Food Safe Wood Finish Makes
You and Your Wood Happy!

dynamike8@yahoo.com 
I was given a beautiful hand made salt box by a friend, but he put a varnish or shellac finish on it that smells so strong, is it safe to put salt into …

Oils/ stain for a drinking mug 
I was thinking about making a coffee drinking mug out of wood but i dont know how to seal the wood. Could i try to seal it with walnut oil? I really …

Engraved Cutting Board - want to make letters darker 
What can I use to make the letters darker on an engraved cutting board that will be food safe? ------------- A hot iron tip or branding iron!

Finish for wine goblet 
Is there a good foodsafe and alcohol resistant finish for a turned wooden wine goblet? --------------- Ron here... Not sure... try no finish …

live edge finish 
I am making some serving boards out of Arbutus. I will be using walnut oil to finish the boards once I have them planed and sanded. I just need to know …

Sealing a keg 
I have just finished an oak port Keg for a mate for his birthday. We have filled it with cheap wine first to test,clean and cure the keg. I have a small …

Wooden sink and / or bathtub 
I am considering making a wooden bathtub but, before I get too far into it and excited about it is there a chemical free option for sealing and / or waterproofing …

how to darken my natural cutting board 
Hi I have just purchased my thick butcher block style cutting board. the problem is I was hoping to find a dark wood but no luck. is there a way I can …

Canteen 
Hi, I'm making Bamboo Canteens and I am seeking a way to seal the inside of the Bamboo cross section. I'm not sure what type of food safe wood …

I have made a smoking pipe and want it to be safe 
I have made a smoking pipe and need to seal the inside of the item but I want it to be safe to use but sealed so it can be cleaned, suggestions?

Rancid Olive Oil in Un-finished Wood 
Hello, Is there any way to remove old rancid smelling olive oil from wood? I unfortunately took bad advice from a well-meaning person and used olive oil …

Wood Bowls Finish with Vinegar Toxicity  
Hi Guys ! I recently got some bowls made of Samanea saman Wood. I think they are made in China, I want to use these as salad bowls, I like to put Balsamico …

FOOD GRADE WOOD PRESERVATIVES Not rated yet
MY VEGETABLE WASHING SHED IS CONSTRUCTED WITH COCOLUMBER. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WOOD PRESERVATIVE TO USE. THANKS ------------ Ron here... Try coconut …

What to use for wood cutting board- painting Not rated yet
I am trying to paint my wooden cutting board but I want to make sure it is not only safe to eat off of but can be washed without the paint coming off. …

Pine wood boards Not rated yet
Can you eat food off of pine boards from menards. I am a pizza maker and am looking for cheaper wood boards to make pizzas on. I see a pine board with …

Staining Wooden Spoons with a Food Safe Wood Stain Not rated yet
Is there any food safe way to stain a wooden spoon? ------------- Ron here... Good question! I don't have a perfect answer. It depends on …

recipe Not rated yet
what is the recipe for your finish with Beeswax Tung oil and orange oil -------------- Ron here... It's my secret!

Meat board Not rated yet
Wondering why you don't oil a meat board. ------ Ron here... Because oil would lessen the natural anti-bacterial property of the natural wood. …

Food safe Not rated yet
If I use tinted miniwax water based stain can I use walnut oil to seal it and will it be food safe? ----------- Ron here... Walnut oil will protect …

Wooden Cup Not rated yet
I'm making a wooden Whiskey tumbler and am wondering what the best choice of oil to use on something that will be drunk out of? --------------- …

Food safe woods  Not rated yet
Can Juniper wood be used for spoons or butter and cheese spreaders if walnut oil is used as a finish. ----------- Ron here... Why not? Once the …

raw linseed oil Not rated yet
Hi, I bought raw linseed oil to oil salad bowls and our kitchen table that my father-in-law stripped and refinished. Also, I am looking for an all-purpose …

Food Safe Paint? Not rated yet
I am engraving a wooden chopping board for some friends and would like to colour the boarder, or perhaps the whole thing. I wonder what stains/paints would …

