As we’ll discover, there are more options that you might think. Woods naturally come in a huge variety of colors and clear finishes can really make those colors pop. Give your kids the highest-quality tools to create their masterpieces with this “craft paint guide” from Five Star Painting!. Im dealing with the same issue. . $13.99$13.99. They are as easy to use as food coloring, but available in a lot more colors and come already diluted to the optimal concentration. What size is considered to be a choking hazard? Get access to free prizes, product sneak-peeks, reviews, how-to's and much more! Various kinds of oils are commonly used as wood finishes and paint base/medium. But it doesn’t dry hard and is best followed by a wax topcoat. Paint Safety for Your Pets and Sensitive Loved Ones. Hi Jenny! Thank you for this very interesting article. Safety Features for Toys Select toys that meet the Australian Standard AS/NZ ISO 8124 Check the recommended age on the label to make sure the toy is suitable for the child. I make wood toy and paint them with natural water painting (pigment, gom arabic…). – LiveStrong.com. Hape toys are made from sustainable materials-primarily wood and bamboo- and finished with child-safe paints and organic inks. “Boiled” linseed oil has toxic chemical driers added and should not be used for baby toys. I am working on some hand carved Hebrew alphabet blocks for my one-year old grandson. Composite materials, such as MDF or plywood, can also be a problem if not sufficiently smoothed, sealed and finished. Never use chemically treated wood to make toys. Once dissolved in alcohol (more on this in a moment), it has about a 6-month shelf life. He reiterated that shellac itself is non-toxic (and actually edible). Veggie Baby Finger Paints for Toddlers, Vegan, Organic Baby Safe Coloring, Play, Colorful Eco Painting (5 Colors) 4.3 out of 5 stars. Steve made his first woodworking project at age 9 (in 1982) and whittled his first wooden chain at 18. Shellac is prone to damage from some household cleaners, softens in high heat, scratches pretty easily and prolonged contact with water can cause discoloration. If in doubt, consider a “lead in paint and dust” test kit, such as this one sold by The Home Depot. Only purchase bird toys from manufacturers that label their toys as lead and zinc free. Refer to product labels for cure times. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); We've restructured our pricing. So the next time the question comes up, you’ll be able to make a more confident, informed decision. Bee’s wax and carnauba wax are the most commonly used toy safe waxes. Safe & Strong. But avoid potential choking hazards when making toys for young children. I want to use vibrant colors for the blocks and then coat them so that the color stays for the long haul even with lots of kid mileage. Finishes that have not completely cured are likely still off-gassing. I asked Shellac Shack’s Malcolm Young for some information concerning the use of shellac on toys. Most of the VOCs have usually been released by the time a finish has fully cured. Written by. And trying to match toys with verifiable MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) to appease customs just isn’t feasible. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. SPEND £24+ AND GET FREE NEXT DAY DELIVERY. Like it or not, we’ve all eaten the stuff. He was also a consumer electronics repair tech and shop owner for a little over 20 years, until his impending obsolescence became impossible to ignore. I reached out to a bunch of companies, did lots of research and even polled some fellow woodworkers to unearth the elusive answers and steer you in the right direction. Although this is the typical medium Hape use to manufacture their toys, sometimes plastic is used on certain parts of a toy. Learn More > Dismiss, Copyright 2020 Sprayster | All Rights Reserved | Sprayster is a subsidiary of Wintra Limited | This Website Has Been Developed In-House By Sprayster, Wintra Limited, Sprayster.com, Queensway, Main Road, West Bilney, King's Lynn, PE32 1HW. * Wood Magazine’s take on food safe finishes. kindly, xilebel. And depending on the brand and what they use as a denaturant, it may leave behind a nasty residue. Derived from the edible flax seed, raw/cold pressed linseed oil (NOT “boiled” linseed oil) can be used for toys. And that’s fine for most projects. Another, often overlooked, way to add color to a toy is by scorching with a torch, woodburner or CNC laser engraver. However, the toy comes with a plastic credit card. Especially once they’ve outgrown their “the world is my binky” stage. One of the scary-sounding things you’ll encounter when researching finishes is “VOCs”. It’s best if you don’t think about it. To speed up the process, most companies sell what’s called “boiled” linseed oil (BLO). Some charities are fine with toys being finished. Most milk paint is considered toy safe, and a great choice for children’s furniture as well. In a