On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 20:54:30 GMT, Phisherman wrote:

On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 08:40:49 -0600, Wyatt Wright
wrote:

What kind of wood would be good for children's construction blocks -
Cubes, triangles, etc.

I was thinking ash or maple. I might make some by laminating two
woods with contrasing colors.

I will probably leave them unfinished, but is there an acceptable
finish for something that might end up in a toddler's mouth?

Thanks all.

Ash, maple, oak, cherry are all good woods for children's blocks.
Walnut is a good contrasting wood. Most finishes are non-toxic. I'd
pick a finish that allows for easy cleaning. Shellac is completely
safe.

Depending on availability, you could add poplar and birch to that
list. They are used in the better wooden train sets.

Bob McConnell
N2SPP