Do you get black charcoal all over your hands when handling the finished piece?

Nope-- after the piece is burned, it is scraped, sanded up to 600 grit, then washed, removing all remaining loose char. The black that is remaining is in the grain of the wood. The piece is then oiled and waxed with products that are all natural and food-safe.

Do the pieces smell like burned wood?

Nope-- they don't smell. I guess they kind of smell like the wax finish but it's not noticeable unless you really sniff it up close.

Are the pieces food safe?

Yes. The natural wax finish is just fine coming into contact with dry foods or fruit, for instance. If the piece gets wet, just wipe it off as quickly as you can. Liquid on the piece will bead up on the waxed surface for a bit, but then may raise the wax, resulting in a "water ring". But don't worry-- that can be fixed if it happens. Shoot me an email and I’ll walk you through the process.

I’ve had my piece for a while and it looks like it needs a spa treatment. Am I doomed?

No. Just apply a small amount of wood wax over the surface of the piece with a clean, lint-free cloth. I use Walrus brand wood wax, but you could use any paste wax made for wood. After about 10 minutes, buff the surface with another clean cloth and you’ll be back in action.