nutshell, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are carbon-containing compounds that readily evaporate at normal indoor atmospheric pressure and temperature (not all carbon compounds are VOCs). If it needs to be thinned, use citrus solvent (made from orange peels) to maintain the non-toxic quality. Wow, that was a lot to process! There are ways to color wood in a “toy safe” manner, but let’s begin with clear finishes. But as you see, there are a lot of toy safe finishes out there. The first two are sometimes used on toys but – since there’s some (probably over-hyped) controversy surrounding those as baby toy finishes – I’m hesitant to give a solid recommendation (I’m also not ruling them out). Probably way more than you thought. Resin finishes come in several varieties, including lacquer, polyurethane, epoxy and shellac. That is, some of the things we should definitely avoid when making and finishing toys for young children. Tung oil (also known as China wood oil) comes from the seed of the tung tree and was supposedly introduced to the West by Marco Polo. Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch brush paint is "Toy Safe", subject to Toy Standard Testing: BS EN 71-3: 2013 + A1:2014, Migration of Certain Elements. Mythic Paint Mineral oil can be found in any drug store. Tempera – This paint is quite non-toxic and crummy. And I don’t disagree. I found your article as I was looking for child safe paints and clear coats. Their diaper is safe. Typical applications include children's toys, picture frames, vases, bric-a-brac and garden … But the realm of finishes is vast and I’ve undoubtedly missed some things. The essential safety requirements cover 1. general risks: the health and safety of children, as well as other people such as parents or caregivers 2. particular risks: physical and mechanical, flammability, chemical, electrical, hygiene and radioactivity risks The Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC replaced the former Directive 88/37… Get it as soon as Tue, Feb 2. Drying oils don’t “dry”; they cure. So it’s ultimately up to you to verify these findings for yourself and decide whether or not to heed the advice and recommendations presented. Do you have any advice for me? As previously noted, many premade “oil” finishes are actually mixtures of oil and wax. While VOCs aren’t something you want in your child’s mouth, the term actually refers to air quality (not oral hazard) and becomes a lot less of an issue once a finish has cured. Rust-Oleum Blue Chalkboard Brush Paint Matt Toy Safe 250ml £ 7.25; Rust-Oleum Bright Neon Green Paint Toy Safe 125ml £ 7.25; Rust-Oleum Bright Neon Pink Paint Toy Safe 125ml £ 6.65; Rust-Oleum Bright Neon Yellow Paint Toy Safe 125ml £ 7.25; Rust-Oleum Buttercup Yellow Gloss Spray Paint Painter’s Touch Craft Enamel 150ml £ 5.99 This harkens back to the clear finishes, but adding color to a toy can be as simple as using different wood species. A lot of woodworkers prefer to show off the wood’s natural beauty. If you have any tips, concerns or favorite toy safe finishes, please let us know in the comments. Vegetable oils, however, can spoil and become rancid; probably not the teat you want your baby suckling. One of the most common oils for treating food preparation surfaces is medical grade mineral oil. Painting is a wonderful, creative outlet for children of all ages, but is their paint safe? A clear finish will help keep the wood free of stains, make it easier to clean, and reduce any possible irritation for kids who may be sensitive to certain nut or oily woods, such as walnut, cedar or cocobolo. Some sources say that pretty much any topcoat – shellacs, lacquers and varnishes – is non-toxic and inert once fully cured, and leave it at that. Perfect for Wooden Toys In addition to being safe, Real Milk Paint adheres particularly well to wood. Here’s a great article showing what they can do. It's really hard to find good information about how to paint, stain, or dye wooden toys with safe, non-toxic paints, stains, or dyes. Did you ever find a solution. I asked Green Building Supply’s Joel Hirshberg if they had any food grade paints. So mix only enough for your project. I’m looking for an advice. But for older kids who aren’t going to stick it in their mouths, pretty much any lacquer or polyurethane will do just fine. He replied, “Since no paints are truly edible, we do not call them “food grade.” I was asking the wrong question. It is essential that you look for “AP non-toxic” seal on the acrylic paint before its use. With children who no longer taste test everything within arm’s reach, you can obviously get away with a lot more. Red, yellow, black or white, a toy you make is a toy that’s right. Combining our trademark rich colours and scrubbable finishes with the gentlest of water based formulations, they offer baby-safe paint for cots, cribs, and even toys. Curing is when all the little baby molecules link and grow up to form larger, adult molecules (scientifically speaking, of course), in