Thread: Where are the toy makers?

I have seen some really nice vehicles made out of wood but if they have small parts, then they are really big boys toys rather than for little kids... here are some simple ones suitable for little kids...


Regards,

Chipman

I meant to be making toys for an annual fundraiser for a retirement village (taking on from my late grandad's legacy), that's what I set out to do, but I've been sidetracked for the last year

Be back to it yet...

Originally Posted by Chipman

Hi to all the toy makers out there,

I have seen some really great work in these forums and really appreciate the way people help each other and share their ideas.

When it comes to wood work, my two main areas of interest would be clock making and toy making ( what I want to do in retirement so I have already started)

I don't seem to see much about toys here... maybe I just don't know where to look! So I am going to get things started and post some pictures of some of the toys I have made. Anyone who wants to copy them is very welcome and if I had plans I would be happy to share them but I don't... I just start cutting and see what happens!!!

Most are made from radiata pine, stained with wattyl gel stain and sprayed with either estapol satin or 35% stylwood lacquer. Dowel is tassie oak, wheels and table bases tend to be jarrah or redgum. All have either been gifts or used for school fundraising.



Let's see some more of each others work

Chipman

HI Chipman

Love the little chairs, tables and benches. Especially like the rocking crib.......very nice work. You've prompted me to try making some toys for the nieces and nephews.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Cheers
Geoff

Hi Geoff

Great...

That is the purpose of these forums and in particular this thread to share our ideas and help each other.

Look forward to seeing pics of your work


Chipman

Can't remember if I posted these or not, they're what I should be making.

They look really good Waldo.... you will be able to set up your new assembly table as a place to store your toys and play with them on the top while you are waiting for glue or paint to dry!

Excellent

Chipman

Thanks Chipman, the kids who received them love them and it raised some money too.

They look great Waldo - nice bright colours too Well done

Originally Posted by Chipman

I have seen some really nice vehicles made out of wood but if they have small parts, then they are really big boys toys rather than for little kids... here are some simple ones suitable for little kids...


Regards,

Chipman

Chipman that red one with nice big wheels and the ability to have rotation (suspension) where do you get those?

Originally Posted by TEEJAY

Chipman that red one with nice big wheels and the ability to have rotation (suspension) where do you get those?

Teejay,

Everything is home made. It is the challenge I like to give myself. The wheels were cut out of 140 x 45 pine with a large elcheapo holesaw and the recesses bored out with a 60 mm forstner bit (from my clock making activities) The axles are 16 mm tassie oak dowel and the axle block is redgum drilled at an agle from both sides so that it looks like a vertical slot when viewed from the side but a perfect circle in the middle... this allows the axle to lift up either side. It was a bit fiddly to make but I enjoyed the challenge.

Thanks for the interest,

Regards,

Chipman

Over the years, I have made quite a bit of teddy bear furniture and for little figures. The lounge furniture is "made by the metre" That is I cut and rout the various components to profile and then cut them to length on a SCMS and then it is a bit of profiling on the disk sander and a simple assembly.

I have made simple see-saws but they are either up or down so I fiddled with some designs and came up with the piece of spring pushed onto dowels...this way when you give it a push and it will keep rocking for quite awhile. My aim with toy making is always to make something for kids that will do something or move as that is what gets them interested.

The rockers are on a spring too and will rock for quite a long time.. Some adults have taken them as stress relievers... just imagine it is the boss and give it a flick!! I have one near an air vent and it rocks away all by itself.

If any of you decide to make a spring toy, it may take a bit of trial and error to match the spring tension and length to the weight and size of the toy.

Hope some of you try some of these toys and don't forget to post some pictures of yours!

Chipman

Hi,
The "Australian Toy-Maker', it's an annual publication, was a good start for me.
Bob H.

Chipman,

I've often wondered why there weren't more toys made, thanks for filling the gap. I'll have a couple of pull-alongs finished in a day or two, and will upload pics then!

Great work, I love the monster trucks too.

Cheers,

P

I used to make toys and sell them at a popular market every sunday ....then along came the cheaper imports .....with the price of timber who can keep up....