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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    3

    Default Non-toxic Kid-Safe Finish

    Hi All,

    Well as the heading says I'm looking for a non-toxic finish for toys I'm making out of 3mm - 6mm MDF or ply.

    I will be producing a ridiculous amount of these so need something that will be very low cost and easy to apply (spray would be preferred ). I've heard that polyurethane dries non-toxic and gives a low-sheen finish? Is there something else there I should try?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Yarra Valley Vic oz
    Posts
    2,462

    Default

    Have a look here mate, http://www.ubeaut.com.au/ubhome.htm

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Although it looks good I'm hoping for something a little cheaper and a matte or low-shine finish. Also needs to be safe for kids (i'm sure that stuff is but can't find where it guarantees it). Thanks for the link though. I might try it out on some other products I'm making.

    Quote Originally Posted by Bedford View Post

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    0

    Default

    I use plain old canola cooking oil, you can brush it on or put the oil in a bucket with a lid and drop them
    in to soak. Of course it goes off so I keep it in a cool dry spot.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Kiwi75 View Post
    I use plain old canola cooking oil, you can brush it on or put the oil in a bucket with a lid and drop them
    in to soak. Of course it goes off so I keep it in a cool dry spot.
    How would that work with MDF? i just imagine it would drink it up?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    0

    Default

    This whole kid safe finish thing has..A/ been done to death and B/ very much over played.

    Most commercially available finishes with a few exceptions are kid safe..or at least safe for them to handle and put in their mouths.

    some of us are old enough to remember when a very large proportion of childrens toys where made of wood and painted.

    the only real issues are when there are heavy metals used in the pigments..in particular lead in yellow and red colours.
    In general these heavy metals are only used in paints for commercial and industrial use.
    If you wnat a realy colourfast, weather resistant and intense red or yellow...there realy is no way arround lead.
    BUT my industrial paint supplier is able to offer me red and yellow with or without lead bassed pigments.....the non lead pigment is more expensive though.

    While a great many paints and varnishes AND oils have heavy metal driers.....those are the less dangerous heavy metals and are in small amounts in the dried finish.
    If the child is going to have a good suck or maybe a chew on the item....it is unlikly to injest a problematic amount.


    NOW..if we up the anty and start talking about "food safe" that is a whole other story.

    there are more or less three finishes that are actually food safe AND don't taimnt food.
    Shelac parifin oil and wallnut oil.

    NONE of the plain nut or vegitable oils are realy food safe....because on timber they either go rancid, promote microbial growth or taint the food.


    SO back to what to paint toys with.......if the toy is to have a timber look, shelac you simply cant go wrong with...Id go u beaut hard shelac.....dipped sprayed or painted.

    But there is nothing wrong with any commercial polyeurathane.

    If you want colour..I'd be looking ar Receene lustacril or enamacril.....these are water borne from the ground up enamel substitutes....receene have made it their business to make predominantly low toxic low envoronmental impact finishes.
    I have used their lustacril product and it is unlike any other enamel substitute....it dries fast and goes off hard, realy covers well and comes in intense colours.

    receene also do a very high build white undercoat of which I have used a little and it will work well on the MDF.

    They also make a pretty good water bassed interour polly.


    all that said normal domestic or industrial enamel would be fine as long as it does not have heavy metal pigments.

    cheers
    Any thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
    Most powertools have sharp teeth.
    People are made of meat.
    Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Minbun, FNQ, Australia
    Age
    66
    Posts
    1

    Default

    http://www.ubeaut.com.au/FS+.htm

    Most vegetable based oils have a limited life.
    Cliff.
    If you find a post of mine that is missing a pic that you'd like to see, let me know & I'll see if I can find a copy.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    206

    Default non toxic, kid safe finish

    Vegetable oils have no hardeners to protect the substrate.
    How can one know if there are eg heavy metals or what driers are used if manufactures do not list their ingredients?
    ...and I would be worried about using MDF to start off with.
    Cheap...is not always economical.
    Livos Australia

    <O</O

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    belgrave
    Age
    61
    Posts
    0

    Default

    Using MDF then worried about a kid safe finish? For what its worth shellac is the go. You can eat the stuff. And its metho based so won't make your MDF swell like a water based finish would. And dries quite fast.
    anne-maria.
    T
    ea Lady

    (White with none)
    Follow my little workshop/gallery on facebook. things of clay and wood.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Mareeba Far Nth Qld
    Age
    84
    Posts
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by tea lady View Post
    Using MDF then worried about a kid safe finish?
    Agreed..

    Jim
    Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important...

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