Do you have to mix mineral turps. to linseed oil?

[Grace E]

Hi,

I'm a student at TAFE studying to be a child care worker. For a music assessment task I am making tapping sticks using dowel. Our teacher at TAFE told us to finish them off with Linseed Oil because it's non toxic and safe to use for children. But when I went to the hardware store I was told I have to add mineral turps to the linseed oil to help it to dry which makes it toxic.

Can anyone suggest something I can finish the dowel off with that is non toxic and safe for the children? Your help would be greatly appreciated... :)

Thanks and regards
Grace E.

[ozwinner]

Welcome to the forum.

Why do you need to " finish" the sticks?

Al :confused:

[Caliban]

because one of them teacher type persons told her to, mongrels.:D

[Wood Butcher]

Al, I think the finish may be to stop the timber drying out and splitting, giving the little kiddies splinters

[ozwinner]

In that case go with Poly Urethane.
Their little lives are surrounded by it.

Failing that, go the fully leaded paint.:p

Al :)

[Cliff Rogers]

Pls excuse the drunks. :D

If it is for kids, use edible cooking oil.
Sunflower is good 'cos it doesn't go sticky like some.

[ozwinner]

If it is for kids, use edible oil.
Sunflower is good 'cos it doesn't go sticky like some.

And it makes the kids easy to get off the frypan.

Al :D

[Cliff Rogers]

Pls excuse the drunks. :D

They don't really eat children. :o

[ozwinner]

They don't really eat children. :o

Well not whole ones anyway....

Al :p

[Cliff Rogers]

Well not whole ones anyway....

Al :p

Like cats?

I couldn't eat a whole one 'cos it would make me sick. :p

[ozwinner]

That must be your classic hijack?
Gone from linseed oil to cats in 10 posts.

Where's Wongo?


Al :p

[Cliff Rogers]

That must be your classic hijack?
Gone from linseed oil to cats in 10 posts.

Where's Wongo?


Al :p

in 37 minutes. :p

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I'm a student at TAFE studying to be a child care worker. For a music assessment task I am making tapping sticks using dowel. Our teacher at TAFE told us to finish them off with Linseed Oil because it's non toxic and safe to use for children. But when I went to the hardware store I was told I have to add mineral turps to the linseed oil to help it to dry which makes it toxic.

Can anyone suggest something I can finish the dowel off with that is non toxic and safe for the children? Your help would be greatly appreciated... :)

Just oil 'em, wipe off the excess and store in a nice warm place overnight. If the oil soaks straight in, leaving no excess, oil 'em again. The oil won't dry (well... it will, but it takes time that can be measured in weeks...) but it'll soak into the wood enough to be handled cleanly & safely.

If the teacher says they're no good for tapping sticks, you can always use 'em as non-stick chopsticks to get the fried kidleys outta the pan. :)

[ubeaut]

Probably better off to wax them. By the way ask the idiot who told you that linseed was safe if he/she would like to have a spoon full to eat. Bet he/she won't take you up on it, if he/she does, stick around for the fire works. Will be fun to watch..... Oh yeah, call the paramedics first.

Using turpentine with the linseed won't hurt as the turps evaporates and is no longer in the mix when dry. Using polyurethane won't work as it will chip off when they start banging the sticks together. You have two options apply the linseed as Skew said or wax them.

Wax is a traditional finish for tapping sticks, it is very safe, non toxic and easy to use. If you decide you would like to wax them e-mail or PM me your details and I will send you a complimentary jar of our Traditional Wax (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/trad.html) to use on the sticks.

Cheers - Neil :)

PS Just as a little bit of trivia. I think you'll find traditional aboriginal hitting sticks are finished with emu fat.

[Bodgy]

Neil

I can't help myself, but to continue the logic.

Will you be selling tickets when you eat a spoonful of Trad Wax?

Generous offer re the comp wax tho, well done

[Iain]

Ubeaut Emu wax, look forward to seeing it at the next WWW:D

[Simomatra]

Well done Neil

Cheers sam

[ubeaut]

Bodgy - Would gladly eat the wax (minus turps) but not the linseed oil. Would also rather a child sucked on the music stick coated in the wax than the linseed oil or for that matter most other oils. There is a big difference between linseed oil used for cooking (pretty hard to get) and that used as a finish. It will make you sick and will make a child bloody sick. Wax won't.

