Antique salt and pepper set

[BHuij]

I've made the crushgrind style and think they're probably the best modern option on the market. But I've always loved the look of the more old style grinders, so I decided to make a set in "antique copper." My folks had a grinder like this when I was a kid. Maybe I'll make another set for them, these were both pretty easy to turn at the end of the day.

Salt is the "Tudor style" mechanism in silver maple. Now I can simultaneously season my food and unite the houses of York and Lancaster!

Pepper mill is in claro walnut.

Both finished with Mahoney oil and carnuba wax. I'm not convinced I'm applying either of them correctly, as I was expecting a somewhat glossier final result, but they feel very nice at least. I can always disassemble and take another crack at finishing some other time.

 

[gimpy]

Both are very nice

 

[BHuij]

Interestingly after a day or so, the rock salt I had in the salt grinder drew a ton of moisture out of the wood (which was admittedly fairly wet when I was turning and finishing it). Turned the salt pretty slushy and I ended up grinding out a lot of interesting pink himalayan paste.

Guess I'll have to put salt in and wait it out it a few times until the wood moisture content stabilizes

 

[duncsuss]

It might be worth putting a couple of dessicant packs in the bore to help that along - I have the kind that changes color to indicate when they are saturated and need to be dried out again. (The best way I've found to recharge them is in a "delicates" mesh bag in the tumble dryer - less chance of melting the package material than putting them on a tray in the oven and/or microwave.) Or a handful of uncooked rice.

 

[BHuij]

Yeah good call.