Once a person starts down the woodworking path, he finds there are several directions he can take. He may enjoy designing custom wooden furniture, or perhaps toys and gifts he can pass along to others. Some people fall in love with woodturning, creating wooden writing pens and custom candlesticks. Others see their passion turn to mastering the technique of woodcarving.
Safe Wooden Toys
Design wooden children's or infants' toys without detachable parts to insure against choking. Mark the width of an oval 1 3/8 inches wide by drawing two lines on a small block of wood. Now adjust a compass to half this measurement and draw two circles within the lines across the board. The oval should measure 1 15/16 inches long. Drill out the opening. If any part of a newly crafted wooden toy passes through the hole, it is too small for a small child or infant.
Wooden Vehicles
Building wooden cars, trucks, trains have been favorites with children and adults alike since the dawn of time. Building wooden vehicles exercises a range of woodworking skills from authentic detailing of a wooden train to the simple, sturdy design of a dump truck. The wooden dump truck is a sturdy toy, which faithfully re-creates the strength of old-style trucks.
Bent-Runner Sleigh
Building a bent-runner sleigh blends the traditional sled design with modern woodworking techniques. The sleigh legs attach to the stretchers with plate joints, a simple and sturdy joinery. The posts secured to the deck with screws and metal cross dowels support the backrest of the sleigh.
Wooden Jewelry Box
Design a keepsake wooden jewelry box to show off the quality of the natural wood. Building a jewelry box relies on classic joinery techniques to transform a basic wooden container into an attractive and useful treasure. Dovetail corners give the wooden jewelry box a unique style. The tray under the hinged lid is assembled with finger joints and sits snugly inside the box below the lid lip.
Wooden Briefcase
Construct the wooden briefcase using a natural mineral oil finish to bring out the natural beauty of the wood grain. Designing the briefcase presents a challenge to the woodsmith because it must combine both strength and light weight to carry. The frame of the briefcase is made of hardwood such as walnut or cherry. The side panels are created from hardwood plywood such as birch or oak.
Tags: Building wooden, dump truck, simple sturdy, wooden jewelry
