Permanent Finish

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, and I originally applied a few coats of mineral oil to them, but after 1-2 uses and washing them, the wood texture became very rough and on end. I'm looking for a better way to finish them more permanently (maybe some sort of lacquer that's food-safe and not too shiny?). Any ideas?

Thanks for the help!
Josh


-----

Ron here,

Yes water will cause the grain to rise. Just sand and use again. After a bit the grain will be smooth and develop a patina finish. Adding oil helps along the way too.
They will be just fine soon.

If you want use a varathane finish but not my choice.