Color Shape Stacker

Description

The colored Shape Stacker introduces 5 educational concepts.

Colors – each shape is one of six rainbow colors

Shapes – the shapes are a triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, and circle

Shape Names – each of the shapes have the name of the shape engraved in the side

Numbers – each of the sides of the shape has a number engraved on the top; triangle has 1-2-3, square 1-2-3-4 and so on.

Patterning – lightest to darkest colors, smallest to the largest size

The stacker also helps little ones work on their gross motor skills and provides wonderful tactile experiences. Made from solid hardwood maple, each piece is finished with water-based dye stain colors and sealed with a non-toxic clear coat. The entire stack measures just shy of 5″ tall (each piece is 3/4″ thick) and the largest shape, circle, is 5 1/2″ across. The dowel to hold the pieces is a hefty 1″ thick.

Ages: 18 months

Finish: Color dye stain, Urethane

Finishes

Dye Stains: These are water/alcohol based stains, specially made for dip finishing, which is the least wasteful application process. These are in a variety of colors and are primarily used on our NameTrain line. We typically overcoat with urethane to prevent bleeding when wet.

Enamel: A lot of our round parts have a hard, colored coating. This is a tumbled-on enamel, a solvent-based finish. Most of our colored wheels and colored rattle parts are finished this way.

Lacquer: Nitrocellulose lacquer is an age-old spray finish that provides a hard, shiny, paint-like coating. It can be clear or opaque bright colors. Historically used for Montgomery Schoolhouse products, though some are being shifted to other coating types. Lacquer is a petroleum-based finish.

Nothing at all: Yes, no finish at all, as seen on our new Schoolhouse Naturals line. With an enormous number of queries about all our finishes, we thought we would try a line that has had all of the finish concerns removed. So far, we’ve seen great interest.

Natural Oil: New to us, this is an FDA approved plant oil-based finish, often used on kitchenwares. No allergenic nuts are used. This is a true oil finish and does not shine nor set really hard. It does, however, leave a rich amber appearance on our wood.

Teak Oil: Like natural oil, teak is used on salad bowls and other wooden housewares. Unlike natural oil however, teak is very quick drying and it sets hard.

Urethane: Another dip finish, more specifically called oil-modified urethane varnish, not a polyurethane. It is a clear finish, using a mineral spirit solvent. This finish takes a little extra time to cure and products may retain an odor until unwrapped—especially during the busy season.

Whey: Utilizing a byproduct of the cheese-making process, this was developed by the University of Vermont and now produced by Vermont Natural Coatings of Hardwick, VT. We use this finish on our oval rattle ends and an increasing number of other rattle parts.