Sealant For Leather Mugs/bottles With Hot Liquids

[cem]

I hope you guys don't mind me chiming in on this one. I've been curious about leather mugs and cups for awhile myself, and I'm sure I'll get around to making one in the near future. The link that cem listed for the product called "ep21lv" is rated as a service temp of 250F. Since water boils under normal pressure (sea level) at 212F, this seems like it should be good for hot drinks. I just wouldn't use an instant coffee and put it in the microwave to boil

The application guide shows that it cures in 24 - 48 hours at room temperature, which sounds reasonable to me, but its cured color is clear-amber. Most likely will change the tint of your project a little.

I'm certainly going to give douglais's suggestion a try, as I don't drink warm liquids, but I may contact Master Bond if I change my mind. If anyone does contact them, let us know what they say and the amount and pricing they are willing to supply.

Thanks,

Ryan

P.S. After another minute of looking around, I realized the link that rtp41 was talking about was referring to EP30HT. This one can withstand temps up to 400F and cures in 24 hrs at room temp.

Cool thanks for that Ryan in the original article rtp41 posted they put RP30HT instead of EP30HT and I didn't realise at the time so couldn't find it by searching I found the other one by going through the PDF guides but this one definately looks like it's the the one to use for the increased temp range.

Cheers,

Clair

[JonM]

Just spoke with a fellow at Master bond and the epoxies mentioned here are not rated for direct food contact, only indirect.

Jon

[rtp41]

here is another one

http://www.dow.com/PublishedLiterature/dh_03fd/0901b803803fd490.pdf?filepath=epoxy/pdfs/noreg/296-01425.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc

[MarkH]

Other sites I've seen have mentioned Salad Bowl Finishes as well. Such as this one from Rockler Woodworking. I have no idea how well it works but some Home Depot and Lowes locations also carry similar products from what I've been told. I have a Rockler nearby so I'm going to pick some up and try out on a mini-mug. I'll let you know how it works.

[Aghrivaine]

I got the Enviro-Tex Lite (it's available from Amazon) and it worked very neatly on a mug, bottle, and flask that I'd made.

When i was at the SCA Great Western War, I talked to a leather crafter there who'd been making leather jacks and the like for years, and he said he'd always used Enviro-Tex Lite, and that it had kept a mug he's used for 10 years or so waterproof and, as far as he can tell, safe for use.

So...I'm convinced!

[Meleck]

Other sites I've seen have mentioned Salad Bowl Finishes as well. Such as this one from Rockler Woodworking. I have no idea how well it works but some Home Depot and Lowes locations also carry similar products from what I've been told. I have a Rockler nearby so I'm going to pick some up and try out on a mini-mug. I'll let you know how it works.

As hobbies, I am a woodturner as well as a leatherworker and the Salad Bowl finish would be available anywhere wood turning tools are sold. The ones that I know who carry it would be Lee Valley in Canada and Penn State Industries (well) in the States. The Lee Valley is just a wax so may not be what you are looking for. The Penn State does cure so I figure it would be more adequate as a hot liquid finish.

Another thing that I have learned is that an epoxy finish (such as Envirotex) can be victim to a very powerful solvent which is phenol. Phenol is present in wines that are less than a year to a year and a half old. If you drink wine in a epoxy finished glass, it will have a very strong taste of epoxy. That was reported to me by a professional wood turner with numerous wooden wine glasses sold all over the world. He has never had any problems with his glasses except when used with "new" wines.

I thought I would share that with you.

[Urshag]

I just spoke with a rep at the company that makes Envirotex Lite and they said that when exposed to extremes ( like a really cold or hot beverage) it can cause the resin to crack or become unsafe for food use. She mentioned she gets at least 1 call a week from people asking the same thing! lol

She stated that as far as she knows there is no food safe finish except for the Salad Bowl Finish, but she is unsure how that would work for lining a mug or a bottle. She stated that if any of us finds one that works to let her know so she can pass on the info to others that call her.

I may make a test mug using the Salad Bowl Finish and see how it holds up to testing. If I do that I'll report my findings.

[ormus1]

I just spoke with a rep at the company that makes Envirotex Lite and they said that when exposed to extremes ( like a really cold or hot beverage) it can cause the resin to crack or become unsafe for food use. She mentioned she gets at least 1 call a week from people asking the same thing! lol

She stated that as far as she knows there is no food safe finish except for the Salad Bowl Finish, but she is unsure how that would work for lining a mug or a bottle. She stated that if any of us finds one that works to let her know so she can pass on the info to others that call her.

I may make a test mug using the Salad Bowl Finish and see how it holds up to testing. If I do that I'll report my findings.

Ive used Envirotex with my mugs for years. A while back it was actually listed as food safe, but as laws change they had to remove it from the packages.

[ormus1]

does the chemical odor eventually go away with the salad bowl finish? I tried some on an older mug that needed to be sealed. Its much easier to work with than Envirotex but it has left a very strong chemical smell.

[EmmaCompton]

Hello everyone! I'm brand new here, and this is my first post. I'm getting started with leatherworking, and want to make some tankards for my upcoming wedding as a gift for my groomsmen. (It's going to be a pirate wedding on Catalina!) We're doing a lot of this stuff in a DIY fashion.

I've seen leather jacks and tankards at Renn Faires and Pirate Festivals, as well as on Etsy, that claim to be safe for hot liquids. As I'm a devoted coffee drinker, this would be highly desirable for me. Does anyone have any idea what resin these crafters are using? I've googled to heck and back and found nothing. Zip. Bupkus! I turn to you, noble leatherworkers, and your infinite wisdom. Will anyone help a humble pirate in need?

I have been several jacks and bottles .. have used envrotex which is a food safe resin .. works great! I usually put a coat on, wait a day and put another coat on. Sometimes up to 3 coats, depending on how well it took. You can tell how thick it is by running your finger on the inside of the jack (when dry of course), and you should not feel any bumps. It should be smoothe resin.

You can but it online or at most craft stores .. Michaels has it, at least that's where I've found it every time. It comes in a few different sizes, and you get quite a bit out of each bottle, so I would suggest a small bottle, unless you plan on making lots.

Enjoy!