Still, probably doesn't matter what goes on them, the children will probably end up putting some of their own tongue oil finish on anyway. Hehehe :D

Cheers - Neil

[echnidna]

Agree totally with Neil.
Edible linseed oil may be purchased under the name of "flax seed oil"

[outback]

Has anyone ever seen an obese emu we can melt down? I mean they all look so fit and lean and agile, I never imagined the "Norm" of the emu world.

[Iain]

Has anyone ever seen an obese emu we can melt down? I mean they all look so fit and lean and agile, I never imagined the "Norm" of the emu world.
I have heard that Neil intends to cheat and use Ostrich, but don't tell anyone, especially the Ostrich.;)

[outback]

All I can imagine is feeding said ostrich into one of the old time mangler wringers, head first and having the fat come squirting out an orifice located elsewhere. :eek:

[Grace E]

Thank you for your help.

I thought this was a serious site until I read some of your replies...lol You guys are funny, thanks for the laugh. I needed it after a day working with 2-5 year olds at play group. :D

Grace... :)

[ozwinner]

Thank you for your help.

I thought this was a serious site until I read some of your replies...lol You guys are funny, thanks for the laugh. I needed it after a day working with 2-5 year olds at play group. :D

Grace... :)

I thought we were being serious.? :confused:

Al :p

[Groggy]

...I needed it after a day working with 2-5 year olds at play group... It's like doing overtime isn't it :D

[outback]

I thought we were being serious.? :confused:

Al :p


I was being vewy sewious :p

[Iain]

Grace E, love the avatar, reminds me of the real me:rolleyes:
Mum always said I was her little cherub:p

[Hickory]

Food oils are a bad idea as it may go ransid if exposed to kid spit and host bacteria galore. Mineral Oil, (same stuff you use to regulate your bowels, get it at the Pharmacy). Makes also a great finish for cutting boards and Salad bowls. If you wish you can create a luster by polishing with a rag or to get a better finish, disolve pariffin (ma used to use it for canning, get it at the grocery) in the oil. It will luster over quite well when you briskly rub the piece with a soft rag.

Food safe, baby safe, Cheap and easy to apply. MIneral Oil

For far too many years I had students make cutting boards from Offcuts and scrap as a filler project in my WWing classes, Mineral Oil was the best finish to apply. Also, you can reapply when the surface dulls or dings or gets too many gnaw marks

[Cliff Rogers]

....Mum always said I was her little cherub:p

I do NOT want to meet your mother..... :eek:

[Hickory]

Perhaps Science and such is different in the Southern side of life but...

Edible linseed oil may be purchased under the name of "flax seed oil"

Linseed oil is made from Flax seed. Linseed oil is a yellowish drying oil derived from the dried ripe seeds of the flax plant (Linum) Linum is the source if the name Lin or the seed of the Linum plant thus Lin-seed.

Raw Linseed is not stable and has been known to spontanious combust when soaked in rags. It is very slow to dry. So the oil is "cooked" Autoclaved by passing hot air through it. The hot air bubbles looked like it was boiling, thus the name Boiled Linseed Oil which is more stable and dries easier & quicker.

I suppose more detailed refinment will provide an oil that Health food stores can pander along side snake oils and other remedies.

As a food source remember that any plant oil is food for mildew. Mold spores thrive on these oils and can become quite toxic. Bacteria loves to dine on these oils.

This is why I advocate the use of Mineral Oil as food safe finish. The addition of Paraffin provides a harder surface. Both are sourced from Minerals not plants.


Sorry for the lecture but I guess 30 years as a teacher is too hard to ignore. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[outback]

I thought they got obese parrafins and squeezed them through an old mangler wringer to get parrafin oil. :D


Sorry for the lecture, but 30 years as a smart ass is hard to ignore. :D

[Iain]

Of course the poms readfing this will now dash out and soak their boards in kerosene;)

[Buzza]

On the bottle I have at present, the warning says "Do Not Swallow". This means basically to keep it away from children who may attempt to drink it. Older children and adults wouldn't want to taste it, as it smells rather strongly. It would require first aid if it has been consumed.

However, it has been used against human flesh for yonks even eons on the handles of tools such as shovels picks axes rakes, and even cricket bats.This suggests it causes no harm being ingested. It needs no mixing, just wipe it on with a rag or brush it on. I have a place to hang my tools up when I have oiled them. It does not take long to dry, but is best after a day. An old dry rake handle will take it up quickly, but a newer piece of timber may not. Use it at least twice a year on outdoor tools.

