Non-toxic Kid-Safe Finish

[Budgi]

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?

[Bedford]

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

[Budgi]

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.

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

[Kiwi75]

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.

[Budgi]

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?

[soundman]

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

[Cliff Rogers]

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

Most vegetable based oils have a limited life.

[AngelaPetruzzi]

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.

[tea lady]

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.

[powderpost]

Using MDF then worried about a kid safe finish?

Agreed..

Jim