I intend to turn a salt cellar from a piece of sapele but am concerned about the corrosive nature of salt on the finish. Most of the similar projects I found online were finished with varnish, spray lacquer, etc. while Tim Yoder suggests mineral oil. Mineral oil makes sense to me but in this situation I don't have a much faith that the piece will be maintained which makes a hard finish attractive. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Salt Cellar Finishes?
- Thread starter Bob Ohle
- Start date
just 2 cents worth.......why not use maple and do not use any finish......seems it would age quickly and be an opportunity to be instant family antique........just my 2 cents worth
Why not finish the outside, and just use mineral oil or salad bowl finish on the inside?
Four or five coats of salad bowl finish should last a long time, even against salt. (make sure to let it setup all the way between coats though)
Four or five coats of salad bowl finish should last a long time, even against salt. (make sure to let it setup all the way between coats though)
I do not put any finish on the inside of my salt cellars
Agreed. Made a red oak salt box many years ago, with no finish; the salt has had no ill effects on the wood. The corrosiveness of salt really just affects metals, in my understanding.
I've made a couple of cellars that I finished with CA glue. I wasn't too worried about the salt as I was about the wet and greasy hands that would be touching it. A couple of coats of CA and a touch with the Beall wheels and it stays shiny. I also have been usnig the CA finish on wine glass stems that have been in use for almost a year and still look like new.
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
I've made about 6 sets of salt and pepper shakers over the Christmas holidays. I don't finish the inside. I finish the bottom and the outside with either lacquer or wipe on Poly.
I would also add and guess that 200-300 year old salt boxes had no interior finish and probably an oil/varnish or milk paint exterior — and they seemed to function and last quite well.
I like hand rubbed tounge oil on the outside and bottom i like to seal the inside with salad bowl finish mineral oil has gummed up on me in the past, i have friends that leave the inside raw which is fine too.