a chemical process known as “polymerization”. Toys must also comply with any other EU legislation applicable to them. It should be applied thinly and given plenty of time to dry between coats (several days, sometimes), or it can become a sticky, gooey mess. THE SAFE CHOICE FOR KIDS Since Real Milk Paint is a non-toxic substance with a zero-VOC content, its use is ideal as an interior paint for family homes, children’s items and accessories, and even old wooden toys that need a little TLC. For best results, allow the water to completely evaporate away then seal the project with one of the clearcoat options above. Australian made and owned, Ecolour has been helping customers breathe easy with premium quality, zero-VOC paint for over 12 years. You can also buy de-waxed shellac for when the wax might interfere with base coat finishes. Tried & True polymerized Linseed Oil and Beeswax Finish: Filed Under: Featured, Painting, Resources, Safety, Woodworking Tagged With: baby safe, non toxic, toy finishes, toy safe, VOC. Children usually get along just fine with painted furniture, toy boxes and other large objects. Lead paint continues to show up in Chinese-made toys. $24. Clear finishes also enhance – and usually darken – the grain. But some may continue off-gassing for years. And it too is sprayed on a lot of the fruits and vegetables you buy at the supermarket to increase shelf life and make them look pretty. Pin Share Email Petri Oeschger / Getty Images. Of all the topics I’ve looked into over the years, few are as mired in confusion as that of toy safe finishes. One important concern when using paints is that they don’t peel or flake off and get ingested by the young’uns. Our most environmentally-friendly paints, our Intelligent paints, have all been certified as Child Safe under BS EN 71-3: 2013 (also known as the Toy Paint Regulations). Shellac is a different story altogether; it’s actually edible, providing you use the right solvent. These are mostly gone from the market, but still worth keeping in mind. Before exploring what TO use, perhaps we should first discuss what is NOT toy safe. Whether you’re a concerned parent or just a woodworker who wants to be sure your products won’t endanger the health of curious young mouths, you too may have asked “What finishes are safe for wooden toys?” It’s a simple question with a slightly complicated answer. ECOS Paints (also marketed as “Lullaby Paints”) is a worry-free color option for your baby’s nursery. I am looking to purchase some items from a private seller who uses this to seal her products. So I put this page together to be a collected resource for people who might like to make or paint toys. Most milk paint is considered toy safe, and a great choice for children’s furniture as well. When it comes to toy safe colorants, it doesn’t get any safer than food coloring. But, of course, there’s a little more to the story than that. Since then, Steve has focused passionately on manipulating his wood... in his workshop. Any specific recommendations? Lightly sand the toy just to rough the finish and scuff it up. This increases its viscosity and drastically shortens drying time. But they may have to account for the safety of – and materials used in – the handmade items they distribute, especially when doing charity or mission work outside of their home country. Patricia Sund . This includes things like pressure treated lumber and pallet wood (some pallet wood is fumigated or may have been exposed to toxic materials). Or, if you’re so inclined, you can find recipes to make your own oil/beeswax finish online. So let’s dig a bit deeper and see where the simple answers begin to fall apart. Like carnauba wax, shellac is also used to give many candies, coffee beans and pills that glossy sheen. I’m looking for something to protect them: If I put something water-based on, a tiny part of the paint is dissolved and the colours go one on top of the other. It’s also a great choice for wooden toys. Just because a finish is dry to the touch doesn’t mean it’s fully cured. It’s sold as an “intestinal lubricant”. Choose the Right Paint. I found a hard oil that works, but it smells like wood, so white, blue and green are no longer correct. But I suspect most kids prefer color. . Safe for Earth. Remember that they can be rough and break off small parts, they like to gnaw on things and nothing gets in the way of a good teething session. Thank you, Steve! Be careful when allowing your child to play with old or antique toys that might be present within a friend and family member's home. Using an oil based finish over a water based stain (or vise versa). Premium Quality. ECOS Paints are non-toxic, VOC-free and certified safe for use on toys and around those who are particularly sensitive to chemical vapors and paint odors. When painting walls or furniture for the very young, the elderly or anyone else who may be particularly intolerant or sensitive to chemicals or odors, try low VOC paints and finishes. Don't judge him. Five