[Sca-cooks] Need advice/suggestion for counter top

[grizly]

These things are solid and fast-moving when in trains.  They are assembled
with pegs and glue of the period.  No chemical treatment needed as they were
made before the era of all chemicals all the time.  The wood itself had all
the essentials to protect it.  They really are amzing . . . though the heart
pine ones I got for the kitchen island are amazing in their own right.

So, heavy poly will seal these fabulously for a cutting board . . . as there
is no toxin waste lurking to leach into the lettuce.  The kind of poly that
sets up thick and hard like bar tops is probably overkill, but can be done.
I am opting for a simpler finish that doesn't hide the wood so much.

niccolo difrancesco

-----Original Message-----
From: sca-cooks-bounces+franiccolo=mindspring.com at ansteorra.org
[mailto:sca-cooks-bounces+franiccolo=mindspring.com at ansteorra.org]On
Behalf Of otsisto
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 2:37 PM
To: grizly at mindspring.com; Cooks within the SCA
Subject: RE: [Sca-cooks] Need advice/suggestion for counter top


I was not saying the chemicals in the railroad ties would be in the boxcar
flooring but that something might have been used to preserve the wood.
And are you certain that the "synthetic" finish will seal it well enough
that if there is traces of a chemical that it wouldn't leech out through the
finish?

Sorry if I sound like I am questioning your intelligence in this matter.
It's a habit of mine to question something new. Also I have come into
contact with a few Darwin candidates that have fueled this cautionary habit.

Lyse

-----Original Message-----
As to question of safety, the material in railroad ties is creosote at
least,
and maybe others.  This material is not present in boxcar flooring that I
use.
The question as I present it is not whether it is foodsafe or not, but
rather what needs to be done to assure its food safety.  Certainly one
needs sand down beyond gouges and obvious soiling.  After, heavy synthetic
finish will be good for the more cautious . . . those who examine the wood
and find it suitable will go with less intense measures.  Mine will be
finished to hav ethe weathered, yet clean look, and have durable, food-
safe finish applied to seal the wood and protect food products.


niccolo difrancesco
(I don't cut meat on railroad ties . . . I prefer my tar, aldehydes
and other and naval stores to come from buring compressed, charred
sawdust/sand chunks.  Get more flavor that way)


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