The Cooroy Toymakers Album

**Cooroy Toymaker** · 23rd July 2015, 10:27 PM

Hello Again,

It arrived today from America. What ? I hear you ask. My new 1 inch belt bench top belt sander for making toys of course.
Some details.
The Unit Cost $ 75.00 au Postage from the USA $75.00 au Total $140.00 au. That's not too bad.
But a Step down Converter was required.
After reading the specs. and doing a little online research I came up with this one ( pictured below ). It's available in Australia for $44.00 on special reduced from $88.00
So over all the sander has cost me approx $200.00. That's acceptable. Try and buy one in Australia. Virtually impossible.
I even sent a letter to the purchasing officer of JET Australia asking him to get me one of their JET models and he said it's not worth buying them from America for the Australian market. Go figure. Jet unit cost about $400.00. An ideal tool for the hobbyist or toy maker.
Why dose it cost $75.00 postage ? good question.
Here is the answer.

It was sent from Bloomington Ca. on the 4th July day 1

but it want to Miami KY. for 2 days
then to Erlanger KY. for 1 day
then to Customs labeling KY for 2 days
then back to Erlanger KY for 1 day
then to Erlanger Pensicola for 2 days
then to Courier Destinations KY 1 day
It may have gone to Vegas for a day but I'm not sure, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas

then to Los Angeles Ca for 2 days .... Hey, it's back in California after a long road trip.

then on a flight to Australia
Arrived at the Rural Dept. Qld and stayed there for 3 days

Acclimatizing I suppose.

and finally arrived at my place on the 23 rd July

IMG_20150723_192338.jpg As it arrived today
IMG_20150723_192512.jpg Inside the box
IMG_20150723_203250.jpg on the table, Oh, an American plug , bugger !

image_21866.jpg The online image... hmm no plug in sight, I'll take a gamble
step down transformer.jpgthe transformer is in the post. Oh well , always handy to have one I suppose.

Well what will I do with it ?
It's ideal for finishing small doll house furniture and getting into 90 degree angles on small cars and trains etc.
DSCF3298.jpg The chairs are made from one piece of wood . The legs need to be sanded inside for a nice finish. This 1 inch sander dose the job perfectly.

Well that's the saga of the Sander.
I might get to use it in a week or so.
I'll let you know if it worked ....or blew up

Regards

The Cooroy Toymaker

**Cooroy Toymaker** · 9th September 2015, 09:27 AM

Hi woodies,
A great turnout of volunteer members on the day made for another successful Fathers Day Sausage Sizzle at Bunnings Noosa this month. The BBQ area was set up and serving sausages and drinks before 8 a.m. The sausages were sizzling across the hotplate and the onions were turning a golden brown. The activity through out the day was constant with a good crowd shopping at Bunnings. While club members were busy cooking and serving and keeping up to the demand for sausages our club president was kept busy foraging for more supplies at Woollies. 80 kg of sausages and 2 eskies full of sliced onions disappeared just after lunch, more was needed.

Inside Bunnings at the D.I.Y. counter I was demonstrating toy making. There were many interested adults and children over the two days who were shown a variety of techniques using drill press wheel cutters, bandsaw work, delicate doll house furniture making on the scroll saw and sanding and shaping using two sanders.
The Bunnings staff kept children busy through out the day by playing cricket down the isles using two cricket bats quickly cut out of timber by myself and using the new esky with the stumps attached. During the two days I was demonstrating I gave away small toy planes to the boys and doll house furniture to the girls. The timber, glue and sandpaper were donated by Bunnings.
The Manager of Bunnings presented the Cooroora Woodworkers Club with two $100 gift cards for putting on the demonstrations.
Thanks to all the volunteers and their hard work setting up, cooking, serving and cleaning it turned out to be a very successful event.

Sausage Sizzle (12).jpg Sausage Sizzle (10).jpg Sausage Sizzle (11).jpg The Bunnings equipment and the (Bunnings set ) prices for a sausage.
Sausage Sizzle (1).jpg Sausage Sizzle (17).jpg Busy all day Saturday and then the clean up.

IMG_2524.JPG Sausage Sizzle (3).jpg The toy making set up and interested onlookers

IMG_2544.JPG IMG_2543.JPG Production line and some real estate for sale

IMG_2525.JPG IMG_2526.JPG Saturday morning toy display, surrounded by adoring fans

IMG_2527.JPG IMG_2528.JPG The work bench. Not the best work area but I managed.

IMG_2534.JPG IMG_2536.JPG Me and the club president in the middle with Dave Putland master furniture maker on the right.

IMG_2538.JPG IMG_2541.JPG Sunday display and a dusty work bench

IMG_2542.JPG Sausage Sizzle (2).jpg Fairy house and satisfied customer

vouchers bunnings 001.jpg After 16 hours on my feet,

ouch..... the reward. Donated to the club.

**crowie** · 9th September 2015, 11:31 AM

The more I see of you and the local club, the more impressed I am with your community....

The club members must be a top bunch to enjoy some shed time with and the whole community benefits....A HUGE WELL DONE TO ONE AND ALL....

Cheers, crowie
PS - Please post larger file photos with the next lot so we can see more of the detail in the handiwork and craftsmanship, thank you...

**Cooroy Toymaker** · 9th September 2015, 10:41 PM

IMG_2526.jpg IMG_2527.jpg IMG_2538.jpg

IMG_2542.jpg IMG_2543.jpg

**crowie** · 9th September 2015, 10:51 PM

Thank you for all the extra photos!

