Non toxic colored wood stain?

[Pumpkin_Pie]

DS has a bunch of unfinished wooden cars that I would love to stain different colors. I was thinking of using some food coloring or Kool-Aid, but am worried that the stain will come off on his hands. I really don't want to seal them after they are stained. Does anyone have any recs for a good non-toxic stain in a color other than brown or black?

[4evermom]

I'd consider topping the stain with a food grade beeswax/mineral oil mix intended for butcher blocks. I have something called "Bamboo Renew" for my cutting boards.

[Village Mama]

believe it or not watercolour paints in the tube work really well and then top it with beeswax or foodsafe type of wax finish. Same with food colouring. It makes a super bright colour that still shows the grain of the wood as well.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Originally Posted by Village Mama

believe it or not watercolour paints in the tube work really well and then top it with beeswax or foodsafe type of wax finish. Same with food colouring. It makes a super bright colour that still shows the grain of the wood as well.

Would you use the liquid kind or the paste that is used to color frosting? I am so flipping excited! I may have to get some today and color DS's cars tonight after he goes to bed. I love the look of the natural wood, but he has so many wooden toys that we are in a sea of tan right now. It would be nice to have some color added here and there.

Thank You so much!!

Also, how do you use the beeswax? Do you melt it and paint it on, or just rub the brick into the cars? I have never used beeswax before.

[Village Mama]

I use the liquid food colouring. I havent seen the paste type! For the beeswaxI now use a foodsafe wax mix that is ment for woorworkers that make salad bowls and such.
http://www.make-baby-stuff.com/natural-wood-finish.html
maybe this will help

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Ok, last night I used the liquid food coloring to paint his cars, and the colors turned out great! I haven't put any wax on them yet, as I wanted to give them a good long time to seep in and dry. I had a really hard time not getting the dye to spread to parts that I didn't want it on, so the wheels are all a little spotty. I tried to paint a contrasting color on to the wheels of one car, but that was just a big splotchy disaster, so I left the rest of the wheels natural wood color.

As for wax, I bought some canning wax. Do you think that will work if I melt it down and paint it on? I went to Michael's to price beeswax, and the smallest brick I could find was $18! : There is no way I am going to buy that. I really only need a small amount. I may just buy a small beeswax candle at our local co-op and melt that down if you mamas think the canning wax is not a good idea.

Thanks for the help!

[Think of Winter]

Canning wax is going to be parafin. I splurged on Beeautiful polish from Nova Natural, then made my own with some beeswax pellets that I had in my stash. It was worth the extra expense to me.

[mamaMAMAma]

I have chunks beeswax left over from candle dipping. Would that work? Or should I get a beeswax polish?

[Think of Winter]

Originally Posted by mamaMAMAma

I have chunks beeswax left over from candle dipping. Would that work? Or should I get a beeswax polish?

I made my polish with 3 parts jojoba oil, 1 part beeswax, and a few drops of eo to give it a nice smell (although I think beeswax smells great.) I found the recipe on a blog that was posted here. The jojoba oil is $9 for 4 oz through a Frontier coop, so buying it through Nova Natural is only tiny bit more expensive at $9 for 4 oz. It's very nice stuff, and the kids and I polish things all over the house with it.

[mamaMAMAma]

Originally Posted by Think of Winter

I made my polish with 3 parts jojoba oil, 1 part beeswax, and a few drops of eo to give it a nice smell (although I think beeswax smells great.) I found the recipe on a blog that was posted here. The jojoba oil is $9 for 4 oz through a Frontier coop, so buying it through Nova Natural is only tiny bit more expensive at $9 for 4 oz. It's very nice stuff, and the kids and I polish things all over the house with it.

Thank you! I have jojoba oil at home already, so I'm all set.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Originally Posted by Think of Winter

Canning wax is going to be parafin. I splurged on Beeautiful polish from Nova Natural, then made my own with some beeswax pellets that I had in my stash. It was worth the extra expense to me.

So, does that mean the canning wax would not work?

[Village Mama]

I personally wouldn't use the parrafin. Buying a tiny little candle though would be enough beeswax to last. What about mineral oil? In a pinch too for a small item I have used a beeswax base lip balm.

[Think of Winter]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_Pie

So, does that mean the canning wax would not work?

I don't know if it would work. I don't have a recipe for paraffin-based polish. My guess is it would be fine, but if you're going for a natural finish, I'd choose beeswax. You could google "paraffin wood polish" and see what you get.

[SuzyLee]

I finished DS's rocking chair with mineral oil I had on hand for oiling cuttng boards.

My co-op carries beeswax in the bulk spice area, so you can buy just a little.

If you want to keep the wheels from getting spotty, oil/wax them first. Then the dye won't seep into the wheels when you put it on the rest of the car. GL with your project!