Shopsmith Forums

shipwright wrote:Or possibly three too many??:rolleyes:

Paul M

Indeed!!!!

As I have said in the thread Bill V posted awhile back. Last Christmas I made 55 small cars thinking that I would give them to Toys for Tots. Around the first of December I started checking around to see how to do this. I called our local radio station for help and they suggested that I try the Salvation Army. The person I talked to at the station is well known in our area and he felt that by giving them to the Salvation Army the toys would go to the most needy in our area. There was no requirements to meet, I took them over to them and they were very thankful.

This probably does not apply to the specific question, but I work with a VA craft therapy group that does do the TOYS FOR TOTS program. They have always taken hand made/ home made toys. Most of the toys from our class are from kits, and they have always had what I consider to be very silly rules about toxicity/ect. ( not for the kids but for the vets) For example, as a volunteer, I have to use only the slow setting glue on plastic models, so we hold a car part for 10 minutes before we can move on! the fast set is considered a threat, I guess. I made some little wheeled carts to mount toy ducks on, and we used the left over paint from the other kits to decorate the wheels, assuming the paint had already been approved. Unfortunately, we have had several wood workers who do very nice work and can make lots of toys who are now very reluctant to do it, because of the regs.
There is one guy who is now using food grade oil finishes, again assuming it is ok. That still does not address the question of fittings, fasteners ect.
There seems to be a real reluctance on the part of our VA at least to do anything other than the kits. Perhaps due to the regs on toys and certainly from the stand point of the use of tools.

"I'M FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND I'M HERE TO HELP" OMG, those are scary words.
I always support Toys for Tots, and I will continue to do so, but only with store purchased toys, and I only contribute toys with Made In USA tags.
As for my handiwork, I will give gifts to children I know, as I am afraid that donations to organizations may see my work tossed rather than breaking some regulation.

Like Gary, I give to those I know or friends of those I know. I have been giving little cars and trucks to folks in nursing homes. Often these toys go to the grandchildren or friends children. Since the folks in the nursing homes often can't drive because of failing health, this is something that they can play with pretending that they can go somewhere without an eye test, no coordination test, no insurance, tags, licensing, titles, driving tests or gasoline. Gave one of these to an old man who had his driver's license taken because of his poor vision. So when he got his little car, the pastor came to visit him and the pastor's three sons each wanted a little car. They don't know who made, nor do they or I care. Putting a smile on their faces and a bit of hope and imagination in their hearts is what my mission is about. These are all made of scraps left over from book cases and other crafts. Will post pics later. Have some resizing to do.

Has anyone been able to ascertain with a great deal of certainty that the rules set forth by CPSIA do in fact apply to grandpa and grandma who make toys that they give to the kids as gifts.

I have attempted to do research on this subject (and there are many links to chase) but I cannot find any indication that does not seem to apply only to manufacturers and retailers.

I guess the question is: If I make a wooden pull toy for Junior, have I just become a toy manufacturer?

dusty wrote:Has anyone been able to ascertain with a great deal of certainty that the rules set forth by CPSIA do in fact apply to grandpa and grandma who make toys that they give to the kids as gifts....

Yes, I have ascertained with certainty - and Yes, CPSIA does apply to grandpa, grandma, and any others that make a toy (or other item) that will be used for children. The law and rules apply NOW!

A reference many of us can refer to, can be found on Page 84 of the September 2010 issue of WOOD Mag. (Issue 199)

The rules have been changed somewhat by the CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commission). So far they have found that all wood is non-toxic and therefore needs no testing. (funny finding, but I'll take it!) They have also ruled that all finishes are covered by the law, and will require third party testing.

However the CPSC has made an interim policy of "component testing". This means that if woodworkers can provide documentation from the suppliers of hardware, glue, finish, etc. their product has been tested and certified by third party labs to meed lead and phthalate (plastic softeners) then the toy/product is in compliance.

Documentation of finishes is needed today!!!! Glue will need to shown to be in compliance by Feb. 10, 2011.

The cars I'm now making are free of finish, and proof of lead free and phthalate glue is not needed until February. I still have faith that pressures from industries will convince CPSC to further hold off on their rules, of back off on the enforcement dates.

I have contacted Titebond and found, to my satiafaction, their glues to be in compliance with
CPSIA. Since my cars only contain solid wood and glue, I feel confident I will have no problems with the feds.

Thanks for a good info. I feel a bit better about things.

All I have to check now is my paint. Thanks for all the updates. I always use clean wood to make toys. I would rather comply with this safety requirement than support them all their life because they became brain damaged as a result of some toxicity. Just mho!