Replies

1. 
   mvflaim | Sep 10, 2008 04:43pm | #1

   According to Bob Flexner, the leading authority on finishing, nearly all finishes are food safe. Here's the article.

   http://www.popularwoodworking.com/features/finish3.html

    

    

2. 
   dkellernc | Sep 10, 2008 10:59pm | #2

   Pecan is hard enough (REALLY hard! - I hope your blanks are green...) that you could choose to just put a shellac/wax mixture on it while it's still on the lathe and polish it.  If you don't want to make your own mixture, HUT products sells this finish in stick form - you just burnish it into the work.

1. 
   woodworker57 | Sep 11, 2008 02:18am | #3

   The tree is relatively green.  It has been cut for about 3 months and sealed on the ends.

1. 
   bigfootnampa | Sep 11, 2008 07:58am | #4

   Pecan is often a very beautiful wood!  It IS VERY hard (hickory family).  Turning green will be nice as it will work more easily.  Dry it before finishing it.  Best to rough turn, dry, finish turn, sand, then finish.  I'd use some dish detergent/water on it to minimize cracks when drying.  I'd finish it with about three coats of walnut oil rubbed in and sun baked to dry.