QuestionHi, i've recently began making wooden earrings and have NO IDEA what to use to seal them or protect them! 4 days after wearing them, little black dots popped up, which i assume is mold starting so i immediately took them out. My ears are fine, but i need to know what kind of organic or non toxic materials i could use, i dont know the exact names of the wood i am using, i get it from a well known craft store, please help!
AnswerHello Jill,
If the wood is molding that fast it is too wet to use, place it in a hot car with the windows rolled up on a cake cooling rack to thoroughly dry it first. Then leave it a good 12 hours ,you may crack the windows a slight bit to allow for air exchange.Then coat with marine varnish or a food grade shellac, or any non-toxic sealant available in craft stores, in that order of preference- marine varnish being waterproof as well as almost indestructible.Food grade shellac is available at candy and cake making suppliers and comes in smaller bottles than marine varnish. Any other varnishes or shellacs should say on the label non-toxic once dried. Beeswax, micro-cystalline waxes, and plain old paste wax can also be used to give the wood a rich lustre and some protection from the elements.
Also sand the wood pieces before use ( or sealing or waxing) to remove any mold spores that may have hitched a ride from overseas, or look at the store you are shopping in for signs off ill health- ceiling being water stained or acoustic tiles discoloured, damp smell, items brought outside in the daytime and then taken in at night ( these are prone to developing condensation inside the package and then reabsorbed into the product at night, upon cooling)- and speak to the manager about the problems you observe,or write a letter to the store if that approach doesn't work for you-the point is , being a good consumer.
You may want to return the wood too ( I would) it certainly should not mould on you rapidly,or in the time it takes to make jewelry! Most wood items are imported and made out of scrap luan, balsa, and pine species- that have been kiln dried. If your home is very damp that could also explain the problem, nonetheless, wood sold in a craft store should not mould in 4 days unless the spores were already present in which case it is a bad product to begin with,or if the wood has been stored a long time in a damp-ish place.
Another approach is to spray or brush on some TSP in solution, or "Oxy-Clean" which in a solution made from the dry peroxide granules will kill anything and bleach the wood to some degree- but sanding,(a Dremel tool is ideal for this ) will accomplish the same thing with less steps after applying a liquid.
It would be a good idea to find out what wood it is as many are toxic : Cocobolo wood for instance,and sassafras are just 2 examples. Ask the store for the manufacturers name if it is sold in bins or otherwise unpackaged and you want to find out. particularly if you are going to sell your wooden jewellery you should know the wood(s) it is made of. Tropical woods are beautiful but many aree toxic, and people don't realize the danger of slowly ingesting doses of those toxins- cutting boards,pipes, and salad bowls are a major issue when made of many tropical woods in contact with food, or otherwise ingestion without realizing the dangers inherent in those woods.
Anyway, I hope this answers your question!
Best Regards,Ari
