Ash food serving boards. Sealing & other wood to try?

[Sheffield Tony]

It is worth bearing the issue of nut allergies in mind when choosing an oil finish for treen. Some discount walnut and tung oil because of this, which leaves you with linseed (or rather, food grade flax oil) if you want something that will dry without risk of going rancid. Alternatively you can use a food grade mineral oil - Chestnut do one, or you can use liquid paraffin, which is the same stuff.

All of this is a bit academic as the board will still absorb whatever grease or oil that is in the food anyway. But at least if oiled to start with the greasy patch in the middle won't be so pbvious !

 

[MrYorke]

Thanks for all the replies. Amazing response.

So I went to speak to the customer. They had similar boards made before but the previous supplier has doubled their prices (don't know how much they are charging)

They would like 30 pieces of Ash or similar finished to 2"x2" around 200mm long with a pencil round around the top to serve petit fous on.

Then 30 pieces 2 inches thick and around A5 in size.

Then they have asked about having large pieces of thick bark, kiln dried then oiled to use to serve food onto.

Not sure where I can get pieces of bark of a decent size (10cm x 25cm) approx.

 

[MrYorke]

Oh yeah, they would also like small pieces of timber (3"x3") cubes with a "scoop" taken out of the end grain to act as a small dish for serving.

Guessing that'd have to be created with a lathe. Not something I have or could do!

 

[carlb40]

For the bark you may need to track down and become friendly with a local portable sawmill operator.

The scoop could be done with a router and jig with a cove bit.

 

[mickthetree]

Then they have asked about having large pieces of thick bark, kiln dried then oiled to use to serve food onto.

Seriously??!? The bark contains all manner of germs and bacteria. I love wood, but certainly wouldn't eat my dinner (and sounds like an expensive one at that) off a piece of bark!!

I had a breakfast baguette in a restaurant served on a wooden platter not so long ago. It was split and full of "character" As we were leaving I saw it being used for the customer next to me. it was exactly the same board as it had a distinctive mark on it. They hadn't even cleaned it before re-using it as it was bone dry.

Needless to say I haven't been back there.

Good luck with the project and I do hope you make some nice boards for them. It would be good to see some pics when done, but if it were me I would steer them away from the bark. Maybe do your own research on the use of it.

The customer is NOT always right :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Grahamshed]

Oh boy. I would love to know where this restaurant is. I could add it to my favourites ( places to stay away from ) list.

 

[acewoodturner]

Sourcing the bark shouldn't be too much problem. Drying it shouldn't be much of a problem. Cleaning it shouldn't be too much of a problem with a compressor air gun when dry. Keeping it clean will be a big problem due to the rough surface. It wont last long if they are scrubbing and drying it. Wouldn't like my food served off it. Nice wee harbour for bacteria etc. Don't think the local environmental health services officer will see the benefits of using bark either!

Mike

 

[Grahamshed]

Don't think the local environmental health services officer will see the benefits of using bark either!

Mike

You think ? :lol:

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I'm seriously amazed that a restaurant owner would be so downright thick to even consider using bark to serve food on. Talk about asking for food poisoning!! I mean there's Jamie Oliver type fashion on the one hand but bark......

 

[Grahamshed]

The restaurant owner is bark ing if you ask me.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

 

[acewoodturner]

The other thing I forgot to say is will the restaurant owner be coming after you if someone gets food poisioning, " as you should have known better than to sell him something that isn't clearly fit for purpose". When I get silly requests from people like this , I see my role as an educator as well as whatever else and would not make or sell something that isn't fit for purpose. You don't want something to come back and bite you. What if the restaurant owner gets pulled up by EHS and just turns around and says you told it would be perfectly ok for using bark in that manner. Its your word against his in a court possibly. The other thing is you have a reputation to maintain, hard won, but easily lost for a few quid!

 

[Grahamshed]

The other thing I forgot to say is will the restaurant owner be coming after you if someone gets food poisioning, " as you should have known better than to sell him something that isn't clearly fit for purpose". When I get silly requests from people like this , I see my role as an educator as well as whatever else and would not make or sell something that isn't fit for purpose. You don't want something to come back and bite you. What if the restaurant owner gets pulled up by EHS and just turns around and says you told it would be perfectly ok for using bark in that manner. Its your word against his in a court possibly. The other thing is you have a reputation to maintain, hard won, but easily lost for a few quid!

Totally agree.