Wood selection question

[lonestarwood]

I recently bought a lathe and joined the world of turning.  It has now become a rather lucrative addiction.  However, my question is, if I wanted to make chop sticks for customers, what woods are safe to use just in case the finish wears off over time from use?

 

I really like the exotic woods rosewood, cocobolo etc, but they have a toxicity that I do not want to expose my customers to just because they are beautiful.

 

Thanks

 

~S~

 

I made these from African blackwood, but do not use them as chop sticks yet.

 

[wooddok]

Hard maple and I believe Goncolo Alves and Curapay as used in cutting boards. Perhaps Walnut just not the Tropical kind and Cherry, Apple. Ash and Hickory I would think would be ok. Bamboo for sure will work. 

[Eric.]

Yeah, they have a toxicity.  So does the air we breathe and the tap water we drink.  It's so trace that I personally wouldn't worry about it.  You'd have to ingest more than a lick or two off a chopstick to get sick.  I would imagine.

[duckkisser]

could just use a wax finish then you know its safe for a finish.  but as for the wood ya the trace amounts really isent that worrisome if you want to be on the safe look at woods that are used for cutting boards. 

[lonestarwood]

Thank you all for the replies and advice.  I had to ask because I had a really bad experience with Wnege once because no one told me to wear a mask when sanding the stuff.  Trust me, don't try it at home.  I have a decent amount of the woods you suggested, so I will give it a try and maybe a few others and guinea pig myself out on them before letting them out on the open market.

[Eric.]

Breathing the fine dust of nasty exotics is a different ballgame than licking a clean, smooth stick of it.