Cedar Charcuterie Boards Not rated yet
Hello, I am doing 6 charcuterie boards for a large event. I purchased six untreated cedar 2x12 which are each 4 ft long. I have rounded all the corners …

leak-proof sealant for olive wood Not rated yet
I have a beautiful olive wood honey barrel. I filled it with honey and found that it leaks slowly in one place. Could I make it leak-proof if I coat it …

Teak wood toxicity Not rated yet
Is teak wood safe to use in a wine press? ------------- No idea... do your own research please as I do not know about this type of wood! Ron …

Chopping board Not rated yet
In your own opinion what is the best option for a chopping board? ------------------ Ron here: if for meat, no finish just plain wood as it is …

Your own mix ratios Not rated yet
You mentioned in your post your own mix, "I make my own mixture of walnut oil, beeswax and orange oil that I apply to my Ultra and Supreme Selections of …

Can all types of teak wood be ised for kitchen utensils. Not rated yet
Sal or red teak wood can it be ised for kitchen utensils. --------- You will have to research folks who know about teak.

sealant on a cracked bowl? Not rated yet
Hi- I recently bought a kava bowl and followed the instructions which were to immerse it in water for up to a week, regularly changing the water until …

Wooden Goblets and Champagne Flutes Not rated yet
Hello all, I am currently making wooden goblets and champagne flutes,(wooden of course), and looking for a food safe product to line the inside, they will …

Wood and bamboo spoons Not rated yet
At our niece's recent wedding shower, guests wrote good wishes & advice with Sharpie pens on wooden and bamboo spoons. I am hoping to safely coat the …

Wood and bamboo spoons Not rated yet
At our niece's recent wedding shower, guests wrote good wishes & advice with Sharpie pens on wooden and bamboo spoons. I am hoping to safely coat the …

Food safe  Not rated yet
Can I use minwax sealant for a cutting board ------ Ron here... If you prefer it. I am a natural advocate, but you may not care as much.

Using coconut oil + Lemon juice ? Not rated yet
Hi, Can I use coconut oil and add little Lemon juice made for instant wood polish? I read in some blogs that it is one of the food safe and home made …

Other food safe finishes Not rated yet
I was just wondering if macadamia and almond and hazelnut oil is suitable for finishing timber chopping boards and bowls... Ron here... Sure if you …

Staining wooden knife handles Not rated yet
Hi, it was great learning from your website. I'm thinking of staining my wooden knife handles. Can I apply any kind of wood stain and coat it with beeswax …

wooden cups  Not rated yet
Good morning We are making wooden cups for a Christian organization. The Idea is to take communion from the cup. The wood type we are using is …

How do I preserve my wooden slice I used for my wedding cake stand?  Not rated yet
Hello there , my daughters getting in October, and wants a wooden slice as her wedding cake stand, afterwards she would like to have it as a keepsake …

Board for fish - to oil, to wax (both)? Not rated yet
Hello, Liked your website, very interesting and filled with good advice. I wanted to ask you a query, I am a amateur stone carver but am contemplating …

What ratio of bees wax to walnut oil  Not rated yet
Hi there, I am new to wood turning and would be interested to know what ratio you mix your bees wax with walnut oil? Thanks for the article, it's answered …

safety of using pine board as cutting board  Not rated yet
Hi there I m thinking of making some chopping board from pine board purchased from a hardware store. The board is imported from New Zealand and I m sure …

Food safe painted wood finish Not rated yet
Will applying the oils suggested in your food safe wood finish post, on a painted wood surface still act as food safe? Does it matter what type of paint …

Family member is allergic to nuts.  Not rated yet
I want to use walnut oil on a butcher block counter as a back bar. This will be used to only mix drinks. No. Food. Would this cause a problem for a …

Food safe finishes Not rated yet
Does macadamia oil make a satisfactory finish? ----- Sure... worth a try as it is a natural nut oil.

painting spoons Not rated yet
Hi, I was wanting to paint on wooden cooking spoons at the art center I work at. I wanted the artists to be able to paint with acrylic paints (the only …

Chopsticks with an acrylic coating- are they decorative or food safe? Not rated yet
My husband brought home some chopsticks from Japan. One set was ornately painted and finished in a polyurethane coating. The other set is painted and has …

