sealing beer mug

[miniman]

Hi People,
I'm making a beer mug out of oak, will do a little carving on the outside and would like to know what I could use to seal it that would be food/drink safe. I'm thinking that the usual oils that are used on cutting boards and salad bowls may affect the taste of the beverage. Any help/ideas are appreciated.

Andy

[Claude]

Several coats of polyurethane on the inside might do it. Why not go down to your local paint store/home supply place and see what they recommend? Wood barrels used for beer have generally been used previously for wine/whiskey. The tannins in the raw oak would ruin the flavor of any beer, so these used barrels are preferred.

I found a web site that sells wooden beer mugs. Perhaps you could contact them and find out what their "special ecological brewery wax" is that they use on the insides of the mugs. Oak Beer Mug Bm2001 - Oak Beer Mugs - Shop - Solid Oak Wine Barrels - Woodbarrels

Here's another site that mentions the wax: Beczka Polska

Hope this helps you...
Claude

[BobT]

A discussion just went on today on a woodturning forum I frequent. Look at it; The WR Woodturning Forum - drink up

[big dave]

in the 1700's thru the 1800's wooden mugs and keg's were seal with pitch or bees wax if you are going to be in the sun I would use pitch you can get it at jas.townsend.com

[miniman]

I looked at that wood turning discussion, not to sure about the healthiness of plastic and acetone. Several people have suggested that I use beeswax or paraffin wax. Found a ren fair site that sells mugs and that fellow uses two part epoxy on the inside. I need to get some wax and do some testing
Thanks for the help,
Andy