Linseed Oil is the best stuff for tools, even the one your wish to produce. It gives a pleasant feel to the wooden handles. Linseed is sold itself to aid digestive problems, and can even be found sprinkled on some of those fancy loaves of bread in specialist bakeries. It can't be all the dangerous. Linseed mixed into bird seed helps birds caste off old feathers.

Buzza.

[Ashore]

Easy way out Grace coat the sticks in anything you want let dry then rub with opened small ornamental chillies, The kiddies will only put the sticks into their mouth once and not long enough to chew

Has the added advantage that after handeling the sticks they wont pick their nose too often or scratch their .......

Well it works


Rgds

[JDarvall]

. If you decide you would like to wax them e-mail or PM me your details and I will send you a complimentary jar of our Traditional Wax (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/trad.html) to use on the sticks.

Cheers - Neil :)
.

:( Jeez Neil.....Why does she get a free jar of wax ?.. She does sound lovely. But, I think I deserve one too. I mean, I'm always talking about how great your product is.....Hell, I've even started a thread on it ! .....bit bloody inconsiderate isn't it ....

:p ....

[Studley 2436]

I always love a free one

free one of what?

Studley

[Caliban]

It can't be all the dangerous. Linseed mixed into bird seed helps birds caste off old feathers.

Buzza.

Thought I'd bring this funny thread to the top of the pile as an attempt to remind people how funny we used to be, especially Al.(Ozwinner)


Grace E, love the avatar, reminds me of the real me
Mum always said I was her little cherub
Iain don't drink the linseed or your mum'll be looking at a fallen angel.:D
See it only took me a year and a half to come up with that incredible quip.:-

[astrid]

course the kids might smell honey and eat the sticks:rolleyes:
but this should be safe
just rub it in hard till you feel heat on the cloth
astrid

[Frank&Earnest]

Thought I'd bring this funny thread to the top of the pile as an attempt to remind people how funny we used to be, especially Al.(Ozwinner)



Call me a sourpuss but the only humour I really appreciated was Groggy's cutting remark...:D

[Ian Wells]

I think one of the issues with linseed oil is the grade and what else has gone through the packaging machine before.
I've seen the assays on the 200litre drums of alkali refined linseed that we get from the Netherlands for use with artists paints and while I wouldn't recommend eating a lot of it , I cant see anything in it that would kill you in a hurry.
Boiled linseed is another matter, dirty stuff that often has had metal salts (cobalt or lead) added to it to make it dry faster.
That being said I'd still trust it over a estapol or polyurethane any day, they are made with some of the nastiest chems and solvents out there.
The best thing is to look at the MSDS for the product before you use it , I think that retailers are obliged to supply them if asked. While not denigrating the forum its a lot safer to check the MSDS than rely on well meaning heresay.
cheers Ian

[MacS]

Ian,

Kudos to you, even MSDS are deceptive, enert materials are added to keep you off track, check the item that are listed, get familar with chemicals that you are buying.

When in doubt ask.

[sea dragon]

The thread was revived. I think the revivers and the responders all need a good spoonful of cod liver oil to keep your coats nice and shiny. :D

Before some wit (or person who thinks themself that and is only half right,) responds, perhaps belated responses are due to receive a U Beaut dose of parrafin oil.... as i understand it, that gets rid of any residual Melbournian tendencies, as we call anal retention north of the border, to be endorsed by :2tsup:.

Do you "Mexicans" read? We will see!!!!!!!!!:D

[Ian Wells]

The thread was revived. I think the revivers and the responders all need a good spoonful of cod liver oil to keep your coats nice and shiny. :D

Before some wit (or person who thinks themself that and is only half right,) responds, perhaps belated responses are due to receive a U Beaut dose of parrafin oil.... as i understand it, that gets rid of any residual Melbournian tendencies, as we call anal retention north of the border, to be endorsed by :2tsup:.

Do you "Mexicans" read? We will see!!!!!!!!!:D

Sure, we anal retentive "Mexicans" can read down here in Melbourne, but often we just try to skip the waffle and add information where its relevant.
Sometimes the 'good natured banter' on this site is a bit hard to follow if you can only get to look at the site every now and then.The in-jokes tend to make it a bit of a closed shop to newbies and internationals.
Love the forums, but if I'm wasting my time here then theres always a chisel I can find to sharpen in the shed.:?