[TheForge] Finishes for food contact items

[Bruce Freeman]

The information I have (Merck Index) suggests that the carbon chains in
beeswax are saturated - not unsaturated.
The basis for oxidative drying in "drying oils" (i.e., unsaturated
oils) is the oxygen-induced crosslinking of the double bonds
(unsaturation).  
Lacking such unsaturation, it would seem to me that beeswax would not
"dry".
Drying, in this sense of the word, is the conversion of an oil to a
polymer.  
Bruce
NJ

>>> bamablacksmith at comcast.net 10/12/2006 9:08 AM >>>

The bees wax cooks on like the aforementioned oils. If you treat your
item 
like you would cast iron cookware you shouldnt have any problem. I use
the 
wax mainly because I have a bee keeper friend that gives it to me, and
its 
easier to transport to demos and forge meetings. I keep a block in my
tool 
bag at all times. As long as your not allowing your piece to get above
the 
"cooking" temp of the wax.. (the temp at which it burns) it should be
ok. 
Ive used it for years and never had a complaint.

But as mentioned before you can use olive oil, and Ive used spray on
PAM to 
the same effect.

mike



At 07:40 PM 10/11/2006, you wrote:
>Thank you for your response Mike. An additional question, if I may.
>Once the roaster is used by the end-user, perhaps even once over a
>campfire or bbq, would I assume the wax would melt off? Even after
>its use and washing by hand, won't the beeswax wear off and have to
>be re-applied for fear of rusting? Beeswax to keep on-hand for the
>average end-use consumer, may be difficult to find. This may be a
>good solution to get the item initially out the door, but perhaps not
>a returning customer.
>---
>On 11-Oct-06, at 7:25 PM, Mike Linn wrote:
>
>>I use bees wax.
>>
>>heat until wax smokes and spread all over. Buff with a cotton cloth
>>and it looks great.
>
>
>            Mike Linn
>      Artist Blacksmith
>          McCalla, AL
>        AFC Webmaster
>http://afc.abana-chapter.com 
>
>______________________________________________________________________
>
>"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how
>   close they were to success when they gave up. "
>   ~ Thomas A. Edison
>______________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
>


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