Over the last 6 months I’ve made a number of plates and have really enjoyed using them every day. I was inspired by Richard Raffan’s square plates video, making the two square ones first. I then made the big rectangular maple guy, followed by the three round ones.
All have a small ~1/16" mortise in the back which I’ve left in place. Most were basically unfinished, just getting some beeswax. But the orage-y cherry plates I’ve finished with BLO for some more color… but I’m noticing that the color is fading with successive hand-washings.
Those look great. Tung oil holds up well to water.
Thanks! Are you talking pure tung oil?
Yes, pure tung oil only. Anything else is not food safe.
Food safety and finishing is a myth: see the writeup by Bob Flexner: https://www.woodcentral.com/articles/?page=496&tags=finishing&search=&op=AND
No manufacturer providing finishes to the woodworking community puts their finishes through these tests. Thus, no manufacturer can legitimately claim they meet FDA regulations.
On the other hand, there’s no evidence of problems, so manufacturers feel pretty safe in claiming food safeness anyway.
It makes sense that finishes wouldn’t be sold if they were unsafe. The people I sell to always ask about the finish being food safe, so I feel I have to tell them that what I use is food safe. I’m not going to to try to explain that all finishes are safe.
Right, tung oil just sounds much safer than varnish.
Speaking of safe, watch those rags. Boiled linseed is the worst, but I’m pretty sure Tung can self ignite as well.
