5 replies to this topic

[Rusty Bob 8]

Going to be building a Convertible Crib for soon to arrive first born. It will convert from a crib to a full size bed.
I would like to make it out of walnut and want a dark and natural look with sweet grain popping goodness. Along with looks it has to be durable and safe if the little one ever mouths or bites anything. Shellac comes to mind, but wanted to hear some folks recommendations for a finishing game plan.
Thanks for the input.

-RB

[dryhter]

Hey Bob,
LOL good luck, that looks like quite and aggressive project for one that is on the way. I chuckle because I started to make a changing table for my son some twenty years ago, finally got it to the point where all I had to do was assemble it, he was two by then . I figure I'll use it for Grandkids maybe.

Anyways GOOD LUCK
Dave

[dryhter]

Rusty Bob 8, on 02 September 2010 - 10:27 PM, said:

Going to be building a Convertible Crib for soon to arrive first born. It will convert from a crib to a full size bed.
I would like to make it out of walnut and want a dark and natural look with sweet grain popping goodness. Along with looks it has to be durable and safe if the little one ever mouths or bites anything. Shellac comes to mind, but wanted to hear some folks recommendations for a finishing game plan.
Thanks for the input.

-RB

Oh yeah, about the finishing, shellac sounds like a good safe choice, maybe not the most durable, but safe and easy finish to repair .
Game plan would be to prefinish as much as possible before assembling, looks like alot of sanding from the picture I saw. Once again good luck.

[Rusty Bob 8]

Hey Dave,

Thanks for the reply.
Building and sanding is not the daunting task. My knowledge of finishing is not my forte... but I've got until late February if all goes according to plan. And I have my new mortiser to play with too!! It's just one of those things that I want to come out perfect and look great. And since it is going to become a bed eventually it's hopefully going to be around awhile once it gets converted. Then it's going to have to stand up to the use and abuse either in our guest room or for young children. I guess the real question is what is going to be safe, yet still hold up to be durable and maintain heirloom type quality without having to get refinished yet not look poly / or plasticy?

-RB

[BillN]

Don't be surprised if things don't go according to a timetable. My grandaughter was supposed to arrive in mid October. She was impatient by about 6 weeks. As to finish, do some research on this, but after a finish cures properly I believe they are all safe. Satisfy yourself, though. Here's a suggestion. take a piece of scrap of the same type of wood for the project. Sand it to that same grit you will be using. mix equal portions of boiled linseed oil, polyurethane and paint thinner. Make sure the mix is fairly thin. Wipe it on the scrap. Let it dry and repeat two more times with very light sanding between coats. See if that doesn't give you the look and the durability you want. I've seen that formula in several books and magazines and it is more or less what some of the high end canned finishes have in them. The boiled linseed oil tends to eliminate the "plastic" look of the poly.

[DeGauss]

I agree that most interior finishes are safe once fully cured, but for me I have always used shellac for kids toys.

-Gary