I know better now. The finish ought to be determined up front. I’m trying to complete a child’s rocking horse before Christmas, using red oak per the plan recommendation. This might qualify as my first serious gotta-do-it-right-or-else project. Precious little experience here.
Any recommendations for a fast worthy finish? (No recommendation for that in the plan.) Thanks in advance!
GaKnotHead
novice WWer, accomplished collector of WW stuff
novice WWer, accomplished collector of WW stuff
Replies
Four or five wiped-on coats of Waterlox, applied a day apart. The horse should be ready for ridin' a week after the final coat is applied.
Get a box of heavy-duty paper towels (one brand is Scott Shop Rags) and use those to apply the finish. It's fast, and it's really hard to screw up.
-Steve
Just what I did. Maybe not the best but it turned out pretty well as far as the finish went.
I started with several wash coats of shellac. Let it dry a day or two then painted it. Yes, painted it.
I used Rust-Oleum American Accents. A very nice working latex paint.
This paint is labeled Unleaded - Safe for use on children's toys... Etc. I applied several coats sanding lightly between coats following the directions on the can. The color in the picture is Nutmeg. The child wanted a brown horse. American Accents has a selection of colors but I did not go for a custom tint because I did not want to add anything to the paint that may make it unsafe for a child. Yes, I 'think' the tints added to paints today are safe but why ask for trouble!
Edited 12/3/2007 6:48 am by WillGeorge
Wipe on waterlox as suggested, but you can probably do two coats a day, and it will be ready in plenty of time. I'd do 6-8 coats.
"...a fast worthy finish?"
I'd go with a few coats of shellac.
Very quick, very worthy, very safe, very easy to repair.
Not so saliva tolerant perhaps, but still good.
Paint is more durable and a good option too.
You may get questions about whether the finish is toxic -- child-raising "experts" are full of warnings about this issue. There are no wood finishes sold now in the US which are toxic after they are cured. The last toxic finish was lead paint, and it has not been legal in the US for fifty years. Varnishes, paints, shellac -- they're all non-toxic after they're cured.
"The last toxic finish was lead paint, and it has not been legal in the US for fifty years."
Well, thirty years. And there was a grandfather clause, so paint manufactered prior to the ban could still be sold.
Lead is still permitted in paint for certain industrial uses, like highway bridges, but it would be rather unlikely for such paint to end up on household items (except perhaps those made in China...).
-Steve
> Well, thirty years.That's about right. I was still able to buy it for marine applications in late 1974, but it had been banned for everything else.
George Patterson
Used Waterlox and finished up just in time for the tree, in spite of me. Thanks all, and Merry Christmas!GaKnotHeadnovice WWer, accomplished collector of WW stuff
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