impala59 Posted March 8, 2022 Report Share Posted March 8, 2022 I am making some wooden toys (first one in the rough, a slightly strange push along waddle duck) for my niece who will be one in June. I would like a natural finish but am unsure what to use. My preferred finish for my own stuff is Danish oil which I use for gun stocks and guitars but is it suitable for a one year old? PW usual solid advice please ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted March 8, 2022 Report Share Posted March 8, 2022 What about carve in the details and use natural bee wax... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impala59 Posted March 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2022 Yes the plan is to carve the details, fairly simply as per the pencil lines shown. Would beeswax be safe as I hope it to be tactile as well as played with? We all know that kids fingers are in everything and also their mouths! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted March 9, 2022 Report Share Posted March 9, 2022 Hardwax oil . Gives a lovely child safe finish . Look at osmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted March 9, 2022 Report Share Posted March 9, 2022 You can eat beeswax as people do when they eat honey in the comb. An even better option in my opinion is to mix chopping board oil and beeswax to make your own food safe wax in a 4 to 1 ratio. That’s 4 parts chopping board oil to 1 part beeswax. Heat them gently in a Bain Marie until the beeswax melts. Pour into containers and let it cool. Wax finished. Just rub it in to the wood, leave it for a few hours then gently buff. It will be absorbed in to the wood, so apply a couple on more coats. Refresh as necessary. There are loads of videos on YouTube showing you how to make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impala59 Posted March 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2022 Brilliant! PW knowledge does it again! Thanks gents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 9, 2022 Report Share Posted March 9, 2022 Osmo. We used it on all our kitchen work surfaces, chopping boards, floor boards, skirts, architraves, everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impala59 Posted March 16, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2022 Just about finished, I used a light coat of Osmo yellow that I forgot I had, to give it a childs duck colour, then a coat of beeswax. I had cut the basic detailing with my checkering veiner, but decided to highlight with a sharpie before waxing. Flappy feet are from an offcut of orange leather (amazing the things you find when rummaging the shed!) The axle is steel through a brass bushing with M6 nylocs and plastic dome covers superglued on. A bit of hardwood dowel and another scrap for the handle ("you had to put a pistol grip on it!" said 'er indoors) Made basically with nothing but some 20mm offcuts of chopping board ash and other bits and bobs laying around I hope it will please a one year old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted March 16, 2022 Report Share Posted March 16, 2022 Looking really good mate very impressed as I'm sure your niece will be.. I still remember with fondness the farmyard my father made for me over 50 years ago something made with love bringing with it a lot of memories..👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted March 16, 2022 Report Share Posted March 16, 2022 Very nice toy. I remember our daughters playing with wooden wheeled pull-along dogs as toddlers and loving them. I did make a wheeled trolley and stackable decorated wooden bricks for our elder girl's first birthday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted March 16, 2022 Report Share Posted March 16, 2022 That is such a simple but delightful toy. Well done. Yes, bees wax is completely safe. I was eating honeycomb straight from the hive when I was around that age and now just hitting eight two and still here, natural stuff, but sensible to be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted March 17, 2022 Report Share Posted March 17, 2022 Well done, wooden toys like this are just timeless. We still have an Ark made by a local craftsman for our children, used by grandchildren and now an ornament until another generation or visiting children take it off the shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impala59 Posted March 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 (edited) Tinkering in the garage today and with some scrap ply, a bit of a scaffold board and lopping 8" off my overlong yard broom, I knocked up this rocking horse to go with the duck for my niece. My neighbour commented on how unusual to make a rocking fox! So, fox it is! I will have to brush up on my drawing skills! I guess a fox is more appropriate for PW though! I suppose a one year old will not notice the difference anyway. A bit of sanding to do then decide on finish, I may paint this one so will have to sort out some non toxic paint. Edited March 26, 2022 by impala59 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted March 27, 2022 Report Share Posted March 27, 2022 That is really nice. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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