Wooden toy durability concerns

[Former_Member]

Hello-
Im a bit confused so please be patient. As I understand, there are rules covering finishes of "toys". I sell unfinished "toys" so I guess wood doesn't have to be tested?

My question is, do "toys" have to be impact tested for durability? Are there age guidelines for the components of wooden "toys". For example what guidelines determine if a "toy" is durable enough? I think limiting all "toys" to age 13+ is very restrictive.

Thanks

[Former_Member]

anyone?

[Former_Member]

This should help, it's the CPSC Laboratory Manual for Toy Testing
http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/testtoys.pdf

It covers (among other things) use and abuse testing, small parts, flammability, etc.

[Former_Member]

I appreciate the article. However it has so much data like the web does. It looks like the article focuses on test procedures.

I am really looking for some guidelines like:
What age can I sell my toys to?
Do I have to submit toys for mechanical testing?
Thanks

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

I would say yes you need to submit your toys for mechanical testing. You need to have testing results that your mudflaps, and other details will not come off thru the use and abuse testing. And if they should come off, would they then fail the small parts testing.

Since you do not apply any finishes to your trucks, you do not need to have the lead in paint and finishes testing.

I love your trucks and hope to buy one for my grandson for Christmas. He's now old enough to have a good time playing with one.

[Former_Member]

So you are required to have an outside approved party test your toys? This means that woodtoyz would have to submit an example of every different model or variant thereof that they produce for testing (that destroys the product)? Quite aside from that being *criminal*, it seems outrageously expensive for tiny shops.. how do people swing it? Especially trying to start up. Trying to figure this all out is really frustrating..

[Former_Member]

Want to go nuts? This link comes from the CPSIA site. It is a proposal to define exactly what is a "children's product". It is a 63 page pdf file including comments from various mfg's. Don't say I didn't warn you. Pages and pages defining how to determine if something is supposed to be used by children under 12. Ah me, they sit in windowless rooms.

http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia10/brief/interpretive.pdf

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

And even worse, they still can't determine on some things, and state they will have to decide on a case by case basis. So what the heck does that mean????

And a lamp in a child's room could be a child's product if the color was pink/blue or bright colors which they normally associate with children's products, but if it is brown it wouldn't be a child's product, unless it was in some other way, like decals, or a shape that would lead you to think of it as a child's product.

Now tell me how a pink lamp in a child's room is any more or less safe than the same style in brown? These people are downright stupid! And to think we "allow" this to continue. 90% of these government workers wouldn't last one week if they worked outside of the government!

[Former_Member]

Something they haven't looked at; the carts in supermarkets. The fold down seat is definitely for use by a child. Especially those aggravating "buses" that fit a couple of kids at once. Wonder what the lead and/or phthlate concentrations are.

[Former_Member]

I think I will make models from now on for people with common sense over age 12. My items will be marketed for adults some how. If parent want to purchase a model for their kids. I will respect their decision. The government using a carpet bombing approach to toy safety. Time to sign some petitions.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

Better than petitions which seem to have no effect on these people, find our where your senator and congressman is on this. If you don't like their answer, let them know exactly how you feel. And let your vote count. Enough of this government takeover of free enterprise, in the name of safety and the latest "crisis".