Odin's Toy Factory

  My Dragon Collection    This photo showcases a handcrafted wooden dragon figurine meticulously crafted from contrasting hardwoods. The dragon features a striking combination of light and dark wood tones, with the body primarily made from a pale, natural wood, while the wings, legs, and tail are crafted from a rich, dark walnut. The smooth surfaces highlight the natural grain and color variations of the wood, giving the figurine a dynamic and visually appealing appearance. The dragon's design is both whimsical and detailed, with a friendly facial expression, curved wings, and sturdy legs, all accentuated by small inlaid dots along its body for added character. The figurine is finished with a custom oil and wax blend, which enhances the wood's natural beauty and provides a protective coating. The photo captures the dragon in a workshop setting, surrounded by woodworking tools, paints, and finishes. The workspace, with its cluttered yet functional arrangement, suggests the...

  My Dragon Collection    Each time I create a dragon, I adjust my process. The original design required holes to be drilled completely through the neck and tail, but I found this reduced the dragon's strength and increased the chance of breakage. Initially, I tried drilling shallow holes and filling them with plugs, but that solution was unsatisfactory. Eventually, I decided to drill all the way through and use hardwood dowels, which I glued into place, filling the holes. I then cut and sand the dowels flush with the surface. This method not only enhances the dragon's strength but also looks better than having drilled holes.

  My Dragon Collection The clamps I use are Pitsburg brand from Harbor Freight, and they cost me $0.99 each. They work well for small items that don’t require a lot of clamping pressure, and I have quite a few of them. Before using new clamps, I like to apply Johnson's Paste Wax to prevent rust and make it easier to remove dried glue. However, when I waxed the very first of these clamps I purchased, I found that the wax caused it to slip. After cleaning off the wax with mineral spirits, the clamps worked well again. Now, if I encounter a clamp that is slipping, I simply clean it, and it usually works perfectly afterward.

 My Dragon Collection Attaching the final pair of legs to my dragon project was a delicate task. Precision is crucial to ensure the legs sit evenly; if not, the dragon will wobble. I used a paper template for the first pair of legs and one wing, guaranteeing their correct placement. Once the glue cured, I carefully aligned the other leg pair and wing to match. By clamping the first legs to a flat surface, I make adjustments until everything was perfectly even. It's all about attention to detail, and the satisfaction of seeing it come together is unmatched.

 My Dragon Collection When it comes to glue-ups, I have a clear favorite: f-clamps. These versatile tools offer a level of control that spring clamps simply can’t match. One of the biggest advantages of f-clamps is their adjustable pressure, which allows me to apply just the right amount for the materials I'm working with. This flexibility helps prevent damage to delicate pieces while ensuring a strong bond. Whether I'm working with wood or other materials, f-clamps make the glue-up process more manageable and efficient, giving me confidence in my projects.

My Dragon Collection To create strong dragon legs, I glue together pieces of wood, allowing me to use thinner materials I have on hand. When using a single thickness of wood, it's important that the grain runs along the length of the legs. If the grain runs in the wrong direction, the legs can weaken and are more likely to break. Constructing the legs with the grain aligned lengthwise can compromise the strength of the feet, making them more susceptible to damage. Instead, using two layers of wood with different grain patterns significantly helps prevent breakage. For even greater durability, incorporating a third layer of wood with cross-grain orientation in the center makes the legs nearly unbreakable.  

  My Dragon Collection When crafting dragons, I've learned that having strong legs is essential to prevent breakage. To achieve this, I’ve found that gluing multiple layers of wood significantly strengthens the legs. However, the real strength comes from laminating layers of wood with different grain patterns. This technique greatly enhances durability. By combining these methods, my dragon creations will be much stronger and will last for many years.

Buy Now   This is a handcrafted wooden toy tow truck, freshly completed and ready for shipping. This piece is the most popular of my five-truck fleet, notable for its unique ability to tow the other trucks in the set. The truck's body is hand-painted with several coats of purple acrylic paint. The wheels, finished with amber shellac, add a touch of classic elegance to its modern design.   Material: High-quality wood Finish: Hand-painted with purple acrylic paint; wheels finished with amber shellac Functionality: Capable of towing other trucks in the fleet Customization: Available in various colors or unfinished for your personal touch. Custom orders are welcome. Add this unique, handcrafted tow truck to your collection or gift it to inspire creativity and play. Perfect for collectors, children, and anyone who appreciates the beauty of handmade toys. Order now to bring this purple marvel into your world.  

My Five Truck Fleet In my workshop, I'm crafting a wooden toy tow truck. The focus today is on the axles, which are three wooden dowels. They are held by spring clamps on a custom pegboard, allowing both ends to be painted simultaneously. The tips are painted purple to match the truck's body. In the background, there are various wooden toys and ornaments in progress. The next steps include assembling the truck's body, attaching the wheels, and adding details like a tow hook or driver figure. Follow along for updates on this project.

    My Five Truck Fleet When finishing toy wheels, I use Amber Shellac. It provides a beautiful, warm appearance and has practical benefits that make it ideal for kids' toys. One of the main reasons I favor shellac is that it doesn't mar the surfaces where the wheels roll. Unlike flat black paint, which can sometimes rub off and leave those pesky black marks behind, shellac stays put. The wheels I work with are typically made from end grain, which tends to soak up a considerable amount of shellac. There have been times when the shellac has soaked through the wheel. Shellac sprays beautifully straight from the can, but I prefer to apply it with a brush on the wheels. This method is less messy and gives me more control over the application. One common issue with dipping and spraying is that shellac can inadvertently get into the center holes of the wheels. Shellac inside the axle hole is crucial, as it can lead to glue failure when it comes time to attach the wheels to wooden ax...

