Olive Wood – Characteristics, Uses and Benefits. The olive wood, farmed from the trees of Olea europaea, is a hard and rich in color wood that is prized all around the world for its appearance, density, straight grain, and fine texture.
Is olive a hardwood or softwood?
hardwood
Olive wood comes from two tree species: Olea euro paea and Olea capensis. These are evergreen, flowering, hardwood species native to Europe and Africa. Olive trees grow very slowly, with height increases of less than 12 inches per year.
Is olive tree wood good for anything?
Olive is a favorite wood of carvers and turners. “It’s used for things like knife handles, pistol grips, letter openers, furnishing accessories, turned boxes, crucifixes or rosary beads,” Gilmer says.
Is olive wood a strong wood?
Durability: Olivewood is moderately durable and is susceptible to termite but somewhat resistant to fungi. Uses: It has been used since ancient times for small woodenware objects, spoons, bowls, boxes, carvings, turnings, inlays, small decorative items and it also makes excellent, but very expensive flooring.
Why is olive wood so special?
So what makes olive wood so special and valuable? Well since olives are a huge economic importance in the Mediterranean, the trees are never harvested for their wood. So, all olive wood is limited to tree clippings, branches, and trees destroyed by storms or disease.
Is olive wood waterproof?
The natural oils in olive wood make it water-resistant.
Can you wood burn on olive wood?
We have olive wood for sale as firewood. This is from the annual pruning of the olive trees. We find that the wood, being quite dense and hard, burns hot and for a long time making it ideal for woodburners.
Does olive wood need to be oiled?
Do You Need to Oil Olive Wood? As with most wood products, you should apply a thin coat of oil to your olive wood utensils to keep them healthy.
How long does olive wood take to season?
Usually the alcohol treatment will dry the rough turned object within 2 weeks which is great, and then you can remount the piece and do the final turning and sanding and finishing.
Is olive wood rare?
Because the fruit of the Olive tree is olives, there is a limited supply of Olivewood that is made available to the US.
Is olive wood heavy?
Olive wood is hard, heavy and strong with a high overall density. It has a straight grain with a fine texture, says the Wood Zone website.
Why olive tree is expensive?
The species is also considered special as the trees have a long lifespan, with some living for over 1,000 years. The bigger the tree in length and width, the higher the price.
Can you smoke with olive wood?
It’s great by itself, but works well blended with apple, cherry or hickory woods. Oak works well just just about any meat. Olive wood has a similar flavor to mesquite, but it’s a lighter flavor. Olive smoking wood tastes best with poultry.
What can I make 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 do you care for olive wood?
With proper care and maintenance, your olive wood will last a long time.
- Season new utensils with food-safe mineral oil. All of our wooden ware comes to you seasoned and ready to use.
- Hand wash with mild detergent and warm water.
- Clean you wooden ware when needed with a scrub of lemon juice and salt.
What is olive wood in the Bible?
It is first mentioned in Scripture when the dove returned to Noah’s ark carrying an olive branch in its beak (Gen. 8:11). Since that time, the olive branch has been a symbol of “peace” to the world, and we often hear the expression, “extending an olive branch” to another person as a desire for peace.
Does olive wood darken over time?
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a cream or yellowish brown, with darker brown or black contrasting streaks. Color tends to deepen with age.
Can you put olive wood in dishwasher?
Washing And Drying
The best way to wash your Olive Wood kitchenware is to hand wash them, and not put them in the dishwasher. The temperature of the dishwater might cause your utensils to crack and get over dried, which is not good for the utensils.
Is olive wood antibacterial?
It’s naturally antibacterial! This is great news when it comes to cleaning olive wood utensils. In fact, gentle cleaning is the name of the game. First, a few don’ts: never soak your olive wood utensils in water, as this can lead to swelling of the wood and will result in cracks in the grain over time.
What wood should you not burn?
Treated/painted/sealed wood will release chemicals during burning, many of which are cancer-causing chemicals. Don’t burn green/wet wood in your fireplace. As we talked about earlier, green wood contains a lot of moisture, which will lead to cooler fires, cooler flues, more smoke, and more creosote.
What wood is toxic burning?
Watch out for any wood covered with vines. Burning poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, or pretty much anything else with “poison” in the name releases the irritant oil urushiol into the smoke. Breathing it in can cause lung irritation and severe allergic respiratory problems, the Centers for Disease Control state.