if i were to make bowls/cups that will come into contact with hot drinks or foods (hot tea, hot soup, etc.), what finish would hold up the best under those uses?
also, for cups, what would be the best finish for serving alcoholic drinks?
For hot drinks and/or alcohol, a stainless liner. Never tried a finish for that type of application since all I've read about others' experience were about failures of the various finishes attempted. For a soup bowl - nothing or maybe mineral oil. I dont think the old wooden cups and bowls had any finish.
Maybe a marine epoxy but I have no idea what heat or alcohol exposure may do.
For bowls coming in contact with food I use nothing but mineral oil (laxative) and give a bottle to the customer. Only do those on special order, all other bowls (dust collectors) use any film finish have on hand. If were to turn a cup for beverages would buy a liner as already recommended.
General Finishes Salad Bowl Finish. Food safe film finish, if you build it up. Mix it 50/50 with mineral spirits (paint thinner) and apply it letting it soak into the wood. This will cure inside the wood giving it a more water resistant finish. It's designed for food contact. However, I wouldn't let the liquid sit in it for more than a couple of hours. It is still wood…
Between my research and experiments, the only thing I believe will stand up to very hot water is epoxy, or nothing. Kuksas are traditionally boiled in salt water and no finish is used. When I get back around to this again, that's the way I will go next. But you're probably ahead to use a stainless liner as suggested by OSU55.
But for heavens sake, DO NOT drink your shellac, the formulations for pharmaceutical and food industries are highly controlled in levels that are suitable for consumption!
I post this food safe link below couple times a year. Because don't believe once a finish has cured its food safe. Yes, there is a federal CFR saying toxic chemicals are safe for food contact but nothing about wood finishes. Don't take my word for anything check out a products MSDS or SDS!
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