Replies

1. 
   DANL | May 29, 2005 03:00am | #1

   I'm not a regular here--just passing through, but I would think that shellac wouldn't be that good because it isn't very resistant to moisture. So if you're thinking the child will be teething and sucking on the crib rail and so forth and for that reason you want the finish to be non-toxic, I think you might want to consider something else.

   I'm sure others will come along with better suggestions, but there is a company named "Livos" (I think) that makes non-toxic finishes. Finishes that work for cutting boards would probably also work--namely, mineral oil, and Behlen's Cutting Board Finish. I've also heard that Watco (interior) is harmless once it's cured (but it takes several weeks to cure).

1. 
   WillGeorge | May 29, 2005 11:34pm | #5

   shellac wouldn't be that good because it isn't very resistant to moisture..

   A childs SPIT is OK.. Just wipe on some more stuff!

    

1. 
   Ungerman | May 30, 2005 05:58pm | #6

   Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge.Russ

2. 
   daveybobcat | Jan 29, 2008 10:44am | #8

   OK everyone has said NO to the shellac.  But I just Bought some!!  LOl

    

   So what should I use instead.  Im looking for ease of application and durability!

   thanks!

1. 
   daveybobcat | Feb 04, 2008 11:34pm | #9

   bump

1. 
   agkerr | Jul 20, 2008 09:43pm | #10

   Just about every finish is "non-toxic" once it has fully cured. There's a broader issue here - many finishes (and engineered wood products) off-gas harmful VOC's (volatile organic compounds) for extremely long periods. Current practice in the architectural community is that you should avoid this whenever possible. Products with high VOC's should never, in my opinion, be used on a project that a child's face will be next to for 50% of their day.A number of products exist that are low VOC (and are required in all new green buildings), as well as engineered woods that use urea-free binders. Google "LEED certified paint" or "LEED certified wood" if you want to find them.

2. 
   AlbionWood | May 29, 2005 03:16am | #2

   Depends what you mean by durable, I guess. Shellac is more water-resistant than most people think, but it is easily scratched.

   Pretty much all finishes are non-toxic once fully cured, though, so you should use whatever will give you the look you want. Polyurethane is fine. (Yes, I know there are metal salts in it. If a kid ate every square inch of finish off a crib, he still wouldn't get enough of a dose to poison him, especially since the finish is a non-reactive plastic that passes through his system.)

   http://www.popularwoodworking.com/features/finish3.html

   "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler."  A. Einstein

   http://www.albionworks.net

3. 
   HowardAcheson | May 29, 2005 09:28pm | #3

   All modern interior finishes are considered non-toxic when fully cured.

   Shellac is OK but not very durable. It is rapidly dissolved by saliva and dissolved even faster by either ammonia containing cleaning products or the ammonia (urine) from babies.

   Howie.........
4. 
   WillGeorge | May 29, 2005 11:32pm | #4

   Is shellac durable enough for a crib   .. Geee ya EAT it all the time.. Well depending on what ya eat!

5. 
   WillGeorge | May 31, 2005 09:32pm | #7

   I've read in several finishing books that I should use shellac for children's toys because it is non-toxic.

   I got ALOT of Gramgbabies..  Stainless steel about 1 inch thick works OK!