food safe finish

That sounds good. Tung oil and beeswax are both food safe, and, as far as food safe finishes go, are some of your best options. I would apply a number of coats of tung oil because it is somewhat difficult to apply and needs the extra coats to work correctly. Also, a quick tip, mixing oil with your beeswax, which normally comes off somewhat easily when washed, will make it more water resistant. Good luck!

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While looking for an answer what is food safe I found this article which you may find interesting:
http://www.woodturnerruss.com/FSOriginal3a.html

-- --- Richard Jackson

Many finishes are food safe the only thing in most finishes that could be a problem are the solvents,but once dry they are safe . Wax does not offer much protection but it is better than no finish at all . If you want a dedicated salad bowl finish General finishes sells a salad bowl finish .

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

I have had good luck with General Salad Bowl finish

-- Roger M, Aiken, SC

What Jim said above is correct. bob

-- Bob www.bobkloes.com

What Jim said.

-- Bondo Gaposis

thanks Jim and everyone else. I guess I know what I am gonna be doing now. again thanks, wooley(michael)

-- wooley

Walnut oil is food safe too.

-- Failure does not stop me, it makes me try harder..... because I'm crazy.

I used general’s salad bowl finish from woodworker's supply for these bowls.
It is pricey but worth it to me. It penetrates the wood very well too. For the bowl in pic 5 of the above link I just kept giving it coat after coat on the inside without letting it dry and within about 10 minutes it had penetrated all the way through to the outside of the bowl.

-- Scott Smith, Southern Illinois

Poly is food safe, but you don’t want to use it on anything that’s going to be scraped or cut on. I’d just use it for outside protection actually on things that need to be served on.

So, I’d use the salad bowl finish suggested by SASmith or maybe a butcher block oil depending on how you plan on using the bowls and/or other items.

-- "Well, at least we can still use it as firewood... maybe." - Doss

I use food grade mineral oil on cutting board & condiment bowls. However, while producing a beautiful protective finish that enhances the wood’s grain pattern, it doesn’t produce the high gloss you are looking for, Wooleywoodsmith. Also, it needs to be periodically re-applied by the end-user.

As to when to apply, I only do so after I’m finished sanding.

-- "I dream of a world where a chicken can cross the road and no one questions its motive"' - Anne Nonny Mouse