Finish on natural edged cup?

[lazyMlazyK]

I've got a boxelder maple cup sitting on my lathe right now that I left a bark ring around for added looks.  This cup is for my Mom, whose birthday is next Wednesday.  How would you suggest I finish this cup while keeping the color and texture of the bark?  I also would like a finish that will help hold the bark on the cup for many years.  The cup will NOT be used for drinking from, but rather to store pens, paperclips, loose change, etc.  Thank you for your input!


Kyle

[lazyMlazyK]

No suggestions?  What do the bowl turners use to solidify the bark rim on natural rimmed bowls?

[Lon @ First Flight Game Calls]

If you turned this cup from green wood, then you will have to wait to finish it.  Use thin CA to glue the natural edge, and after the wood has "cured" (put it in a paper bag and weigh every day 'til it quits losing weight) you can generally use and oil finish appropriate to the use of the cup.  Food grade is suggested if the cup will actually be used.   

Lon

[lazyMlazyK]

Thanks first flight.  I got the cup finished (to be honest, I took the quick way out, hopefully it holds fine) and sprayed spar urethane on it.  I finished the wooden "box" just in BLO.

[dogcatcher]

On natural edges I usually use one of the oil finishes.  Mainly because my wife prefers the oil finishes, she says that a single oil coat looks better.

Marvin