boards from three different vendors.

Sounds like a vendor test.

BTW Bees wax will help with odor absorption, but will not stop it entirely. Anything that will add to the water repellency of a board is always helpful.

[mr drinky]

Sounds like a vendor test.

BTW Bees wax will help with odor absorption, but will not stop it entirely. Anything that will add to the water repellency of a board is always helpful.

Not really a vendor test. I just like to play with many different wonderful things. I already have one of your amazing boards, and now I am replacing some of my smaller ones to make them more manageable (in terms of weight and height) for the lady of the house.

k.

[EdipisReks]

Sounds like a vendor test.

BTW Bees wax will help with odor absorption, but will not stop it entirely. Anything that will add to the water repellency of a board is always helpful.

it works well enough for my tasks. several years ago, my girlfriend went to sop up a drop of Amish maple syrup that had fallen on to my board one Sunday morning, only to find that it tasted half of maple syrup and half of garlic. that hasn't happened since i started using bees wax often.

[FryBoy]

Bees wax certainly helps, and does keeping the board properly oiled, but I think one of the best ways to minimize garlic and onion odors on the board is to follow The Boardsmith's advice from the FAQ section of his website:

How do I sanitize the board? - After each use, wash with a quality dishwashing detergent and warm water. Wet the surface, apply the detergent and wash. Rinse thoroughly. (Do no leave hot water running over the surface for an extended period of time!) A solution of 1 tablespoon of Clorox to one quart of water is sufficient to sanitize. Spray on, let it sit and then rinse. Or, mix a 1 : 1 ratio of vinegar and water. Spray on, let it sit and then rinse. Or, coat the surface with salt overnight. The salt will absorb the moisture and kill the bacteria.

Don't be afraid to wash your hardwood cutting board with detergent and warm water. It will not hurt it (I've been doing it nearly every time I've used my Boardsmith board for the last two years, and it looks nearly new -- see photo). Of course, washing the board will require a more frequent application of mineral oil and bees wax.

[Smarcus]

Just a follow up to original situation.

I ended up not taking up David on his generous offer. I guess I felt that I had gotten myself into it and he has enough stuff to do so why make it his problem? Again I really appreciated the offer by David to fix it and I'm sure it would have been fantastic but in the end I found a buddy with a belt sander and we sanded it down. David is right when he says that the belts clog real fast with all the mineral oil. after over a dozen belts she ended up looking and feeling pretty good. I've given her about 8 coats of mineral oil and here is how she looks.


[IMG]http://s1213.photobucket.com/albums/...rdfixedITK.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://s1213.photobucket.com/albums/...Boardfixed.jpg[/IMG]

All's well that ends well.

Regards, Sean.

BTW how do you get the pictures to show up instead of the links?

[Smarcus]

I tried to insert the photos.

Sean