2020-03-31

Toymakers Shop - Handmade Wooden Toys Play Pal Axels On the Drying Rack 38 Clamps

Toymakers Shop Handmade Wooden Toys Play Pal Axels On the Drying Rack 38 Clamps
Toymakers Shop Handmade Wooden Toys Play Pal Axels On the Drying Rack 38 Clamps
I dip my axels when I want to paint the ends. Because it is so thick, the paint has to dry overnight before it is safe to handle and there is paint on both ends. So far this is the best method I have come up with to hold the axles while the paint cures. This rack can handle up to 50 axles if I can find all of my clamps. There are 38 axles in the photo.

The stand is a piece of MDF with 3/8-inch holes drilled all the way through and hardboard back. I like using MDF for these because it is flat and heavy. The weight helps to keep it from tipping when I have a heavy toy mounted. I have made these from solid wood and plywood but MDF works much better.

This is an accidental jig. It was made to hold headlights made from dowels I used on a batch of cars I made. I was painting axles one day and discovered that these little Pitsburg Harbor Freight Spring Clamps fit perfectly.

2020-03-29

Replacing My Old Sanders Harbor Freight Sanders

Bauer 2.8 Amp, 5 in. Random Orbital Palm Sander
Bauer 2.8 Amp, 5 in. Random Orbital Palm Sander


I just ordered two of these. I needed two more random orbital sanders because changing sandpaper wears out the loops on the back of my sandpaper before the grit wears out. Price was one of the reasons I purchased this one. I can buy two of these for the price of one of the sanders I was considering and three in some cases. However, the big deal for me was the dust port. It's round and fits my existing system. I'm getting rid of sanders that either do not have a dust port or they have some weird shape that I can't hook up to my shop vac. Most of my corded tools are Hitachi, and I would have liked to have two more Hitachi sanders, but I have been sitting on a waiting list to get Hitachi sanders at a reasonable price for months. I usually buy refurbished. A coupon turned up for the Bauer sanders for $25, so I'm going to give them a try.

I also purchased one of these for $20. I have several hundred 1/4-Sheets of sandpaper leftover from a project that didn't use near as much paper as I bought. I want to use it up, and the 1/4-sheet sanders I have either do not have a dust collection port or have ports with weird shapes that I can't connect to my vac.


Bauer 2.2 Amp 1/4 Sheet Heavy Duty Palm Finishing Sander
Bauer 2.2 Amp 1/4 Sheet Heavy-Duty Palm Finishing Sander

I've used Harbor Freight sanders in the past that cost less than $10. The cost was so low that I could have done the project and thrown them in the trash and still come out ahead. The sandpaper was more expensive than the sander. I never had an issue with any Harbor Freight sander other than dust collection, which is why I am getting rid of them now. At one time I did all of my sandings outdoors and dust collection was not an issue.


 What do I use them for? Primarily I use these sanders for prepping wood for making toys. I use a lot of reclaimed wood and construction lumber. Most of this wood has dents, dings and other defects that need to be smoothed before I apply patterns and cut them on my scroll saw. If it is bad I start with 80 grit and work my way up to 220. This removes any milling marks dings or those nasty purple stamps and sprays paint that Home Depot loves to put on their cull lumber. The wood is smooth clean so the patterns stick well and it slides around the saw without hanging.


2020-03-28

Use Sewing Machine Lights For Your Scroll Saw


I recently purchased two magnetic sewing machine lights to use on my scroll saw. I have been quite pleased with them. Bright white light, and they don't move. I highly recommend these. They come with steel disks that you can stick on to any smooth surface, so the magnet mount will work even on aluminum, plastic, glass, or another smooth surface. These cost me $12 US each. Well worth the money.



Excalibur EX21 Scroll Saw Sewing Machine Lights Hot Rod Freaky Fords Mini-Van Yellow Pine Excalibur EX21 Scroll Saw Sewing Machine Lights Hot Rod Freaky Fords Mini-Van Yellow Pine Wood Toy CarsToy Cars
Excalibur EX21 Scroll Saw Sewing Machine Lights Hot Rod Freaky Fords Mini-Van Yellow Pine Wood Toy Cars

Excalibur EX21 Scroll Saw Sewing Machine Lights Hot Rod Freaky Fords Mini-Van Yellow Pine Wood Toy Cars
Excalibur EX21 Scroll Saw Sewing Machine Lights Hot Rod Freaky Fords Mini-Van Yellow Pine Wood Toy Cars
I cut the toy cars in the photos from a piece of southern yellow pine using this scroll saw. I used several different size blades, and other than the coarser blades cutting a little faster, I could not see much difference.