cot finish , child safe

[rick_rine]

O.K. We are all different and thats what makes life interesting but I was really peeved when I said to the young man in mitrio ( thats another story ) if there was anything safe I could use on the new cot I had built as a finish . He laughed at me , in a way saying you have to be kidding , whats safe nowadays .
I went home and have finished off my blackwood cot , made from timber milled by me on my own farm , with vegetable oil . O.K. all you guys might shake your heads and think I'm a fool but I've always used it on my breadboards and it is not rubbing off on the sheets as I feared it might . I really rubbed it in . It looks great and I have no fear it will harm my new boy due next week . I wonder if beeswax ( from my own hives of course ) might be an idea but I dont think its really needed . The cot looks superb !
I am now building the cradle , just started today , hope the wife keeps him cooking for a few more days so I have time to finish it . I have made this from pine and am thinking it would look better stained . Any suggestions are welcome .
Rick

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Only problem I can see with vege oil... did you make sure 'twas polyunsaturated? You wouldn't want bub to develop heart problems would you?

Seriously, the main problem there'll be maintenance. You may get tired of rubbing in new coats before the li'l one gets tired of chewing/rubbing/dribbling the finish off.

[ozwinner]

This perpetual question about "what is safe for my baby to chew" really gets me.

How the hell do you think we all got to where we are in this life, we had lead based paint on most things when I were a kid.
Now every new parent uses ( insert the voice of Neil from the young ones here ) " veggy oil " ...........please.

The kid will be faced with more dangers in life than the few hours it will be sucking on the cot/crib etc.
FuGk....., better get the kid a resperator straight away for all the crap it will breath from the air.

Get over it.
Do a search on this forum.


Al :eek:

[Rusty]

G'day, Rick;
You can't go wrong with veggie oil, of course- unless it goes rancid...best to err on the side of caution, anyway. I can't agree with Al's when-I-was-a-boy assessment; little ones need all the help they can get to fortify their bodies for the day they start destroying themselves with booze and women and stuff.

However, it's been suggested that commercially available finishes are harmful only until cured- it's the solvents you have to watch.

As stated in other places on this board, a shellac and wax finish can be considered child safe. It's what I use on items for children, including my own ratbags. Ubeaut brand stuff is good. I trust Uncle Neil, so should you.

Regards,
Rusty.

[rick_rine]

thanks for your replies . I've done the cradle in cabbots stain , shee he's not gonna eat it . I decided against lead based paint because I hear it can turn you into a cranky ol' bastard when you get older

Regards
Rick

[rick_rine]

Charlie has been sleeping in his cot for over 2 years now and it still looks great. If I was to pass the cot on all it would need is another coat of veggie oil. I'm extremly happy with the result.
Rick
(sorry to drag up old threads but maybe someone will find it handy)