Wood Finish for drinking cups

by John
(Edinburgh, Scotland, UK)

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. What would you recommend?

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Arbutus Ron here:
If you want a food safe wood finish then your choices are probably limited to walnut oils, mineral oil or tung oil natural finishes. You could also add some beeswax.

The reality is that all natural oil finishes will need to be re-applied as they wear off through use. There may be some high tech varathane like finish that some would claim could seal the wood, but with time and use especially with hot liquids, you may be ingesting some of those chemicals. Not my preference. But I am a health nut!