Finishes for wood turnings

[Andy]

Good day,
I am new at wood turning and currently making some small boxes from birch. I am just wondering what kind of finsih I could use that may or not be applied with the lathe running or on the lathe that has a quick drying time, high-gloss and is durable. Also would anyone know of a good salad bowl finsh that I could use that will not easily disappear after a few wash in hot water and is food safe. Thanks.

[Bill Howatt]

Lee Valley's Polymerized Tung oil is a popular turning finish that buffs to a nice gloss. The sealer dries fairly quickly but the PTO takes longer. A friction polish often used by pen turners is a high-gloss that dries very quickly by virtue of being heated by friction when applying. I think Lee Valley has it as well. Another option is lacquer but the fumes are very bad for use without excellent ventilation.

Behlen's Salad Bowl finish is considered to be very good but I have not used it. Jacques Coulombe is one source for it. He has a website www.jacquescoulombe.com (http://www.jacquescoulombe.com)

Bill

[Bodger (Toronto, Ontario)]

I have used LV's Turners Polish on small items such as pens, followed by Carnuba wax.

General Salad Bowl Finish is a popular product as well. You just wipe it on. I would estimate that about half of the show-and-tell items at our woodturning club have this finish. It is available from Woodchuckers.

Bodger

[J.P.Rap in Hamilton]

Friction polish does a beautifull job on small to medium sized items. On larger items its difficult to get an even finish(or so I've been told).
LV sells friction polish as well as salad bowl finish.
J.P.

[Robin in Niagara]

I start with poly tung oil and then a number of coats of wipe on poly followed by a coat of wax. I use oooo steel wool between coats. Sometimes I use white shellac. I am still experimenting. I mostly turn minatures for my wife and the largest is usually under an inch so if I don't like the finish it is easy to change. The wood is sometimes glued to a 3/4" dowel held in a collet chuck I just bought or a oneway chuck.
Good luck
Robin