Odin's Toy Factory

Brush Painted Wooden Toy Car - Hot Rod Freaky Ford - 32 Deuce Coupe - MDF - Blue - Black - Gold I tried an acrylic primer once. It was such a pain to sand that I never did it again. I've tried all sorts of methods for painting wood and MDF including using automotive primer filler I had left over. As far as I can tell it doesn't make any difference.  If I want to seal the material, I use shellac for the base coat. If I'm using a color that doesn't cover well I use white for the first coat or two. No matter what finish I use, I apply at least two layers of finish sanding between each layer.  The first seals and makes the fuzzies stiff so the sandpaper can smooth the surface. If I get an acceptable finish, I stop at the second coat. If not, I continue to paint and sand until I am satisfied with the result. I have tried just about every method I can find for applying finishes to my toys. The best I have used so far is spraying with an airbrush. I don't have a spra

Spray booths need venting outside., Unless you like brain damage. I researched this subject a while back and experimented with some cardboard box with a fan and filters. Even with the box fan and filters, I got paint dust all over the shop. This method doesn't filter out fumes. I was using acrylic paint, so I was not concerned about fire. I would not use this configuration to spray solvent based finishes. If you re spraying outdoors that is a different matter altogether. I know someone who lets his the truck tailgate down and covers the back of his truck with a blue tarp to use for painting.  I have a table I make from saw horses to use when painting outdoors.  I don't use a backstop or a cover on the table. It's getting colorful. The inexpensive spray booths they sell on eBay and else where are very small and ineffective.  Worst of all they use proprietary filters. Larger commercial spray booths are available but, they cost prohibitive for a small shop and al

When making one puzzle, keeping track of the pieces is not a problem. However, when making a batch of them, you must keep track of every part and which tray it fits.  Why? Because when you are cutting puzzles on a scroll saw, no two puzzles are precisely the same. If you don't keep the puzzle pieces together, somehow, there is a high risk that they will not fit together. Handmade Wooden Toy Puzzles Cut and Numbered To Keep The Pieces Together The only way I know to keep track of them is to either bag them or mark all pieces. I don't particularly appreciate dealing with the bags, so I number the sections. If you look closely at the photo, you will see that every puzzle piece and the tray is numbered. They also have numbers on the back. If I were to dump them all into a bucket and shake them up, I could still put them back in the right place.  See the completed puzzles at the links below: Toddlers Puzzle, Rooster, Chicken Toddlers Puzzle, Butterfly, Very Easy Assembly

I don't use spring clamps very much. They are not adjustable and always seem to clamp too hard or too little. Plastic spring clamps will slip easily out of place. I have tried to develop some way to make the jaws less slippery, but I have been unsuccessful so far. Handmade Wooden Toy Puzzle Ready To Glue Up Butterfly For clamping the backs onto my handmade tray puzzles, the spring clamps are almost perfect. They have just the right amount of pressure and no slipping. One of the best things is that they don't take up much room. When you are making a lot of puzzles, you can easily stack them while the glue cures.  Best of all they are cheap. These spring clamps cost about $1.00 each at Harbor Freight.  See the completed puzzles at the links below: Toddlers Puzzle, Rooster, Chicken Toddlers Puzzle, Butterfly, Very Easy Assembly Toddlers Puzzle, Bunny Rabbit Toddlers Cat Puzzle

When making tray puzzles, I like to make the tray backs from tempered hardboard. It's flat cheap and sturdy enough to do the job. This is the last I have been able to find locally that is smooth on both sides so I may be looking for another material for my puzzle tray backs. I always cut the backs for my puzzle trays a little larger than the puzzle and then later trim and them to size. This makes it much easier the glue up. I cut this batch on my scroll saw. I didn't have a factory edge to run against the bandsaw or table saw fence and since they were oversized intentionally, there was not any reason to have a perfect edge. Handmade Wooden Toy Puzzle Tray Backs Made From Tempered Hardboard See the completed puzzles at the links below: Toddlers Puzzle, Rooster, Chicken Toddlers Puzzle, Butterfly, Very Easy Assembly Toddlers Puzzle, Bunny Rabbit Toddlers Cat Puzzle

I'm making these from a premium pine board purchased from Home Depot. This is not the construction grade lumber. It's what Home Depot call appearance boards. It's clear S4S with no knots. Not the cheap stuff. I'm using it because this is what I had on hand that was the right size. I cut the board into 3-1/2 inch squares for 21 puzzles. Enough five sets of four with one extra. I put blue painters tape on each square. I do this to make removing the patterns easy. The blue tape will peel off without leaving any residue. I have tried gluing the patterns directly on to the wood, but it just makes a mess that I have to clean up with mineral spirits. The patterns are applied to the tape after spraying the back with 3M 77 spray adhesive and rolled with a rubber roller. Entrance holes for the scroll saw blade and the eyes are then drilled. I like to drill the entrance hole at a point where three or more lines come together to help hide the hole. Handmade Wo

When my grandson asked me to make these puzzles. I wasn't sure he would like them. He is able to assemble larger more complicated puzzles large puzzles with more parts. I was wrong he likes these puzzles a lot, but not as much as the dinosaur puzzles I made for him Handmade Wooden Toy Butterfly Tray Puzzle For Toddlers These are ideal for toddlers three years and older. These puzzles are much easier for small children to assemble than the typical stand-up puzzle you see everywhere. The trays make them easy to store, help the little ones and mom to carry them and keep track of the pieces. Handmade Wooden Toy Rooster Tray Puzzle For Toddlers They are not designed to stand alone, but if you are careful you can do it. My grandson does this. Handmade Wooden Toy Black Cat Tray Puzzle For Toddlers Handmade Wooden Toy White Rabbit/Bunny Tray Puzzle For Toddlers