I need to make some small display shelves for a local cheese store. I had originally thought of using maple, but in meeting with the owner, he would prefer a darker wood. I want a wood that will be stable ( the cheese cases are humidified), dense so that they will hold up to use, have a naturally dark color ( I don’t want to use a stain or finish coating), and importantly food safe. Whate do you think about Ipe? Most of what I can find says the dust is a hazard.
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Replies
You are planning on displaying cheeses on an unsealed wood shelf? The shelf will become stained easily, will absorb odors that will transfer to the cheeses, and your local health inspector might take exception to the idea.
If the cheeses will, as seems likely, be wrapped or on plates then there won't be any direct contact with the wood, so wood species won't matter, but I would still put a hard finish on the shelves to keep them from staining and to make clean up easy.
John White
Edited 4/9/2008 10:01 am ET by JohnWW
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