Shopsmith Forums

Shellac is fully edible when made with ethanol. It coats tablets(pills), candy and a bunch of other ingested items.mt

Hmm.. I guess I learned something new today that I didn't know before.. I assumed that most finishes are not food-safe.. Oh well..

osx-addict wrote:another question should be asked here regarding the above question.. Is food going to be used on this same surface? If so, I would think that you need to make sure you use some sort of finish that won't become part of the food being prepared.. Of course, I could be wrong...

Hi osx-addict,
Shellac is completely edible. Not what I would want to be eating, but harmless.


Edit: oops, didn't notice 2nd page....already answered.

I purchased some blue rubber gloves at a Big Lots store in the paint dept and they hold up well. I think they were $5.99/100. Comes in a blue tissue type box.

cincinnati wrote:I purchased some blue rubber gloves at a Big Lots store in the paint dept and they hold up well. I think they were $5.99/100. Comes in a blue tissue type box.

Those are probably nitrile gloves which many use because of latex allergies and I think nitrile isn't effected by as many chemicals that latex is.

As for Shellac in food containers, be aware that alcohol dissolves shellac while you can ingest it, you end up ending your finish. For things that come into direct contact with food I think mineral oil is probably the best bet. For things you want a finish that be could be ingested (such as baby crib rail) use Shellac. For things that have a remote chance of being ingested such as baby's cradle or toys I use tung oil poly mix or a latex paint. For everything else I use poly or paint.
Ed

Ed in Tampa wrote:For things that have a remote chance of being ingested such as baby's cradle or toys I use tung oil poly mix or a latex paint. For everything else I use poly or paint.
Ed

I've read somewhere that tung oil NEVER becomes non-toxic.