**Dalboy** · 10th September 2015, 08:05 AM

Looks like you had a good day thanks for all the photo's

**artme** · 10th September 2015, 08:23 AM

Always great to see what you are up to!!

The standards are being kept up very well by the look of things!!

Well done all round!!

**Keith_1** · 10th September 2015, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by artme

Always great to see what you are up to!!

The standards are being kept up very well by the look of things!!

Well done all round!!

Totally agree with what Arthur said

Well Done !!

Keith

**Cooroy Toymaker** · 10th September 2015, 06:19 PM

After cashing in the gift vouchers the Cooroora Woodworkers are now the proud owners of these two blue Boch cordless Drills from Bunnings Noosa.
They will certainly get a workout in our workshops.

A fair trade for 16 hours demonstrating on my aching feet.

bosch drill.jpg

**crowie** · 10th September 2015, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by Cooroy Toymaker

After cashing in the gift vouchers the Cooroora Woodworkers are now the proud owners of these two blue Boch cordless Drills from Bunnings Noosa.
They will certainly get a workout in our workshops.

A fair trade for 16 hours demonstrating on my aching feet.

bosch drill.jpg

Not to be little the great tools and all yours & others effort;
I think Bunnings could have been a little more generous,
but that's just my personal opinion and I apologize for being a little out spoken, Cheers, crowie ..

**Cooroy Toymaker** · 28th November 2015, 11:19 AM

Hi fellow toy makers,

It's been a couple of months since I was here last with an update.
The latest news from my woodworkers club in Cooroy Queensland:
A new management committee has been very progressive with positive changes to the club.

Upgrading equipment, installing more electrical outlets, buying new equipment, building new work benches and getting new sponsors for the club.
All good news.

IMG_2672.JPG The Club President making one of the new work benches

IMG_2728.jpg 4 new work benches , some salvaged from big benches that were impractical to use in a confined space. Its a work in progress but getting better. Space was always a problem with so many tools and 110 members.

IMG_2517.jpg An area I set up for my self to make toys, but of course everyone uses the bench top tools. More practical to have them in one area.

I've managed to revamp the clubs newsletter to cater to visiting tourists as well as club members by getting a sponsor for the newsletter which allows me to print more copies in colour and distribute them to local cafes and other tourists destinations. Its getting good reviews.

If there was a way to post an 8mb pdf file here I would post the newsletter for you all to read.

I've been able to make 50 toys for the Salvos Christmas appeal, pictured below.

IMG_2808.jpg Simple designs and quick to make

IMG_2909.JPG a couple of items for the wife. A shawl pin and a 3D heart in a heart

IMG_2911.jpg a books shelf full of doll house furniture for sale , hopefully for the Xmas rush
IMG_2912.jpg A small tree house I made as a demonstration model , sold in five minutes.

IMG_2916.jpg A quick and easy Jeep

IMG_2918.JPG A couple of racing cars

IMG_2921.JPG The clubs manager had a band saw to give away for nothing. He upgraded. He gave it to me. Cool. I had to give him something for it so I gave him 2 x 8 foot x 1 inch x 10 inch planks of Nth Qld Silky Oak for it. I've been carrying them around for 25 years. Couldn't have gone to a nicer bloke. He has the skills to turn the timber into something nice.

12066012_10153047602991326_7891440533816660547_n.jpg A now for something completely different .... for my daughter who is a Sailor Moon fan.

All the best for the festive season and every success with your projects.
Regards

The Cooroy Toymaker

**Cooroy Toymaker** · 28th November 2015, 11:37 AM

Are you looking to mill some thin timber.?
Here is a jig I saw on line, Pinterest I think.
I needed to mill a couple of my small logs I have stored under the house. I planned on giving the timber to a fellow club member who has limited resources.

IMG_2590.jpg I made this from scrape from under the benches.
IMG_2592.jpg I managed this with out help and very little loss of timber
once you get 2 flat edges , take the log off the frame and start milling to the desired width.

IMG_2593.jpgthis was a small trunk from a jacaranda tree

IMG_2594.jpg stacked and ready for further drying

IMG_2595.jpg Another log of jacaranda

IMG_2734.JPGother members liked it so much they ended up making a better version.

IMG_2736.JPGNow their at it every week milling small logs on the big bandsaw

regards
The Cooroy Toymaker

**Cooroy Toymaker** · 28th November 2015, 11:55 AM

It looks like I can post these newsletters.

NL 219 November 2015.pdf

NL 218 October 2015.pdf

**Cooroy Toymaker** · 28th November 2015, 12:12 PM

I had to cut this newsletter down to a 5mb file to upload
I deleted the advertising and the back page.

NL 220 December 2015 - Copy.pdf

**artme** · 29th November 2015, 07:17 AM

|Wonderful stuphph as always!!

Love the bandsaw sled. Methinks one is on the backburner!!1

Thread: The Cooroy Toymakers Album

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The Saga of the Sander.

Successful Fathers Day Saussage Sizzle at Noosa Bunnings.

Fanastic Wooden Toys....

Larger Pictures

Thank you for all the extra photos!

Two $100 gift voucher plus and extra $99 cash gets you these little beauties.

The Cooroy Woodworkers Club Newsletter

The Cooroy Woodworkers Club Newsletter for December

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