Is it possible to salvage my mother's wooden rolling pin?

Question

Here's the problem: It is 50 years old, if not more, is solid maple, and has a small knot (about the size of a stretched out dime) on the rolling surface that is just now starting to separate. It had been soaked in water by accident, but only the knot has been effected. Can I seal it with something, have it sanded or filled, or should I just give it up and keep it in my car to use as my road warrior? lol

Answer 1

You could try epoxy but whether you choose to do that or not, I would at the very least use it as Kitchen Decor especially since it was your mothers. For some reason, the most endearing things I have from my mother relate to cooking. At the very least, you could pass it on.

Answer 2

You can try digging out the knot and filling it with a matching wood putty.  When that's really dry, sand it and cover it with some sort of finish (ask at a paint or home improvement store about what is safe to use, since we're talking a food prep tool, here).

If it can't be saved, decorate it somehow and hang it up!  It would be a shame to chuck it. I'm sure it has a lot of memories attached.

Good luck!

Answer 3

To keep it hygienic, I'd definitely fill it in with something; you could use something as simple as beeswax or invest in some sort of silicone filling (similar to the sealant used around PVC windows and bathtubs). If you use a wood putty, it will just come off into the dough that you'd be rolling, so it's just about making sure that the filler material stays in and does the job.

It's a nice idea to decorate it and put it on display, but if you still want to use it then there'd be no problem using beeswax!

Answer 4

hmm .... I'll ask my wood expert - Barry Beaver ...... No Barry .... she doesn't want tooth picks!

Answer 5

All these answers sound good. My hubby is a wood worker by hobby. He said he would try wood putty first & then sanding it to smooth. The finer the grade of sand paper the smoother the finish. If it is important to you try taking it to a person who does wood working as a hobby or professionally, they will know if it can realistically be done.

Good luck & Blessings!

Answer 6

Try polyurethane, it`s the clear stuff they use on basketball courts.

Answer 7

I would never have thought to gently scrape just a little bit inside the knot before filling it with wood putty or epoxy like Donna and 8 Track says, but I think that is a good idea and then seal it to protect it.  I wouldn't use it anymore though because I would be afraid to further damage such a fine treasure and instead find a nice way to display it as is or think of fun and useful things to make out of it without altering or damaging the wood like a towel holder held on the wall with a couple matching wood hooks or something for your kitchen you can enjoy till you pass it on along with your favorite recipes as a special family heirloom gift one day for the next generation.

I think that is a very sweet and wonderful little treasure you have yourself there so maybe you can just find an old Louiville Slugger instead for your road warrior because I would hate to think you might further harm your mama's rolling pin.

Answer 8

you could try filling it in with epoxy, then sanding it after it dries. even if that doesn't work, you could hang it on the wall as a decoration.