Hello Galoots,

I am looking for some advice on how to finish my latest project. I
hesitate to call this a project as it is simply 4 boards glued up to
form what is essentially a big cutting board. However I am calling it a
project because then I can say I have actually made something other
than shavings within the past 2 years. Anyway SWMBO requested the
object so she can knead bread and make other tasty baked goods on our
tile counter top without having to worry about about all the grout
lines in the tile. Since it is designed for food preparation something
food safe is desired.

Based on some other discussions over the past year or so it would seem I
have the following options:
1) mineral oil
2) shellac
3) no finish
4) this Tried and True stuff

I am leaning towards shellac since I bought some flakes from Paddy a
while back and I would like to use them. The board will not see any
cutting, and should not get substantial moisture, but I am worried
shellac may not work so well with bread dough and pie crusts.

Any help would be appreciated

John O'Connor

John and All

Been a while since I had anything useful to say, but thought I'd offer on
this one.  General Finishes offers what they call Salad Bowl Finish.  Should
do the trick.

Plenty of other options, of course, but I use this one whenever anything
will come in contact with food.

Have a good one.
Bruce Z.
Who is still fighting with computer problems.

From: "John O'Connor" <jpoc@r...>

SWMBO requested the object so she can knead bread and make other tasty baked
goods on our tile counter top without having to worry about about all the
grout lines in the tile. Since it is designed for food preparation something
food safe is desired.

--- John O'Connor <jpoc@r...> wrote:

> Anyway SWMBO requested the object
> so she can knead bread and make other tasty baked
> goods on our tile counter top without having to
> worry about about all the grout lines in the tile.
> Since it is designed for food preparation something
> food safe is desired.
> 
> Based on some other discussions over the past year
> or so it would seem I have the following options:
> 1) mineral oil
> 2) shellac
> 3) no finish
> 4) this Tried and True stuff
> 

I would recommend no finish on this kind of thing.  I
always used a plain unfinished board for kneading
dough, with good results.  Remember, this thing will
have to be washed and probably scraped - dough can be
pretty sticky, and gets like cement when it hardens.  

My $.02

- Mike

__________________________________________________
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: -----Original Message-----
: From: owner-oldtools@l...
: [mailto:owner-oldtools@l...]On Behalf Of John
: O'Connor
: Sent: 07 November 2001 22:00
: To: oldtools@w...
: Subject: Finishing Question
:
: 3) no finish

A look at the hints & tips section of my web site might explain this
rather curt response to a familiar question.

Jeff

--
Jeff@m...
http://www.millard.demon.co.uk/index.htm

I inquired about a finish for a bread kneading board and as expected got
plenty of useful input. In case others are interested the the majority
of the responses (I got a few via private email) suggested no finish or
a food safe oil.

Thanks to all who replied. I went with no finish, and SWMBO showed her
gratitude by making pizza with home made crust this evening.