Natural food safe lacquer for Chopsticks?

[Babylon5]

I've got a customer that wants some chopsticks but they need them coated in a food safe lacquer. Does anyone know where I can purchase some lacquer that would be provide a hard coating and is safe for use in liquids and around food? I don't want to use an oil as the chopsticks will also be placed in drinks.

I have read about Urushi, a Japanese lacquer but can't find any suppliers in Australia. Even if I could source some, I fear the twice would be pretty high.

Regards,
Shane.

[Bob38S]

I know you have requested a food safe lacquer - can't help you there - you also mention an oil and why you don't think it is suitable - perhaps you might need to check out a safer oil, easily available and works well - I have no connection to the company other than being a user of their products.

FoodSafe Plus

[Babylon5]

Thanks but I ruled out any sort of oil as the chopsticks (Don't ask me why) are going to be used in drinks. Hence being dunked in any liquid, the oil will mix with the drink.

I know you have requested a food safe lacquer - can't help you there - you also mention an oil and why you don't think it is suitable - perhaps you might need to check out a safer oil, easily available and works well - I have no connection to the company other than being a user of their products.

FoodSafe Plus

[ubeaut]

Oil shouldn't mix with the drinks unless they are oily drinks.

White Shellac (dewaxed) should do the job really well.

[Babylon5]

Oil shouldn't mix with the drinks unless they are oily drinks.

White Shellac (dewaxed) should do the job really well.

Is the White Shellac food grade safe? It's one thing making them for my own use at home but when supplying to another business I need them to be food grade safe? In this age of sue first ask questions later.

Shane.

[bsrlee]

Most pharmacy tablets are coated with shellac, so yes, it is probably the most food-safe and non-allergenic coating you can get.

Real Japanese lacquers are not particularly food safe until they are fully cured (makes your skin blister and peel off), and some of the traditional ones contain mercury compounds (cinnabar).

2 part epoxy, like Japanese lacquers, are not food safe - until they have fully cured. Once they are fully cured, then they are about as food safe and non-allergenic as shellac. Like the silicon rubber (RTV) everyone seems to be using for cookware these days, they release 'interesting' organic compounds for several days after they are mixed as the curing process takes place and the volatile by-products evaporate.

Heating can speed up the evaporation of the volatiles a bit - try pouring pewter into a new RTV rubber mold.

[Mobyturns]

Oil shouldn't mix with the drinks unless they are oily drinks.

White Shellac (dewaxed) should do the job really well.

Neil would know more than any of us about the suitability of finishes, but I'm curious - whats in the drinks - alcohol?? by any chance?

[surfdabbler]

I have been looking at food-safe finishes for a food board that I've just finished. Your choices of food-safe finishes are limited non-hardening oils, waxes or shellac. Oils are penetrating, so they will protect the wood. I think oil finishes would be fine for chopsticks, even in drinks, although they may need re-oiling from time to time. Shellac would also be fine - M&Ms are coated in shellac, so it's certainly food safe. However, I think shellac would be more likely to be damaged by teeth, and alcoholic drinks would dissolve it completely off. I would go with a foodsafe oil myself.

[CMB]

For my timber chopping board, I just give it a light wipe with vegetable oil every now and then. No dramas to date...have had it for years.

Craig.

[rsser]

Use Ubeaut Hard Shellac or whatever it's called now. Quick and easy.