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Hi! I’m new here and would like some help.
I turned out a rolling pin on my lathe for a Christmas present. It is made of Poplar, has been sanded and is smooth. However, it has a couple of small holes toward one end that need to be filled. Since the rolling pin will be used with food preparation, I’m worried about filling the holes with putty. Also, I wonder what sort of sealer I should use with the wood? I build cabinets and normally use ML Campbell’s satin finish (which acts as its own sealer). I just sand between coats. But I’m worried about toxicity in this case.
Any ideas on what I should do? I’ve heard that I can just coat it in olive oil…but will that be enough?
Thanks!
🙂
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I'm probably out of my area here, but here's a few thoughts: Isn't poplar a little soft for a rolling pin? Can you fill the holes with epoxy? Epoxy is inert when cured, and it should stay in place pretty well. I would be afraid that olive oil would turn rancid after a while
*Dennis,Ed's suggestion for filling with epoxy is what I would suggest, just simple 2 part tubes such as Devcon. Available in any hardware store.Recommend using mineral oil as the finish, cheaper to buy it at the drug store and it won't turn rancid. Most finishes are supposed to be non-toxic when fully cured. Shellac is another possibility, though, iti is made out of the secretions of the Lac Beetle. I do think you'll find Poplar a little soft, though harder than the pie crusts (I hope) it will be used for.b ;)Dano
*Thanks for the help all! I used poplar because I had a stick of it lying around and it was handy. *Chuckle* But as far as I know, the pin will be used only for kneading dough and for rolling out ground beef to be used in the making of Beef jerky. It should hold up. :)Ill try the Devcon and everything should be fine. I never thought of mineral oil either...that should work well.:)
*GuysIf you are ever to be donged with a rolling pin you'd probably prefer the softer variety ;). My good lady has one I made about 25 years ago which has never been given anything other than a coat of flour FWIWDucking for cover,Don
*Shellac, even though it is made from bugs, is a perfectly safe finish for food handleing areas, although, probably not very water resistant. Shellac is use to coat fruits, in pills and some candy, so almost everyone out there has eaten shellac.
*It was said tongue in cheek, Rob.
*Rob, while true that shellac is used for coating pills and M&M's, it is not quite the same shellac you buy as a coating. It is more refined form. But, regular shellac can be considered non-toxic once it is fully cured.
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