Star Painting knows when it comes to your little ones, you’ll do anything to keep them safe. Guidance for businesses. Safe to be around is not the same as safe to ingest. Having encountered the question of toy safe finishes many, many times (including once in the past half hour), I know how confusing it can be. Rust-Oleum even has a line of toy safe paints; in the UK, at least (though I’ve also seen some of it on Amazon). You are a good writer as well as an obviously good craftsman. These paints contain highly controlled ingredients making them safe to use throughout the family home, so a perfect choice if you’re looking to paint furniture, nurseries and toys. As woodworkers, we love to see that pretty wood grain – and clear finishes are by far the most popular choices for baby toys. Dilute food coloring with water and use it to dye bare wood by dipping, spraying, painting or sponging it on. Before embarking on a toy making spree, find out if there are any specific guidelines or requirements you should be aware of – and remember the things we said you should always avoid – so that your efforts aren’t in vain. . But that’s a whole other topic. Thank you so much for this article. “Food grade” is the safest of all, but few finishes are truly food grade. It helps rejuvenate dried wood and prevent cracking. It imparts a nice amber hue, but dries very slowly and does not form a hard film. Rust-Oleum even has a line of toy safe paints; in the UK, at least (though I’ve also seen some of it on Amazon). VOCs often come up when discussing toy safe finishes, but the presence or absence of VOCs is not a good indicator of whether or not a product is “toy safe”. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you are creative enough to have made your own toys or simply wish to personalise or update toys and furniture that you have purchased, Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch brush paint is the perfect solution. Painting children’s toys and furniture – the safe way Fri, Aug 30, 2013 11:21 CET. Many woodworkers use denatured alcohol as their shellac solvent. When trying to distill exactly what makes a finish (a paint, stain, clear coat, or other surface treatment) “toy safe”, it’s sometimes hard to get a straight answer. Our vision is to be respected as a trusted, ethical and sustainable company and acknowledged as the leading provider of innovative paint and colour technology. Read the label and make sure it says “non-toxic”. Read about everything happening now and in the future. Actually, I take that back; no diaper should ever be treated as safe. But some (my local woodworking club, for example) ask that all toys be bare, unfinished wood. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. When purchasing tung oil, carefully read the ingredients to make sure you’re getting the real thing. There are many woodworking clubs, churches and charitable groups who gladly accept toy donations that they can pass along to children in need, especially around the holidays. No plug-ins, free. Hey, no one ever said babies were easy to care for. *” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:18|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff|line_height:2″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”fadeInUp”][vc_custom_heading text=”*UK mainland only. [vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” css=”.vc_custom_1544627832832{background: #f0f0f2 url(https://www.sprayster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Sprayster-Color-Category-Background.png?id=88276) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_custom_heading text=”Toy Safe Paint” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:90|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”fadeInDown”][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][vc_custom_heading text=”BUY AS MANY AS YOU WANT AND ONLY PAY £3.40 POSTAGE MAXIMUM. How to safely paint wooden toys: Every time you paint there's always some prep work - Protect your work surface (by putting down old newsprint or some other covering). Hi! A lot of products sold as “tung oil” contain little or no tung oil, but rather, other resins, thinners and chemical driers. Do not donate the toy. It should contain zero volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.. The next tier would be “food safe”; in other words, safe for use on food contact items, such as countertops and salad bowls. Thank you again so much! With any finish you’re considering for toys, we’d recommend checking both with the manufacturer regarding any safety information as well as any outside sources that might have insight into the product’s safety. Life with little ones can be a balancing act – luckily, our Modern finishes have it down to a tee. It may be perfectly fine to have small parts and delicate features on something an 8 year old or teenager is going to use. For some of the most vibrant colors you’re likely to find, try liquid watercolors. A better alternative to raw linseed oil is “polymerized” linseed oil, which has been heat treated under vacuum. the EN 71, Part 3 (safety of children’s toys.”