Thread: Wooden Blocks for special needs school

Nick
I've some timber my wife keeps complaining about, in the car port, she says she kicks her toe every morning...... mixture of various woods, none dangerous, NG rosewood, bent euro beech, coachwood, cedar, jarrah, various shorts etc., + + + quite a bit you can have. I can't do any work on them however, not set up.
I'll be here until Friday this week, otherwise back on 19th. Let me know.
Regards
Greg

Originally Posted by Greg Ward

Nick
I've some timber my wife keeps complaining about, in the car port, she says she kicks her toe every morning...... mixture of various woods, none dangerous, NG rosewood, bent euro beech, coachwood, cedar, jarrah, various shorts etc., + + + quite a bit you can have. I can't do any work on them however, not set up.
I'll be here until Friday this week, otherwise back on 19th. Let me know.
Regards
Greg

Greg

OK and thankyou

I'll drop around tomorrow at about 9:30 ish?

and I'll bring over a pen for your wife oh, and a bandaid for her toe
And, there goes my idea of getting others to do the work

Greg

make sure there is something real nice showing he can pay for also

Nick no keeping bits for pens

Originally Posted by wheelinround

...
Nick no keeping bits for pens

That's the temptation but this is all for the kids

Yes I am in to making some blocks.


And the sanding, not a problem. It can be quite enjoyable, pull up a stool just outside the garage and start sanding. Me sanding away while the birds are chirping, the crickets cricking(?), the sound of water in the background with the gentle breeze taking the sawdust far away to the neighbors yard.

Originally Posted by Christos

Yes I am in to making some blocks.


And the sanding, not a problem. It can be quite enjoyable, pull up a stool just outside the garage and start sanding. Me sanding away while the birds are chirping, the crickets cricking(?), the sound of water in the background with the gentle breeze taking the sawdust far away to the neighbors yard.

Sounds idyllic, I'll get you to do Mapleman's contribution as well

Christos sounds relaxing for sure. Crickets chirp too.

I got the timber out late yesterday afternoon it cleared a hole which gave me room to rearrange a little, today will start cutting. Sanding won't be such as yours Christos belt and disc is quicker.

Will let you know when done

Nick here's what I cut this morning not all yours will do some for the grand kids as well ..

Driveway looked like it had snowed.

Now just to trim and shape what I can this afternoon after lunch and sand next week.

Nice job, Ray! Lookin good



Picked up a couple of lengths of timber from Greg today. Thanks muchly

Looks like there will be some blocks made out of coachwwod, NG Rosewood and cedar amongst others. Greg also pointed me to a pine bed around the corner which is now at home and will be converted into blocks

Greg just increased my workload by a largish amount - I was merely planning on turning columns to round out the sets Oh well

Hi,

I have a question about timbers that i have as to if they can be used.

I have alot of off cuts of Camphor that i can make up for you. i also have quite a bit of Ironbark Floorboards also have limited Riveer red gum. would all or some of these timbers be suitable.

Regards Bodiam

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Hello fellow woodworkers

I'm posting this here as it relates to toys

Some of you I know, some I don't (but I'm super impressed with your work!)

As some of my friends on the forum know, my youngest son, Caelan, is on the autism spectrum. His school, St Lucy's in Wahroonga, runs at a deficit. Link here

Anyway one of the things they need is/are block sets for the kids to play with (the school caters for the education of the full range of special needs kids, autism, downs etc)

Last week I was at the parent teacher evening. The school displayed a slide (ok powerpoint) of a block set they liked, or would like for the kids.

That got me thinking. I can make that! In fact have done so (see example below). Then I thought I know a lot of woodies whom have spare wood (just ask their respective SWMBOs ) and whom might be willing to part with their offcuts in block form.

The photo below shows examples of a largish set of blocks I made for my boys some 14ish years ago from pine (made out of a waterbed frame)

The blocks I made are based on a template of a standard block of 33 x 66 x 66 mm. This seems to be a size generic in the industry.

Now the heart rending request:

I'd like you all to check your offcut bin and decide what you don't really need, think of the kids at St Lucys and send a block or twelve. If you can provide sanded dimensioned blocks that would be great. If you want to send me the offcuts then I'll do the prep work. I don't really care about species as long as it's non toxic. I do mind doing the final sanding (because who really likes sanding). My set is unfinished and that's what I would expect to supply the school.

Attachment 256563

cheers

Nick

There has been quite a response to your request for these blocks.

Are you still looking for blocks and is so what is the time frame?

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by bodiam

Hi,

I have a question about timbers that i have as to if they can be used.

I have alot of off cuts of Camphor that i can make up for you. i also have quite a bit of Ironbark Floorboards also have limited Riveer red gum. would all or some of these timbers be suitable.

Regards Bodiam

Howdy

Camphor should be ok as it's used for chopping boards
I think the other timbers should be ok I've looked up my timber buyers guide and no mention of any problems.
I've done a google search. The majority of problems with woods seem to be related to breathing in the dust.

Floorboards might be a bit thin to use as stock if we're to stay at the 33mm block thickness, unless you want to glue some together (I'm intending to)

Thanks

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Nick

There has been quite a response to your request for these blocks.

Are you still looking for blocks and is so what is the time frame?

Regards
Paul

Paul

Not sure there can be too many blocks in a block set. If you make some I'll give them to the school.
If they say they've enough I know of a couple of other special needs schools around the place whom, I'm sure, would love to receive a gratis set of blocks.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Paul

Not sure there can be too many blocks in a block set. If you make some I'll give them to the school.
If they say they've enough I know of a couple of other special needs schools around the place whom, I'm sure, would love to receive a gratis set of blocks.

Thanks

Noted Nick,

No promises, but I'll see what I can do. I may be able to bring some down on my Hunter Valley trip.

Regards
Paul

Paul

Good if you can, no probs if you can't