Fondant smother finish?

[Lyle]

I am making a set of fondant smoothers (icing on cakes). The examples I have been shown are raw pine.
But I am wondering if the Ubeaut product "Food Safe" would be able to be used. Or is there a reason for them to be raw timber.
Or is there another finish. Perhaps WOP???

[ubeaut]

There is probably a reason why they are raw pine. Most likely to do with the timber's ability to dispel germs and to stay wet .

From what I have seen most fondant smoothers are plastic or a sort of silicone with a few metal ones still being used.

If using I'd pine make sure it is clear pine without wide growth rings which may be high in sap content.
If I had to use timber I think I'd probably go for a bit of hardrock maple.

[Lyle]

I am using silky oak. Some pieces left over from another job. Very well seasoned.
I'll sand down to a very fine grit and try raising the grain between grits.
Thinking of maybe a wax rub and buff at the end.
I am more concerned about the reaction berween the fondant and wood.
So I think time will tell. Experimentation too. I will order some foodsafe on Mon and give it a whirl.
Thanks for the reply.

[ubeaut]

A bit of a warning.

There are a lot of people who are highly allergic to Silky Oak. I know one man who can walk into a room and tell you if there is silky oak anywhere in that room and often anywhere in an entire house. He will break out in an almost immediate rash.

Some timbers look good but really aren't all that good for you. For something like a fondant smoother you should stick with timbers that are tried and true and known to be pretty safe. That's one reason why pine is used for a lot of food implements, so is hard rock maple, and most close grained grained whitewoods but even then there may lurk a nasty or two. Bamboo is really big in food utensils right now.

Hope this is of some interest and help.

Cheers - Neil

[Lyle]

Ahhh bugga, now you tell me... I had not thought of that, although I had looked at other timbers like camphour but rejected it on the 'scent' factor not allergy.
That poor bugger you describe would cark it in my MILs place, it's all silky and red cedar!

I do have some well seasoned pine and a nice piece of beech at home. Might have to dress it up. Looks like it'll be two sets made for her now. One silky the other pine/beech. The beech is a nice buttery texture and colour, so that might be the better.Then let her choose.

Thanks for the heads up re silky.
Lyle.