Drying Time Not rated yet
Hi, I can 3D Print paper using water based adhesive to a thickness of 3mm. The end product had a WOOD like consistency. Is it possible to apply Walnut …

food safe finishes Not rated yet
I am building coffee cups out of oak then treating them in P.E.G to prevent cracking how can I finish them? is epoxy a good choise ---------- Ron …

Finishes seal? Not rated yet
Does the Walnut oil seal, i.e. liquid proof the wood? ---- No it does not... It reduces the amount of penetration but it is not a complete block. …

drinking vessels Not rated yet
what finish would you recommend for wooden drinking vessels? I turn cups, but have never actually used one to drink out of. I finish them with Walnut …

Is urethane coating safe? Not rated yet
Hello I just purchased a wooden spoon, that's made in China and has a urethane coating - is that one of the coatings you think best avoided? Thanks …

Permanent Finish Not rated yet
Hi, I made a pair of nice chopsticks as a gift and I'm looking for a nice way to finish them. I made them from hard maple, sanded them very smooth, …

food safe finish for hot drinks Not rated yet
Hello, I was wondering what finish you would choose (if any) for a coffee stir stick? I've noticed the posts below state that hot liquids would not work …

Sealing wooden food bowls Not rated yet
I put a coat of mineral oil on a bowl I'd like to use for dips etc. Would a few more costs of oil make it pretty water or liquid resistant- such as for …

Potpourri in a wooden bowl Not rated yet
My brother made me a nice wooden bowl that he finished with polyurethane. Will it damage the finish if I put scented potpourri in it? --------- Ron …

Safe wood finish for wood breakfast bowls Not rated yet
I want to make couple of bowls for my grand children to eat there cornflakes out of what finish should I use. ------------ Arbutus Ron here If you …

Food safe bread board Not rated yet
I make bread from scratch and recently installed granite counter top. I'm wondering if acrylic gloss varnish is safe to make bread on. Primarily to allow …

black walnut cutting board turned green! Not rated yet
I just made my first cutting board from a chunk of black walnut. It looked great after sanding, but as I applied hemp oil on one side, it turned greenish. …

Seal for wood bowl Not rated yet
We bought a bowl in Italy that is a solid olive tree bowl, but it has developed a leak because of a knot in the wood of the bowl. It is a large bowl. How …

Is beeswax ok by itself to use on a freshly turned bowl for a food safe finish?? Not rated yet
I've turned a bowl and used beeswax only as a food safe finish is that ok and is it safe and will it last very long?? ----------- Ron here... …

Turned wooden goblets. Not rated yet
I plan turning some wooden goblets for regular use. Thus, a food safe, alcohol resistant, scent free coating is required. Your suggestions? Many …

Coffee/wax stained wooden bowl Not rated yet
I just purchased a large rectangular wooden bowl. It is made in Mexico and the woman (from a shop here in the U.S.) said that it was stained with coffee …

Drinkable Cup finish Not rated yet
I'm making a cup from wood and I was wondering if i can use "MINWAX water based ,oil modified, polyurethane for a drinkable finish. It is wood from home …

food safe wood chopsticks Not rated yet
Do have any recommendation of who makes food safe wooden chopsticks, whose finish is not chemical based? ----- Arbutus Ron Sorry no idea.

Waterproof & food safe coloured paint Not rated yet
I'm making a cake stand out of timber & wish to paint it white. what finish can I put on top of the paint to make it waterproof & food safe? ------ …

HOW TO UNDERSTAND UNKNOWN WOOD UTENSIL FOR FOOD GRADE Not rated yet
Hi, We are using some wooden utensils in our restaurants to serve the food and the thing is that I want to know that how would get to know that wooden …

Spurtle finish Not rated yet
i know there are many oils that are fine for salad bowls, cutting boards, etc., but what about for a wooden spoon or a spurtle (traditional Scottish porridge …

wooden honey dipper Not rated yet
Hello.... Thank you for sharing all the fabulous information. Could you pls tell me - How good is teak wood to carve out a honey dipper and what …

Natural dinnerware Not rated yet
Im looking at buying a set of dinnerware made form bamboo fibre - Im looking for an affordable alternative to eating off plastic The ingredients …

