As my bowl project is temporarily on hold, I started up a new project this morning looking like it’s going to be a cup.  Well now that everything is roughed out to the shape I want, both projects are on hold until I get my new chuck on Thursday.  Either way a double bonus my lathe extension bed arrived today haven’t even un boxed it yet.  The question on finishing is once I get to that point in order to make them both usable what time of finish would be safe to use with out getting some crazy type of poison from a finish.  Recommendations are always welcome.  So I have a couple days to debate on what I do and how I finish things off.  But I would like to be able to use both items.

 

 

Edited June 16, 20206 yr by AndrewB

Congrats on the lathe extension and the yet to arrive chuck. Looking forward to seeing them both in operation.

 

As for the finish, it somewhat depends on what you are going to put in them. For non-liquids I usually go for mineral oil and beeswax. If you want a film finish, water based or oil based finishes (poly) are food safe when dry.

 

If you plan on using liquids in the turning, I you're going to need either an epoxy type finish- like bar top finish or maybe a casting resin like Alumilite.

Okay I'll have to do some research on both of them.  I'm not too familiar with Resin stuff all though I've been watchin a lot of videos on resin turning as well.  Maybe one day I'll get into resin but at the moment that probably wont happen.  The cup yes more than likely Id like to use it for liquid.  Now is it like a wax paste resin that you rub into the wood after the stain goes into it is that how the finish works or am I wrong on that one.

Here's a discussion we had about something similar. You might find some ideas from what our other turners had to say-

 

 

 

I read up on that thread thanks @lew I’m also going to be doing a bit more research on the finishes and epoxy and or resin this week.

@lew on finish "dry" in this case cured may be better. Until the finish cures it is possible to release VOC . Even at that food use I would wait at least 2 weeks.

Thanks @Gerald for the clarification. I should be more careful with my terminology 

@lew In researching this I happen to come across this video not exactly sure how relevant it would be. For what I am working on but more than likely just need a second opinion.  I've been researching this stuff this morning.

 

 

Before you assemble your extension put some paste wax on the metal parts to be joined together.  This will keep moisture from getting between them and thus rust in time.  Small trick but a solution to a big problem later.  I believe the phrase an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of reaction is appropriate here.  

Definately @Gunny  I actually did that with the lathe itself and put some paste wax on it.  I haven't even taken it out of the box as of yet.  I will probably later this afternoon and get it set up.

Been a while since I put an extension on and yours should not be a problem on the bench. When aligning the top surface to get a seamless slide of the tailstock over the joint after moderately tightening the bolts use a block of wood and hammer to get that surface perfectly flat so not even a bump when the tailstock slides. 

@Gerald  Nah should be fairly simple to do and manage.  I just gotta put up an extension to the mediocre bench for it to sit on lol.

2 hours ago, AndrewB said:

@lew In researching this I happen to come across this video not exactly sure how relevant it would be. For what I am working on but more than likely just need a second opinion.  I've been researching this stuff this morning.

 

 

Looks like great advice. As @Gerald mentioned, and I stand corrected, cured finish is key to safety. Dried and cured are 2 very different things. 

Yea I fully understand the dried and cured portion of that.