Reply To: finish suitable for food containers and utensils
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For open containers I would recommend Walnut oil or linseed oil. These penetrate well and produce a deep, very tactile finish which highlights the grain. You will see mineral oil recommended but it is a petroleum product and does not “cure” or harden. The three oils which will permanently cure are walnut oil, tung oil, and linseed oil. All are plant oils, for food containers the walnut or linseed oil are probably best. Commercial “boiled linseed oil” contains metallic driers to speed curing. The limitations of these oils are that they cure slowly-you can apply a very thin coat every day or every other day for several days, wipe off any excess, and leave it open-needs oxygen to cure. With very light coats the oil will sink in-thick coats will feel very gummy. Just wipe it on, wipe it off. It does take several weeks to completely harden but can be used immediately. If the finish gets scratched or worn, just apply a new coat. It is not an extremely waterproof finish, but is durable-the traditional finish for gunstocks, which are exposed to harsh conditions. Linseed oil can be found in the grocery store as flax oil or flax seed oil. This is a beautiful, safe, and easily repaired finish for this use. I would not use linseed oil for enclosed containers such as canisters-enclosed it will not cure and you will be able to pick up the scent for a long time. In terms of film finishes shellac will work in this setting also-very safe, shellac used to be the coating for M&M’s candies and used to coat time release medication pills.