Wood plastic coating Not rated yet
Hey guys, I would like to apply an epoxy or a plastic layer on the wood pièces I make like cutting boards ect.. So it would be 100% waterproof and even …

i want to ask about glass finishing Not rated yet
Hello i love the article its helping me as newbie on foodsafe finishing i want to ask now i make glass not from the solidwood i try to using plywood …

beeswax finish Not rated yet
What is the ratio for the walnut oil to beeswax for a good finish? I'm making some beer mugs out of wood. This all natural finish is the way I want to …

sealant for wooden platters Not rated yet
Looking to find what could be used that is food safe for platters that could be used for hot meat entrees. ------------------ Arbutus Ron here... …

Safety of Tembusu Wood Not rated yet
Are Tembusu Wood eating utensils non toxic? Looked but could only find that it is usually used in making furniture and flooring because of its hardness …

Refinishing Damaged Wood Handles on BBQ Tools Not rated yet
Another member of the household put beautifully finished wood handled BBQ tongs and spatula in the dishwasher. Is sanding and walnut oil enough to brig …

Alcohol Resistant finish Not rated yet
I would like to turn a whiskey tasting glass (a Glencairn shape) on my lathe but I'm not sure of what kind of finish to use it? Ideally something that …

Is Roasted Walnut oil okay to use on bowls for a finish? Not rated yet
Is Roasted Walnut oil okay to use on bowls for a finish? Just want to be sure it is okay to use it if it roasted. It says it is 100% natural. Brand is …

food safe oil for light coloured wood Not rated yet
Hello there, I have a pair of pale coloured wooden salad servers and would like to know what oil I could use to care for them that wouldn't change the …

finish safe for children Not rated yet
I make puzzles that children will enjoy, but they could put it in their mouth, I need an acrylic that is safe. Any suggestions appreciated. Thank you. …

Raised planting beds Not rated yet
What would you recommend for a food-safe finish for raised garden beds at a school? Our beds were made of untreated cedar and have been lined with landscaping …

Raised planting beds Not rated yet
What would you recommend for a food-safe finish for raised garden beds at a school? Our beds were made of untreated cedar and have been lined them with …

can i use untreated pine for a chopping board  Not rated yet
Hi. I want to make some pine platters and chopping boards from untreated pine. Sealing with walnut oil. Will this be food grade? I won't really be cutting …

zebra wood? Not rated yet
I have a piece of zebra wood that I would like to use in a cutting board my concern is it has little pin holes in it. I am worried about food and germs …

How do I seal a wooden sink? Not rated yet
I have some dead locust trees on my property from which I want to build a farm sink, of my own design, for my kitchen. This wood is very hard and should …

pine chopping board food safe wood finish? Not rated yet
Hi I'm going to make a pine chopping board like a puzzle piece so they can carry a sandwich and hook around the glass for carrying. How do i protect …

Engreaved wooden cutting boards Not rated yet
Hi, I engrave cutting boards but want to know if using mineral oils etc would this darken the picture from the board as obviously you need to be able …

food safe woods Not rated yet
What type of wood is safe for cereal bowls? I have two Lime wood bowls. My partner used them once for food and the finish went from smooth to rough. …

Epoxy resin food finish? Not rated yet
What finish You recommend for platter . I would like to use knife ...fork etc when i am eating from platter ...would epoxy be a good choice? ------ …

food safe finish for green turned bowls Not rated yet
Hello I usually turn my bowls from green wood,turning them to finished thickness and sanded , then apply a linseed, varnish,turpintine mix one to one …

wood wine cups  Not rated yet
Can I uses polyurethane inside the wood cups that will be used for wine. ----- Arbutus Ron here... Well that is up to you. I wouldn't as I bet little …

Cake stands Not rated yet
I am making cake stands out of logs. Will this oil kill insects also? or should I use something else? ---- Arbutus Ron here... If the oil won't …

Oil paint colour on wood utentsil for food: is it safe? Not rated yet
Hi, I am from India. Here, we have a tradition being used by in Monks to used wooden food utensils with oil paint colours. As I understand, this …

Boat Interior Teak Not rated yet
I'm experimenting with coatings for old, dry, partially salt-water-stained boat interior teak. I want to stay away from petroleom-based or hard-glossy …