  My Five truck Fleet Painting can be a rewarding yet meticulous part of making a toy, especially when striving for a flawless finish. Applying the first coat of acrylic paint tends to raise the grain of the surface. To achieve a smooth finish, it’s essential to let the paint cure completely, followed by sanding to remove any imperfections before applying additional coats. The process is repeated until the desired finish is obtained. The perfect finish may take several days, as it largely depends on the color of the paint and weather conditions. Some colors, like yellow, require a white undercoat to shine their brightest. Without this base layer, the outcome may lack the vividness you envisioned. Every color and type of paint is different.

  My Five Truck Fleet The handmade wooden toy tow truck body has been carefully sanded and is now ready for painting. I took my time to ensure that the body feels smooth to the touch and eliminated all sharp corners. The opening for the hook has been reshaped to accommodate the tow hook that will be added later.

My Five Truck Fleet I am making a wooden toy tow truck for a custom order. I cut the truck body with a scroll saw, and I precisely drilled the axle holes using a drill press. To remove the pattern, I used mineral spirits to dissolve the spray adhesive that I had applied to attach the pattern to the wood. I flood the paper pattern with mineral spirits and, after waiting a short time, I can easily lift it off, leaving only a small amount of adhesive residue. This softened adhesive can be easily wiped away with a paper towel. Once I have removed the pattern, I let the body dry overnight before sanding.  

My Five Truck Fleet I am creating a handmade wooden toy tow truck for a custom order. The photo shows the truck body, freshly cut with my scroll saw and drilled for the axles and tow hook. The window still needs to be cut. Since the window is an inside cut, a scroll saw is uniquely suited for this task. While I could drill a round window, it would completely change the toy's character. One of the most challenging aspects of this project is creating the space for the hook. To achieve this, I need to use flat, square pieces of wood that are well-sanded for a smooth finish. A precise layout is essential to ensure that the hook is accurately positioned and perfectly centered on the truck's body. This meticulous attention to detail enhances the toy's functionality and ensures it has an aesthetically pleasing look once completed.

My Five Truck Fleet I am cutting the body of a tow truck with my scroll saw. It's important to note the hole drilled into the edge to provide clearance for the hook. This hole must be precisely located, and the wood needs to be flat and square to ensure accuracy. Once the wood is prepared, I attach the pattern, ensuring the pattern's bottom edge aligns exactly with the corner. Using a square, I extend the lines from the pattern to the top of the wood, which helps in marking the locations for drilling the holes. Finally, I drill the hole using a drill press.  

  My Five Truck Fleet I'm cutting the body for a toy dump truck using my scroll saw, starting with a piece of 1.5-inch thick pine wood for a custom order. While I could use a band saw for this task, I prefer the scroll saw because it allows me to achieve a cleaner edge with more intricate details. This precision saves me a lot of time and effort in preparing the truck for finishing. I create these toy dump trucks in several colors, and I'm always open to custom orders if someone has a specific color in mind. It's great to bring a child's imagination to life.

My Shop Check out this unique handmade 3D scroll saw sculpture, which features "LOVE" on one side and "WOOD" when rotated 90 degrees. The photos from the other side were lost. These can be used for any combination of words, but it is better if they have the same number of letters.   "Compound cutting" on a scroll saw refers to a technique where you cut a pattern on multiple sides of a piece of wood, usually by flipping it over and cutting from the opposite side. This results in a 3D shape instead of a flat design; essentially, you're cutting on both the face and edge of the wood to create depth and dimension in the final piece.    Key points about compound cutting on a scroll saw: Creates 3D shapes: The main benefit of compound cutting is that it allows you to create intricate, three-dimensional designs on a scroll saw, going beyond simple, flat shapes.    Multiple cuts on one piece: To achieve a compound cut, you typically cut part of the design o...

  My Shop I made a batch of male and female mini gnomes, using poplar wood offcuts as part of an experiment to utilize leftover wood in my waste bin. Normally, these offcuts would be burned as kindling for backyard fires. Most gnome parts were cut from 3/4-inch stock and then resawn on a band saw. In the background, you can also see a T-rex dinosaur that I made from oak flooring cut-offs given to me by a friend. Several animals from my Itty Bitty Animal Collection , including giraffes and a rooster, are also in the photo. These were all made from offcuts as well. I keep patterns for these animals on hand and apply them to the leftover wood from other projects, such as puzzles, once they are completed.

  My Shop In this creative project, mini gnomes are crafted from leftover wood pieces typically discarded as designer kindling. This experiment showcases the potential of repurposing scrap materials that remain after making puzzles and other intricate designs. With an abundance of these wooden remnants, producing these charming gnomes proved to be practical. To aid in the process, spring clamps from Harbor Freight Tools are utilized. I have about 200 of these handy clamps; they provide the perfect clamping support for assembling the gnomes. This project transforms waste into delightful gnomes.

  My Online Shop I have created a handmade wooden clock from poplar wood, and it is now ready for staining and adding a base. I've crafted several of these as gifts. You'll need a flat piece of 1x12 lumber to make the clock, which can sometimes be hard to find. Instead of cutting the clock opening with a scroll saw, it's more effective to start by drilling the hole using a Forstner bit. If I try to drill after cutting, I could easily break the piece if the bit unexpectedly catches. It may be available in my shop if I figure out how to ship it without it getting broken.