I was wondering if anyone knew of a finish that would withstand coffee.I had an idea of some coffee cups made of wood and need to know what kind of finish would stand up and not be poison.
Thanks
Tony
We already have enough youth, how about a fountain of smarts.
Replies
I've used two part epoxy sealers on wooden goblets and bowls.....even did a mug that was used for hot tea. The last was a gift. I'd ask how it held up, but he's dead now.
Seriously, the epoxy sealers are very thin materials and soak in well. I'm sure they protect the wood, and "they" say that epoxy, once cured, becomes inert and thus food safe. Better to ask the manufacturer.
With food contact, I'd use mineral oil. Since coffee will stain almost anything, most important is to clean that cup daily.
Tony,
Patrick is right: epoxy is what you need. Epoxy will waterproof the wood. Some yacht makers, the Gougeon Brothers among them, make fuel tanks and tanks for potable water out of plywood; they use epoxy to seal the wood.
To water proof the wood you need to completely encapsulate it; you need to be sure that every little bit of it is covered with epoxy. I would build up just a bit of a film on the surface. That would not only make it easier to see when the wood is completely encapsulated, it would also fill in all the pores and not allow little nasty things from finding a home.
The normal mix of epoxy may be a bit too soft for your purpose. I would run tests and experiment with different ratios of resin and hardener to get the best ratio to resist abrasion. I'd also check its resistance to heat; epoxy can soften when it's heated.
The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction is not just an excellent book on boat making, it is also a great primer on wood/epoxy methods. You might want to see if your local library has it.
Alan
Edited 5/21/2004 8:26 pm ET by Alan
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