Wooden Salad Bowl finish coming off Not rated yet
Hello. I recently purchased a wooden salad bowl in Mexico. The finish is coming off in some places. Wondering if it is food safe and what I should do? …

Pyrographic Utensils Not rated yet
I have made a beautiful set of wooden utensils designed with pyrography detailing. I also made a bowl with some designs in it and a cutting board also. …

Is Walnut oil a safe finish for wood? Not rated yet
I want to gift a wooden chalice to a priest, I finished it with 100% pure walnut oil. It dried nicely, and I want to know is it safe to drink wine from …

walnut oil Not rated yet
Hi, I would like to ask a question about walnut oil. If I wanted to blend walnut oil with pure beeswax, what walnut oil would be suitable. I live in the …

Painting Wooden Utensils: Food Safe? Not rated yet
I want to paint wooden spoons, spatulas and rolling pins and have decided to just paint the handles because I cannot find a non toxic acrylic paint anywhere. …

Baby safe wood feeding spoons Not rated yet
Hi there! My husband bought some very pretty little olive wood spoons from a market in France and I wanted to know if you thought they would make safe …

Smelly furniture wax on hutch Not rated yet
I bought two hutches imported from Mexico last month, only to discover that they had a repulsive chemical smell. After a few weeks, the hutches don't …

Wood Finish for drinking cups Not rated yet
I have just started woodturning and I plan to make and use cups and goblets but what do you use as a finish they will be used for both hot and cold drinks. …

Easy care food-safe lacquer  Not rated yet
What is easy care food-safe lacquer? -------- Arbutus Ron here... No idea at all! Lacquer is made with chemicals. Some people claim that once …

Ghee (clarified butter) as food-safe wood finish Not rated yet
I have considered using clarified butter (milk solids lightly browned, strained through a coffee filter) as a finish. While a visually food-safe at the …

Storing bread in a cedar box Not rated yet
Is it safe to store bread and other food in a cedar box? I know that cedar oil can be toxic. --------------- Arbutus Ron here: As long as the …

Honey dippers wood finish Not rated yet
What wood preservative is suitable for honey dippers? ----------- Arbutus Ron here: I would use walnut oil as a food safe wood finish.

Food Safe Wood Finish Not rated yet
Recently I started "studying" the issues of oil finish of wood used for utensils and hand tool like planes or chisels. Some experts recommend linseed …

chopping board moss removal Not rated yet
Hello, I am planning on cutting a block of tree trunk down for a chopping board. I have found your information on food-safe finishes very helpful but before …

Can all of these food safe wood finishes be put over paint? Not rated yet
I'm trying to figure out how to put a food safe finish over painted wood bowls to protect them. Would any of these finishes work and would they alter …

Polyurethane on bread box Not rated yet
My son made me a bread box in wood class. He brought it home and stained it, then applied a coat of polyurethane. We let it air out for a couple of days. …

Parker & Bailey Lemon Oil Polish  Not rated yet
Can Parker & Bailey Lemon Oil Polish be used for wooden cooking utensils? ---------- Arbutus Ron here: It is a furniture polish but does not say …

How to finish wooden steak plates Not rated yet
I'm making a set of wooden steak plates and wondering what finish to use in order to keep them looking good and safe to use. -------------- Arbutus …

Polyurethane on wood bowls Not rated yet
Is polyurethane safe to use on wood bowls? Does it need to be reapplied? ------------------ Arbutus Ron here: Polyurethane is not food safe unless …

Food safe wood finishing vis a vis different types of wood.. Not rated yet
Hi..... Thank you for this Q. and A. forum by the way. I live in Mexico and I recently commissioned an artisan to make a 30cm. by 30cm. tortilla …

Tung Oil Finish vs Walnut Oil Food Safe Finish Not rated yet
I will try the walnut Oil & bee wax. I have been using Tung Oil many years. What is the experienced opinion? ----------------------- Arbutus Ron …

Tung Oil Wood Finish Not rated yet
I will try the walnut Oil & bee wax. I have been using Tung Oil many years. What is the experience opinion? ------ Arbutus Ron here: For food …

Food Safe Walnut Oil and coffee Not rated yet
I coated our ikea wood block counter top with coffee that was steeped overnight. I absolutely love the look and colour. Then in order to keep things …