Marc
If you are making a salad bowl from green wood to use immediately AND do not
mind if it distorts or cracks, use a wood that will not impart a taste, or
at least not and objectionable taste, and oil it. Since you are making a
salad bowl, a salad oil would be a good finish in this case. Do not use
olive oil. It is a furit oil, not a nut oil, and it may go rancid. Just
flood on a corn, canola, peanut or other nut oil, let it sit a while, and
then wipe off any excess.

--
God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS Canada
www.aroundthewoods.com

"DJ Delorie" wrote in message
...

"marc rosen" writes:
My question to you all is about making a salad bowl from green wood.
Assuming the wood of choice is compatible with food, is there any
danger or problem in using the bowl immediately after it's turned? Can
an oil finish be applied to a green bowl? I am not concerned about
shape stability.

In general, wood can be used immediately after turning. Wood. Not
the finish, just the wood.

Yes, you can use an oil finish on a green bowl. It will still change
shape as it dries, of course. You may have to allow extra time for
drying and curing.

Nearly all finishes MUST have time to fully cure (not just dry) before
even considering food contact, and even then some finishes should be
avoided. When fully cured (say, a month or two), most finishes are
reasonably safe for food contact, but finishes that specifically say
they're for food use (or are food) are definitely preferred (some say
required).

For example, walnut (100% pure) oil or mineral oil are food safe
because they *are* food (vegetable oil goes rancid with age). Same
with pure beeswax or paraffin, they're edible so you can use them as
finishes. You can buy "salad bowl finish" too.

And, of course, the instructions on the can take precedence over any
of our nonsense you year on Usenet ;-)