Orient Strand Board safety issues?

[ETaylor]

Are there any safety issues using OSB for kids toys? Thanks, Ed

[tom]

Other than it will "splinter" easily, I can't think of one. That one might be enough, though. Tom

[ETaylor]

I guess I mean toxic glues, etc... Ed

[tom]

Then you've might want to choose between exterior or interior grade OSB. Exterior would be better for formaldehyde emmision rates as the glue used encapsulates it moreso than interior grade glues. At least in Canadian made OSB, according to a GOOGLE SEARCH...Tom

[ETaylor]

What if I apply shellac, stain or laquer (estapol) You think that would help. Ed

[J T]

Tue, Oct 23, 2007, 12:06pm (EDT+14) [e-mail] (ETaylor) doth query: Are there any safety issues using OSB for kids toys? Thanks,

Well, "I" sure wouldn't make any kid toys out of OSB, shellacked or not. But if it was me wondering, I'd get ahold of a manufacturer and ask them.

JOAT "I'm an Igor, thur. We don't athk quethtionth." "Really? Why not?" "I don't know, thur. I didn't athk."

[sweet sawdust]

Yes and no, it depends on what you are making. for small toys or any toy that can be chewed on I would not feel safe with it. For chewable toys (any toy which may find its way into a child's mouth) only materials that can be used around food should be used, most paints, finishes and glues on the consumer (not industrial) market are usable. OSB does not fall into this category. OSB is not a stable material for this purpose in that it will splinter and flake at odd intervals and you can not be sure of what kind of wood is used in the OSB, you may get some wood not suitable for children's toys in the mix.

For larger toys it can be used as filler panels etc but is not a good choice because of appearance and durability. OSB does not hold up well to rough treatment with out flaking and getting holes in odd places. Used by itself OSB will not stand up to the treatment it would get in say a toy wagon without serious damage to the edges of the toy. Even with paint and finish OSB will not hold up well to abusive treatment. The only place I would see a use for OSB in childerns toys would be as filler panels in furniture where it would take only moderate abuse and could be painted or finished to good effect for the item.

OSB is a great material in certain areas but childern's toys is not where it is at its best.

In short the stuff flakes and splinters all over the place and doesn't hold up worth a #%^&, making it unsafe in MHO.

[ETaylor]

Thanks for all that information. OSB has just the look for my purpose. I want to use it as roof in a toy cabin situation. I have had a play with it already. I shaped it and sanded it. Then applied liberal amounts of shellac to seal it and then a wash of milked acrylic paint to get the colour I want. After this it's pretty stable and I thought that if I then estapol it, matte or satin, that would that seal and stabalise it further. I won't be using it in a "chewable" situation unless someone decides to eat the house.

[Curran Copeland]

If the toy cabin is one that a child can occupy then it is not a "toy" but a building. OSB would be fine for that providing the building is not readably transportable by the child. My only concern would be that OSB does not weather well and would need a lot of maintance. It would work well for a doll house type structure that is not to be transported a lot by the child. Anything smaller and I would look for another type of material. I have built several "play houses" out of OSB and they did well for several years except for weather damage, which the owneres could have prevented by a little paint every so often. Curran Copeland Sweet Sawdust

[ETaylor]

Sorry yes it is like a dolls house but more like a log cabin design. It has a 14" x 9" base. I like the texture of OSB and intend to use it for the roof only. It is intended for inside play only. Thanks, Ed.