I'm making a wassail bowl that needs to hold 2 pints of cider. I've turned it out of end grain beech and of course it needs a food safe finish. Initially, I coated it in undiluted sanding sealer and several coats of undiluted melamine lacquer applied with a brush. To test it I filled it with water but the finish on the end grain on the inside if the bowl discoloured very quickly in patches as if the water was penetrating the finish and reaching the wood.
I've since returned to the bowl to the workshop and sanded off the old finish on the inside of the bowl. I then applied several coats of 50:50 diluted sanding sealer followed by several coats of diluted melamine lacquer (again about 50:50 with thinners) applied with a cloth. This morning I filled the bowl up again with water and although the finish is massively better there are still small breaches in the finish (scratch sized and half little finger nail sized) that discolour in the presence of water.
I need to get this project finished ASAP so would really appreciate some advice on this one. :?
I've since returned to the bowl to the workshop and sanded off the old finish on the inside of the bowl. I then applied several coats of 50:50 diluted sanding sealer followed by several coats of diluted melamine lacquer (again about 50:50 with thinners) applied with a cloth. This morning I filled the bowl up again with water and although the finish is massively better there are still small breaches in the finish (scratch sized and half little finger nail sized) that discolour in the presence of water.
I need to get this project finished ASAP so would really appreciate some advice on this one. :?