Interior wall acrylic on a bed?

[RedShirtGuy]

This is probably yet another of my stupid questions but I want to make sure I'm heading in the right direction first.

I'm modifying an old baby's cot and turning it into a toddler's bed. It's got too many holes and dings that need filling for it to look any good with a translucent finish so I'm thinking of using opaque wall acrylics to color it up and paint some other patterns and characters on it, and possibly a few stickers or bit of decoupage.

Normally I'd probably use spray can enamels but it might work out to be too expensive (comparatively) for the few different things I have in mind. Plus with the acrylic I can get the colors mixed up to exactly what I want.

Will that kind of paint be ok for this job? How will it wear compared to enamel and should I put a protective clear coat over the top...and if so, what can go over water based paint and laser printed material?

Ta :)

[Wrongwayfirst]

No real experience with painting cots, assume kid will chew on it at some stage. I would go for water based enamel. Definitely low VOC (bunnys have told me it's all low VOC now but i found some are lower than others). Porters paints (Porter's Paints - Home (http://www.porterspaints.com.au)) have a good range of low VOC which I have used and results were top notch. They also have a range of natural paint (i havent used it) which if up to same quality standard would be as good as any if chewed

[RedShirtGuy]

Thanks Wrongy. I'll pop in to B's and a maybe another painting place or two tomorrow and make sure they can mix water based enamels and grab a few swatches. A quick skim over B's web site suggests yes. I'm not much of a painter other than houses and didn't realise what's changed in the enamels market over the years. Good to know.

The little monster isn't a biter but thought I should err on the side of caution and go for a "safe" paint (hence the acrylic choice initially) so I can be confident that the bed won't be toxic and I can flog it off as safe when the time comes later...it's not going to see much use so should still be in excellent condition in a few years.

[AngelaPetruzzi]

Just something light for first thing in the morning.
Low or no VOC just tells you the gms/lt of volatile organiccompounds...the nasties in synthetic products such as paints and varnishes. BUTdo they tell you of the other auxiliary chemicals used in products to e.g. maskthe “paint” smell? ...also unless you know the solvent that is being used, the waterbased products continue to off gas the semi VOC. Knowing a number on a tindoesn’t tell you how it reacts once used.
You would be surprised to learn of what is hidden behind alow or no VOC label, not in everything, but it is worth doing your homework.