Pot lid knob finish

[MauleSkinner]

My daughter’s canning pot lid lost its handle, so I turned one out of red oak for her. Just wondering if there’s a preferred finish for an application like this.

Thanks!

[Willyou]

I assume it will need to withstand some heat. If so and you want a clear finish, I think epoxy would be best. If you want color, get a high heat paint like that sold at auto parts stores as engine paint.

[Maple Leaf]

I've gotta disagree. Most finishes don't like heat. Epoxy especially doesn't like heat. It gets progressively softer above about 120º. I would never use it on a pot lid or handle around the stove. Most of the wood knobs and handles in my kitchen were delivered with lacquer; it lasts about a year, then falls off. Ugly process. It's bare wood after that, which gets just as funky looking as the toasted lacquer, but doesn't fall into the wok in chunks. And lasts for years and years with benign neglect.

You're already ahead of the game. Leave it bare now and avoid watching a coating fail slowly over time. It's gonna end up that way in the end.

[jteneyck]

High temperature epoxy will easily withstand 212F.  Engine paint, as said, if you want color.  

John

[MauleSkinner]

Thanks, guys. My concern is what Maple Leaf indicated…any finish coating I put on isn’t going to stay on for various reasons, so I’ll leave it as bare wood.