26 replies to this topic

[PaulF]

Hi,
In the past I've used a Brass wire brush.
You can get one at most Auto parts stores for cleaning white wall tires.
Heat to black heat, heat that will make a fir or pine stick smoke and char.
Then brush with the Brass brush.
This leaves a nice highlite on the high spots and defines detail.
Paulf

[Phil Krankowski]

Shellac can be a durable FDA safe finish. If you get food grade and use ethanol, not denatured, it can be applied _to_ food. In fact this is why candy is shiny.

Since the coating is durable and on a non-cooking vessel there should be no problem especially if you buy dry shellac flake and mix your own (not very difficult, but ends up mail order anymore) Lable hand wash only, and that it is a shellac finish and may be damaged by alcohol and heat.

Phil

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

At the Jelly Belly Candy Co we used beeswax and alcohol to put the final polish on the beans.

[CBrann]

There is a product I have used for wooden bowls... called salad bowl finish... both durable and foodsafe... haven't needed to put it on steel.

[howardrw]

Thanks for all the great ideas. Sorry I haven't replied earlier.

[clinton]

howardrw, on 09 March 2010 - 12:07 PM, said:

I recently started making some "accent bowls"(mild steel) and want to put the gilders paste on some of them, but I got to thinking about the possibility of someone using them for candy bowls and did'nt know if it would be safe. I e-mailed the gilders paste company and asked them and they said the gilders paste is not FDA approved, but if I sealed it with an FDA approved clear sealant, it would be ok. I have not been able to find an FDA approved sealer. Does anyone know of anything? I like beeswax, but I live in South Texas and do outdoor shows, so that is not an option.
Thanks, Bob

peanut oil or any type of vegetable oil apply it at a black heat, too hot it will burn off, too cold and it will not stick, also it works best to leave the scale on don't wire brush before you apply

[781]

The blacksmith at Haverhill, Iowa, USA, who died in 1930 used roof tar

I wave seen formulas that called for powdered graphite to be added to the finish either was, oil or varnish. Here powdered graphite is bought by the quart used as lubracant when planting corn.