Need advice

[Dalboy]

Want to make a rattle out of beech for a baby what is the best and safest finish or is it a case of don't bother and make something else

 

[finneyb]

Any food finish or no finish and just buff.
Personally, I'd be more bothered about the kid hitting his/her head with the rattle; it will hurt and you may not be popular. Unless of course it's for display only.

 

[CHJ]

Leave plain or for a silkier finish and a measure of resistance to moisture use a Food Safe Oil, basically a light grade Liquid Paraffin BP.

 

[Dalboy]

Thank you both for your input on this matter. Looks like I will be ordereing one of Chestnuts finishing oils.

Any food finish or no finish and just buff.
Personally, I'd be more bothered about the kid hitting his/her head with the rattle; it will hurt and you may not be popular. Unless of course it's for display only.

finneyb as much as I understand your concerns about hitting themselves with the rattle there are so many things they are going to come into contact with that they can hurt themselves with unless they are wrapped in cotton wool and all toys etc are made from foam.

 

[Jonzjob]

Blimey, they'll be banning conkers next :shock: :shock:

I have always used sunflower oil on the rattles I've made and when I told trading standards in Gloucester I was asked/told to do a fire check :shock: and if it didn't catch fire after holding a match under it for 5 seconds it was OK #-o #-o

 

[moby]

I was asked/told to do a fire check :shock: and if it didn't catch fire after holding a match under it for 5 seconds it was OK #-o #-o

thats plain stoopid, babies know they are not supposed to play with matches, and they are too young to smoke. so whats the problem? :mrgreen:

 

[Jonzjob]

That was my thoughts, but with TS you just say OK. It's one of the reason I stopped making toys for sale!

 

[finneyb]

Personally, I'd be more bothered about the kid hitting his/her head with the rattle;

Perhaps I should re-phrase 'Personally, I'd be more bothered about the mother's reaction when the kid .....' (hammer) :lol:

 

[Jonzjob]

I found that the most efficient length was about 10". That way it wasn't to long and cumbersom for the baby, BUT he/she could inflict some real damage to anyone who came to coo-coo at it :twisted:

You cannot wrap babies/children up in cotton wool. You can't teach them their mastikes, they have to learn by doing it. So to hell with the PC brigade. For JC and his 12s sake let them learn

If a baby has a welding tourch and can set fire to his bleedin rattle then he should know the danger of doing so already!

 

[moby]

growing up is a painful experience.

so is woodturning......... :roll:

 

[EnErY]

buy the little un a fire engine and a crash helmet
Bill

 

[nev]

growing up is a painful experience.

......... :roll:

or it used to be! not so sure now. when was the last time anyone saw a kid picking at a huge scab on his knee or his elbow , gained trying to do a wheelie on an old bike with a buckled wheel and a loose seat, or after discovering the steeper the hill, the faster the bogie (go-cart) goes and the less efficient the brake (stick rubbing against wheel) becomes!
Halogen days :roll:

Sorry, we digress...

have a quick gander at the wooden toys for sale here, there are a variety of finishes stated for various teething / rattle type toys. and if it can pass the litigious american markets they should all be safe as houses.

 

[Dalboy]

buy the little un a fire engine and a crash helmet
Bill

Buy one no way, I made one. And yes I turned all the round bits

 

[EnErY]

Wow I take my hat off To You That Is amazing well done =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>
Regards
Bill

 

[duncanh]

Want to make a rattle out of beech for a baby what is the best and safest finish or is it a case of don't bother and make something else

I've tried a variety of finishes including none, carnauba/beeswax, food safe oil. None of these were satisfactory: no finish marks too easily and doesn't sell well, wax marks too easily when wet (from baby's mouth), food safe oil doesn't look great and doesn't dry completely so can leach out.
My current finish is Rustins Danish Oil which complies with food and toy regulations. It can get damaged when wet but less so than than the other finishes.

My first rattle had traditional long thin handles but someone pointed out the choke hazard (such thin handles are not legal to sell in the US) so I now make them with a flared base.

Every rattle that I've made has been well received and the parents comment that the kids prefer them to plastic ones.

If the kid hits themselves and it hurts they'll learn not to do it! What's the point of a rattle for display only?