This toy car is part of a series of small "Play Pal" size toy vehicles I am making. The idea is to have a lot of smaller toys that will be more attractive to customers that don't have room for larger toys. There are a few of these around, but they are all the same basic design. I am trying to think outside the box and make some unique, high-quality toys that will be different and stand out in the crowd.
I made this little wood car from a decorative design that had no wheels. I enlarged the pattern to fit the size of the 3/4-inch wheels and compatible with the commonly available Play Pal Series.
It would be straightforward to convert this toy to a Christmas ornament. All one would need to do is find the balance point and add a hanger. I think these would look great on a Christmas Tree.
One of the very nice things for me as a toymaker is the ease that I
can resize these. I can make them in any size that is required. Another
is that it lets me use up the large amount of the small wood pieces I
always seem to accumulate.
This design begs for contrasting colored wood. Maple and walnut are the first things that come to mind, but there are many other possibilities, including baking the wood to make it darker.
Colors, kids love the colors. Almost any color you can imagine is available in acrylic paint. My local paint supplier can custom mix paint to match. Then there are dyes designed especially for dying wood.
Personalized toys are possible on a somewhat primitive level. I am planning to get an engraver to do the personalization with in the next year. The problem with doing the personalization by hand is that there is a chance of ruining the toy. If a customer asks for customization, I will usually do it, but I'm not comfortable enough with the process to offer it as an option yet.
Custom orders are always welcome in my Etsy shop. Some of my best sellers came from customer requests. If you have an idea for something I can make for you, please contact me.
I handcraft all my toys from 100% childsafe materials. I sand the car smooth and round over all of the edges. I finish the car body with a finish I make from beeswax, mineral oil, and Vitamin E. The same as you would use on your cutting board or butcher block countertop. This finish will not turn rancid like many oils. If the toy needs refinishing, you can use cutting board oil, mineral oil, or even baby oil.
Approximate Size:
Length: 3 inches/76mm
Height: 2.25 inches/57mm
Width: 1.25 inches/32mm
Not suitable for children under three years old without adult
supervision. They have small parts that could be broken off and present a
choking hazard.
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