Food safe finish for spoon

[bckskin2]

I made a spoon out of soft maple that will be used every day and want a food safe finish. This will be used in warm water for a bran mash for our 35 year old horse.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Jerry

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Yup, Mineral oil. 100% food safe and won't go rancid on you like the vegetable oils will and give things that funny taste. Available in any drug store and the pharmacy section at Wal-Mart.

[Paul_Guraedy]

The other day I was in Grizzly (Springfield, MO) to pick up a butcher block work table top. We will be using it as an island for the kitchen in our new house.

I mentioned its planned use and the fact that we would have to cut it down some. I needed a food-safe finish to put back on there. They recommended a product called "Good Stuff". According to the personnel in Grizzly, this is what was put on these counter tops initially.

It comes as a paste, hardens to a tough finish and is food safe. I don't know how long it would last on something like a spoon; but, can say that it is easy to apply. I am using it on kitchen counters and most other wood in the new kitchen.

Although it goes a long way, I have to advise that this "Good Stuff" is not cheap. It cost me $20 for a quart can.

[Lightningbolt]

In the past I've used a variety of such finishes for my homemade chopping blocks and carved spoons. The variety of store-bought finishes have all seemed to be of highest quality and I especially liked a pint of Brazilian nut oil that I used for a while.

If money isn't a factor then I'd say that you couldn't go wrong with most any store-bought food-safe finish. Money is a factor for me so I've been using olive oil and mineral oil lately.

You might be interested in the following recipe that I downloaded from (somewhere?) last spring but I still haven't got around to testing it, but it sure sounds like a winner.


You can make your own food-safe finish by mixing up a combination of mineral oil and paraffin wax (both readily available). I like to use mineral oil because it’s safe for consumption.
The recipe isn’t complicated or difficult to make. All you need to do is mix roughly 10 parts mineral oil to one part paraffin wax (the kind used for canning). Don’t worry about measuring exactly. The final ratio doesn’t have to be exact.
Start by filling a small can about half full with mineral oil. Next, scrape a few wax shavings into the can of oil. To dissolve the shavings, place the can in a warm spot or set it in a pan of hot water. Just make sure it isn’t near an open flame because paraffin is flammable. After about 15 minutes, the wax should be melted, and the finish will be ready to apply. You can get by wiping on a coat or two, but plan on reapplying additional finish periodically.

[Claude]

For spoons that are used in the kitchen by humans, I just use olive oil - apply and let it soak in two or three times, wipe dry, and use. Mineral oil is another option, but I have the olicve oil and don't have any mineral oil. I'm not worried about the oil turning rancid on my cooking spoons, as they're used almost daily, washed in soap and water, and re-oiled ocassionally. For a horse, mineral oil would definitely be the preferred solution.

Claude

[BobD]

There is an arguement that most oil finishes (Danish Oil, BLO, etc.) are food safe once they've completely cured (meaning ALL of the solvents used in the process have completely evaporated).

Pure tung oil is also food safe, as is walnut oil and both harden.

Mineral oil is another good choice; whereas it doesn't technically harden, if you are using it every day and washing it, mineral oil is easy to renew.

Some people don't use any finish, especially if you use a hard wood, such as maple...

We just had a debate on the topic over on the SSW&C site...

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

My wife has some wood handled kitchen knives that are in need of a finish/oil or ? not sure what to rejuvenate the handles with.....they go in the sink in dishwater and it is hard on them.

[BobD]

Mineral oil would probably work for that too. It's what they use to refresh cutting boards...

Bob

[Kenny_S]

Good Stuff is "Good Stuff". Not being funny about it.
Dave, I have some Chicago Cuterly and yep, dishwashing are hard on those wood handles. they recommend mineral oil. Olive oil woud be ok also. put it on and set in sink in then wipe it off.

[TravisJHuval]

All Finishes are food safe once fully cured .



http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/r...cles_497.shtml