On 6/23/2012 3:14 PM, David Harmon wrote:
> Brand new wooden rolling pin. No instructions. Is it ready to use
> straight from the store, or should I treat the surface with something
> first, like a bit of vegetable oil?

The rolling pins with the straight sides and handles seem to have a
waterproof finish on them. My guess is that it's some kind of
polyurethane finish but I could be wrong. The one I have is a tapered
pin and is unfinished. I don't think you need to oil either of them
although I suppose it wouldn't hurt them either. On my unfinished pin, I
don't like to get it wet and never wash it. I just dust it off the best
I can. I wouldn't mind cleaning a finished pin with water but I don't
use those.

I like to use the tapered pin because of the great control it gives over
the pastry. I never could get the flat ones to work for me but there are
some people that are very good at using them.