A wooden toy sample review should cover edge treatment, coating, piece fit and packing. This checklist covers what to inspect and what to write into the approval.
The sample is the reference the factory will produce against, so anything you do not check on the sample is something you cannot raise later. A structured review takes about twenty minutes and prevents most bulk-order disputes.
Edges and surfaces
Run a finger along every edge, including the inside of cut-outs and the underside of the base. Edges should be rounded and the surface sanded smooth. Check for raised grain, rough patches and any spot where the coating has pooled or been missed.
Coating and smell
Non-toxic water-based coatings should be dry to the touch with no tacky areas. A strong solvent smell on a sample is worth raising before production, because it usually means the coating has not cured fully.
Piece fit and tolerance
- Do the blocks drop through the matching cut-outs without forcing?
- Do the pieces sit flush in their recesses?
- Are the pieces consistent in thickness across the set?
- Do the colours match the approved colour reference?
Packing and carton marking
Ask for the packing configuration in writing: pieces per set, sets per carton, carton dimensions and gross weight. Confirm the carton marking layout at the same time, because a marking change after production is expensive.
What to record in the sample approval
Write down the sample date, the exact colour reference, the piece count, the coating specification and the packing configuration. Photograph the sample from several angles and keep the photos with the approval. When the bulk order arrives, the inspection compares against those records rather than against memory.
Our wooden range is produced to a documented quality-control process covering material inspection, in-line checks and final inspection against the approved sample. See the wooden Montessori educational toy set for an example of how a multi-item set is packed and approved.
