Why does Home Depot check my age when purchasing polyurethane?

[BadeMillsap]

I admit to being an old and out of touch dinosaur when it comes to many things people are "up to" nowadays ... but ... I have to ask ... why ... when purchasing a quart of Minwax polyurethane at the self check out register did I have to "wait for the attendant to verify my age ..." ??? What in blazes can you do with brush on polyurethane that requires an age check? I do understand the requirement when buying spray paint in pressurized cans ... it's a sad circumstance but I understand the need ... but brush on poly???

[atgcpaul]

You could just as easily get high by huffing polyurethane in a brush on can as you could from an aerosol can. Look up "huffing".

[LinuxRandal]

How do they verify your age? Just look at you or ask?

[cabinetman]

You could just as easily get high by huffing polyurethane in a brush on can as you could from an aerosol can. Look up "huffing".

Why couldn't a "huffer" be an old guy?

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[schloff]

Quick answer is because this country went and screwed itself up. (trying to keep this non-political, so I'll stop right there on that)

Kids don't have any idea what they are doing to their bodies and minds, nor care. It's a disturbing craze, but not as scary as meth. That crap is just bad news.

[BadeMillsap]

Sigh ... I was aware of "huffing" spray paint .... poly? geeeeeze!

[cabinetman]

Sigh ... I was aware of "huffing" spray paint .... poly? geeeeeze!

It's got mineral spirits as an ingredient, which has it's own warnings.

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[akronee]

Lowes has asked for ID from me for danish oil. I can't imagine what someone would have to do to get high off it.

[LCHIEN]

Lowes has asked for ID from me for danish oil. I can't imagine what someone would have to do to get high off it.

So I have to watch for some visiting teenagers sniffing my freshly oiled teak coffee table?

Don't lean over the table and breathe in when watching TV?

[cabinetman]

So I have to watch for some visiting teenagers sniffing my freshly oiled teak coffee table?

Don't lean over the table and breathe in when watching TV?

By "freshly oiled" if you mean wet, yes, don't let them lean over the table. They might just fall into it, and that could ruin the finish.

If it has dried, it's OK. It would then be food safe, and they could lick the surface safely providing there were no splinters.

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[woodturner]

Lowes has asked for ID from me for danish oil. I can't imagine what someone would have to do to get high off it.

That sounds like someone applying a policy too broadly. I guess you could sniff the fumes, but unless you are eating it or using it in applications where it could be ingested (such as toys or products used with food), it's relatively safe. Even then, although it's not "food safe", Danish oil is only slightly toxic when fully cured - you would pretty much have to eat the cured oil itself in large quantities to suffer any serious effects.

The biggest danger with polymerizing oils is spontaneous combustion - so be careful with those rags and brushes.