Need a high gloss finish

[William F. Johnson]

I'm looking for a high gloss finish that is good and safe for children's toys. Any suggestions?

 

[Dave Mueller]

Bill,
I like General Finishes' water based urethanes. There is the Woodturner's Finish and also their High Performance urethane. Both can be sprayed with an external mix airbrush or applied with a fine bristle brush. The first coat will raise the grain, but subsequent coats will not. If you get any ridges or brush marks they can be sanded with 400 or 600 grit sandpaper and buffed to produce a high gloss finish that is very protective and safe. Gently hand sand so you do not sand through the finish. Best of all each coat will dry and can be sanded in 1 - 2 minutes.

 

[chrisdaniels]

the cedar aromatic vase I posted in the gallery was done with general finishes arm r seal. to be honest anything that's dried is food safe. Doctors woodshop makes a pens plus finish that is high gloss as well. love the walnut oil wax finish

 

[john lucas]

Any finish will be glossy if you fill all pores, level and sand the surface so it's smooth and then put on enough coats of finish to build to the point you can rub out the finish. I use oil penetrating finishes for childrens toys. They are going to chew on them so any high build finish like General salad bowl finish or polyeurethanes will wear off. It's just plastic so if ingested shouldn't do any harm but then why take the chance. If you sand to at least 600 grit and use a coat of finish such Mahoney's walnut oil and then buff it with the Beal you get a nice looking finish that's shiny but not necessarily glossy. Looks great to most people.

 

[Mike Brazeau]

John mentioned General Salad Bowl Finish and that was going to be my recommendation. It builds nicely and you can do three coats easily in a day, probably four on something like a toy. I generally do a minimum of three coats with. Is certified Food Safe for contact but probably not for chewing. As an aside, I have been storing the can upside down and it is keeping fantastically. No gelling what so ever after more than two years after opening.

 

[William F. Johnson]

John mentioned General Salad Bowl Finish and that was going to be my recommendation. It builds nicely and you can do three coats easily in a day, probably four on something like a toy. I generally do a minimum of three coats with. Is certified Food Safe for contact but probably not for chewing. As an aside, I have been storing the can upside down and it is keeping fantastically. No gelling what so ever after more than two years after opening.

Thanks for the feed back! I have many options now.

 

[William F. Johnson]

Any finish will be glossy if you fill all pores, level and sand the surface so it's smooth and then put on enough coats of finish to build to the point you can rub out the finish. I use oil penetrating finishes for childrens toys. They are going to chew on them so any high build finish like General salad bowl finish or polyeurethanes will wear off. It's just plastic so if ingested shouldn't do any harm but then why take the chance. If you sand to at least 600 grit and use a coat of finish such Mahoney's walnut oil and then buff it with the Beal you get a nice looking finish that's shiny but not necessarily glossy. Looks great to most people.

Thanks for the feed back! I will try it.