. And the deeper I dug, the worse it got. For a hard toy safe epoxy finish, you might consider ArtResin. Child Safe paints are deemed exactly that once they are certified under BS EN 71-3:1995 (also known as the ‘Toy Paint Regulations’). If you suspect a toy may have been manufactured with lead or lead paint, take the toy away from your child and throw it away. Note that “toy” in this context refers mostly (but not exclusively) to those intended for young children, who are often prone to putting things – absolutely every thing – into their mouths. In December 2010, the Government of Canada restricted the use of six chemicals (phthalates) in the soft vinyl of children's toys and child care articles such as bath toys, baby bibs and teethers. While this is not an exhaustive list, I boiled down my findings to what I see as the most viable and trusted options. The short, simple, answer is that a toy safe finish is one that’s non-toxic. 98. Some charities, for example, may only accept unfinished toys (more on that later). Toys for young children (and the components of the toys) should be durable and sufficiently large. Natura goes beyond zero VOC to offer zero emissions, making it a safer paint for your family and the environment, all without compromise to performance or color selection. So research their age appropriateness on a case by case basis. From: Office for Product Safety and Standards. While not usually thought of as a “toy safe” finish, it doesn’t mean you have to completely avoid the most obvious wood colorant: paint. Assess the safety of a new toy by supervising your bird's play activities with the toy for the first few days. Safe for You. Bug secretions for the win! But, “denaturing” is basically the process of making the alcohol poisonous to drink. Which materials and finishes are appropriate for your project depends, in part, on the intended age range of the end user. One thing’s for sure: there are degrees of safety. Inspired by Paint Tool SAI, Oekaki Shi Painter, and Harmony. Updated 11/05/19. What would be the best solution? If you want to be absolutely sure no toxic residues are left behind, Malcolm suggests using pure grain alcohol (ethanol) – such as Everclear – as your solvent. Linseed oil is one of the few naturally drying oils. I am very new to the world of wooden toys for my kids and this Information is so helpful. Pretty much any paint will have a hard time bonding to oily, dirty or glossy surfaces. APPLICATIONS. But it’s not so desirable on that baby rattle you turned for your granddaughter. They’re also softer than their cured counterparts, and therefore more readily scraped or chewed away. The Directivelays down the safety criteria that toys must meet before they can be marketed in the EU. Some mineral oil finishes are sold pre-mixed with wax. Then we’ll circle back around to the good stuff. Shellac is typically sold as dry flakes. View Resene’s profile , Quality Policy , Environmental Policy and Health & Safety Policy . However, all three are bug secretions (not excretions), which is still pretty gross. The wild card, he points out, is in the solvent. Patricia Sund. Competitive pricing your wallet will thank you for. But the rich, warm tones make for an inviting finish. Now that we’ve frightened those pearly deciduous choppers back into your toddler’s gums, let’s revisit our original question: What Makes A Good Toy Safe Finish? However, artist-grade acrylics may be more likely to be toxic or contain heavy metals. Suitable for wood, metal and ceramic surfaces. Inside and Outside. Certified Toy-Safe, this paint can also be used to decorate children's toys and furniture. Get it as soon as Tue, Mar 2. One year we had a member at our woodworking club make a bunch of toys out of pressure treated lumber and they were all rejected for safety reasons. Since little kids like my sons chew and teethe on these toys, I want to be especially certain that any coatings or colorings will be safe if ingested. Natura is truly “Green Without Compromise®.” 9. For a faster drying oil that forms a hard waterproof film, try tung oil. For plastic and wooden toys, your best bet is either hobby-based acrylic paint or lacquer paint. Select toys that are well put together Think big. * Best Finish For Wooden Toys – Woodworker’s Journal, * What size is considered to be a choking hazard? You probably won’t want to devour them by the block, but both waxes are “food grade” and relatively safe for little mouths. It would be awesome if you can pass on your knowledge! A multi-purpose, water-based paint for a wide range of small projects and crafts. Unlike vegetable oils – which contain fats – mineral oil will never go rancid. There’s even such a thing as thermally treated wood that’s been “cooked” to bring on a darker color, greater stability and increased water resistance. But don’t let the “is it toy safe?” rabbit hole overwhelm you.