As a woodworker, there is a wide variety of woods available that can be used to create so many different products, artistic endeavors, and practical furniture pieces. One of the types of wood that can make unique items is olive wood. Why is this wood so unique, how can you use it, and what are some of the best tips for taking care of it?

What is Olive Wood?

In the Mediterranean, olive trees are a critical part of the culture and economy. These trees are harvested primarily for their olives and the products produced from these olives. With the importance of these trees, few are harvested for their wood. That means if you get to work with olive wood, it likely came from tree clippings, olive trees destroyed during storms, the ones that suffer from a disease, and branches that are collected or trimmed from these unique trees.

Olive trees grow from 25 to 50 feet tall, with a diameter between 3 to 5 feet. It is a big tree with a creamy, yellowish, brownish coloring. The grain is curly or wavy in shape, but it can also be interlocked, wild, or straight.

The beautiful olive wood can create some beautiful artistic pieces and is easy for people to work with to create their projects. Since this wood is so valuable, it also has some religious ties, particularly in the Middle East. With that in mind, having olive wood pieces

The Best Uses of Olive Wood

Olive wood is a great wood to work with, but you might find that it is subject to cracking when working with many different grain patterns. There is also a fruity smell that is part of the distinct scent associated with olive wood.

With so little of it being harvested, olive wood is frequently used to craft high-end furniture, kitchenware, carving spoons, fruit bowls, and even chess sets.

How to Maintain Your Olive Wood

With its dramatic colors and beautiful grains, this hard, dense wood is stain and odor resistant. How can you take care of anything you have made with olive wood? First, if you have olive oil bowls or utensils, you will want to season them with mineral oil . Do not let them sit in standing water, which can lead to cracking and splitting in the olive wood.

Using lemon juice and salt to scrub your olive wood items can keep them clean and eliminate any food or other dirt and grime access. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used to sanitize olive wood utensils if it has been a while since you used them. If you do not have olive wood kitchen utensils, then you might simply need to use mineral oil as part of your efforts to protect your olive wood pieces by creating a protective barrier on the wood.

No matter what you create with olive wood, it can be a beautiful and useful piece in your home.

The Beauty of Exotic Lumber

Olive wood is beautiful lumber that brings an attractive flair to any furniture piece or kitchen utensils. The wood works beautifully and will not be hard on your woodworking and cutting tools. However, you have to be cautious when planing interlocked olive wood because it can tear out.

Even though it has a waxy feel, this wood does sand and finishes nicely for various woodworking projects. You might still have questions regarding whether olive wood is the right fit for your next woodworking project. Our team can answer multiple questions while helping you find the right wood to fit your needs. Contact us today, and we will hand-select the suitable lumber to suit your requirements.

Global Wood Source is a family-owned and operated lumber yard and mill specializing in exotic woods from around the world and rare domestics. We personally acquire and inspect each piece of log and timber obtained from forests and jungles worldwide.