Re: [Harp-L] Painting the wooden comb..

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

First of all, just about anything is going to be harmless once it's 
completely cured.  Some people might disagree, but if you look 
closely at the labels on most finishes, the precautions are for 
handling of the material while it's being applied and curing (don't 
breathe the vapors, etc.).  That said, having something shoved in 
your mouth, rubbing it back and forth across your lips and tongue 
continuously, you do want to be assured you're not exposing yourself 
to something that's going to be dangerous or to which you're going 
to be sensitive.  

For this reason I use a food-safe finish called salad bowl finish to 
seal wood combs.  It is clear and will not cover ugly sanding 
discoloration, although it does leave a sort of "wet sheen".  Shelac 
is NOT harmful, as it is sometimes used to coat fruits and 
vegetables, although it is not as permanent, and may eventually wear 
off and require retreatment.

One thing I would heartily recommend NOT using a water-based paint 
unless you're going to apply a sealer over it, because the color, if 
nothing else more harmful, will come off on your mouth.  

-tim


Zvi Aranoff wrote:
> I sanded my Marine Band. The sharp edges of the reed plate was  
> hurting my lips and the comb was a bit bumpy and not perfectly  
> straight. I sanded both and now they're smooth as a baby and the 
> harp plays great.
> 
> Now. however, the wood is exposed and I'm concerned it might 
> expand with continuous usage. Also, the wood doesn't look good. 
> It got a bit black from the sanding. It's just an aesthetic thing 
> but I want it to look good, preferably black like the rest of the 
> comb.
> 
> I went to several hardware stores and all they had was 
> polyurethane, shellac,  or paint, all of which is unhealthy to 
> put into the mouth..  The only safe thing I was able to find was 
> an oil that's used to finish butcher blocks, but that won't make 
> the wood look nicer and the oil eventually comes off and you have 
> to keep applying it once in awhile.
> 
> I found a water based paint that has a risk level #1 on the label 
> (0 being the lowest, 5 the highest). I searched Google and 
> couldn't find what does that mean. Is it safe to put in the mouth?
> 
> Does anyone here know what can I use to finish the sanded area? 
> What kind of paint does Honer use? Should I use that?