Wynden Home

Journal

Short notes on materials, care and everyday things. Checked facts only, with sources.

5 min read How to Set Up a Chess Board: The Simple Rules That Stop You Getting It WrongLight square on the right, queen on her own colour, king beside her: the few rules that set up a chess board correctly, plus how each piece moves.Read →
7 min read Why Does Copper Turn Dark or Green? What to Do About ItDark tarnish, green patina and verdigris are thin surface layers, not ruin. Here is what causes each, what the National Park Service says about cle...Read →
5 min read How to Win at Tic-Tac-Toe (and Why It Usually Ends in a Draw)With best play from both sides tic-tac-toe is always a draw, but a short list of rules, a corner opening and a fork let you win whenever the other ...Read →
5 min read Santoku vs Chef's Knife: Which One Do You Actually Need?A chef's knife is curved to rock on the board and is typically 20 cm long. A santoku is shorter, thinner and lighter, with a flat edge. Here is how...Read →
6 min read Why Wooden Spoons Crack, and How to Care for ThemWood swells when wet and shrinks as it dries, and the surface dries first. That is why wooden spoons crack, and why soaking and hot drying are the ...Read →
5 min read Whiskey Stones vs Ice: What Actually Chills Your DrinkIce chills a drink far more because melting takes in a lot of energy, while whiskey stones chill less but add no water.Read →
5 min read Acacia Wood: What It Is and Why It Ends Up in the KitchenAcacia is not one tree but a genus of about 1,084 species, and here is how its wood compares with oak and maple, why every piece looks different an...Read →
6 min read Marble or Travertine? How They Differ and How to Look After ThemMarble and travertine are both mostly calcite, but they form in very different ways; here is how they differ, how hard they are, and how to keep le...Read →
3 min read Wood, Silicone, Nylon or Steel: The Best Utensils for Non-Stick PansWhat actually damages a non-stick coating, how wood, silicone, nylon and steel compare, and what we would keep at the stove.Read →