MIMF

Hey all! So, my dad has recently stumbled into a new hobby. He's started using scraps of wood around the shop to make wooded bow ties. At first I was like... but now that he's got some done they actually look pretty cool and people are responding well to them. He's also going to start making a smaller size that can be used as hair bows for girls and also start making cuff links.
But to this point he's left them raw. I was thinking that might not be such a good idea since oils from skin and other dirt and grime will make them start to look pretty nasty before too long. So, the question to the group: What kind of finish would be good for these? It needs to be something that won't irritate skin and will play nice with dress shirts.

We need pictures!

Behlen makes a finish specifically for food-use salad bowls, so it should be skin safe. No information available on whether it is dress shirt safe, but worth a look. Most woodworking places should carry it.

Tru-oil might be a good option. Let's see them!

I have never made any bow ties, but I have made string ties. In the spirit of sharing photos, here is one of the ones I made. It's made from a fingerboard....a real Luthiers Tie.
Now let's see yours!

And here I thought there was going to be a Dr. Who reference. "Bow ties are cool."

Shellac and tung oil is my suggestion. Get a can of Zinnser sealer and Formby's tung oil and it'll last the entire span of the project. One wipe of shellac then one or two wipes of oil. You could go one step further with some wax. Goes on quickly with t-shirt scraps (out the door in a week), has low odor (could apply at the kitchen table), will stand up against hand and face contact, and looks great.

Mark, I'm not sure of the size of the silver things at the end of your string tie, but those would even be better for musicians if you would put a 1/4" or 1/8" audio plug on the ends!

Hey, good idea! I'll remember that.

Here's a batch he just did.
After he makes them his wife wraps a band around the middle and sows it on for the neck strap.

I totally see those attached to hair clips/barrettes. I bet that would sell like hotcakes at craft shows and such.