Shaving bowl finish

[Skil Phil]

Have to make a few shaving bowls.
What finish will resist the water?
Not CA please as it gives me major sinus and eye problems.
Phil

 

[Pierre]

Ultimately water proofing doesn't really work especially if it is a hard wood. You can use boiled linseed oil but you would ideally need to soak the piece in it and then final sand it once its dry (note plain linseed oil will stay tacky). Since you dont need these to be food safe you could use a staircase sealing oil which would probably need about 5 coats to be sure and since it is designed to be walked on it should be hard wearing. Finally you could use tung oil but like linseed oil it would need to penetrate the wood and you would have to apply several coats and ensure that each coat dried before sanding for the next one. Sand at about 300 grit between coats final finish at 600 grit. Are you going to fill them with solid soap?

 

[Bill Mooney]

Hard wax oil works ok. I’ve seen wooden vases wth water in them on display. You could google it t find a supplier.

 

[Penpal]

Cheap auto clear spray out in the open,take care mate.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

I would go for a marine varnish.

Weatherproof Varnish | Satin & Gloss Marine Grade Timber Varnish

How to Waterproof Wood - 3 Ways - Bob Vila

 

[flexi]

On a side note.....I use BSI Gold odour less CA.
BSI Super-Gold Odourless Foam Safe Thin CA (1/2oz) BSI-121 707336121002 | eBay

 

[Penpal]

I had this thought a thin plastic insert in the timber bowl.

Peter.

 

[Skil Phil]

Thanks to all for the replies.
Pierre - customer wants them for mixing the shaving soap in a tube.
Bill - the hard wax oil sounds good - see Woodoc below.
Flexi - not available here and living in the 4th world with a non working postal system rules out eBay.
Peter - would have to get the insert first and turn the bowl to suit.
Woodoc (South African) make numerous oil/poly products. Will call them when everything wakes up after this mess.
Their MD answers the help line and has been very helpful in the past.

Phil

 

[Pierre]

Its a pity you cant get any post because you could have gotten this and made bowls to fit, this is probably the best since old spice terminated. Wilkinson Sword Men's Shaving Soap Bowl (125g): Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

 

[21William]

Just thinking out loud here but would stabilised wood be a good option? Sorry too many would woods in that last sentence!

 

[Skil Phil]

Just thinking out loud here but would stabilised wood be a good option?

Might work but I thing stabilizing a 100mm cube blank would be a problem.
Phil

 

[silver]

Marine varnish, yacht varnish.

Stands the tests of the Severn seas so can't see why it can't fend off a bit of household water.