Odin's Toy Factory

2020-07-14

Handmade Wooden Toy Pickup Truck from the Play Pal Series Military Blue With Metallic Blue Hubs 836834203

Handmade Wooden Toy Pickup Truck from the Play Pal Series Military Blue With Metallic Blue Hubs

Here is a handmade and hand-painted wooden little blue pickup truck painted with Military Blue with Metallic Blue accents. I made this one from 100% solid wood, child-safe acrylic paints, and Amber shellac. While they are great toys, these little trucks are also perfect for vintage decor, traditional Christmas decorations, and nursery decorations.

Handmade Wooden Toy Pickup Truck from the Play Pal Series Military Blue With Metallic Blue Hubs

I had a custom order for a group of little blue trucks to use as party favors. I pulled out all of my blue paint and made some samples for the customer to choose from this is one of the samples. The customer chose a different color. I had never used this color before and was quite pleased with the result. Several days later I was at a local Ford dealer and found an F150 on the lot that was nearly the same color.

Click here to see the Etsy listing for this truck.

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Click here to see my other toy trucks.

Handmade Wooden Toy Pickup Truck from the Play Pal Series Military Blue With Metallic Blue Hubs

This wooden toy truck is a cute vintage style gift suitable for boys and girls. The truck can be used as home, office, kids room, or nursery decor; it's the perfect size for a cake topper or other decoration. You can easily convert this toy into Christmas Ornament for that vintage Christmas look or use it with other small wooden toys to make a nursery mobile. It's the perfect size to use as a stocking stuffer or party favor. Several trucks and or cars in rainbow colors would make an excellent mobile.

Handmade Wooden Toy Pickup Truck from the Play Pal Series Military Blue With Metallic Blue Hubs

These toys are sturdy, durable, and built to withstand a little boy's play. The small size easy for small hands to carry with them or to keep in a busy bag. This toy truck Fits Hot Wheels or BluTrack for drag racing. It probably will not win any races, but you never know.

Handmade Wooden Toy Pickup Truck from the Play Pal Series Military Blue With Metallic Blue Hubs

I make every effort to make sure my toys perform well. The axles are sanded smooth, and nylon washers are inserted between the wheels and the body to ensure the toy rolls smoothly, and the wheels do not rub against the car body. I carefully test each toy before it listed in my store.

Handmade Wooden Toy Pickup Truck from the Play Pal Series Military Blue With Metallic Blue Hubs

Approximate Dimensions:

Length: 3-1/2 inches
Height: 1-3/8 inches
Width: 1-1/2 inches
Wheels: 3/4 inch diameter

Handmade Wooden Toy Pickup Truck from the Play Pal Series Military Blue With Metallic Blue Hubs

Not for children under three or children who are still at that stage where they put everything in their mouths. It is not a teether.

Handmade Wooden Toy Pickup Truck from the Play Pal Series Military Blue With Metallic Blue Hubs

I combine shipping for multiple items and strive to give my customers the lowest rates possible. I refund excess shipping.

Handmade Wooden Toy Pickup Truck from the Play Pal Series Military Blue With Metallic Blue Hubs

I welcome custom orders. I can make toys in larger sizes, and painting is available in just about any color. Need more than one for party favors or gifts. I can accommodate you. Please contact me for custom order pricing.

Handmade Wooden Toy Pickup Truck from the Play Pal Series Military Blue With Metallic Blue Hubs

2020-07-07

Book Review - Building Childrens Wood Toys ISBN 0897212142

Building Childres Wooden Toys Front Cover

I buy lots of used books about toymaking, mainly for the ideas I get from them. I don't pay more than $5, including shipping, unless I know it is special. I buy mostly on eBay because I can set up a search that will find the cheap books for men and send me an email.

I bought this book on eBay because I have several Ortho books on my bookshelf that I have thoroughly enjoyed and referred to repeatedly over the years. This one was a disappointment. Unlike my other books that are mostly on gardening, I'm not exactly pleased with this one. Most of the toy designs are crude; although they may be suitable for I first-time woodworker, these toys are not what I would consider quality designs.

The patterns are miniatures laid out on grids that you must enlarge to scale. I expect this in older books. I have a scanner, software, and computer skills to make the enlargements. If you don't have a scanner, enlarging these patterns is very tedious. I have done it many times with a pencil and paper. I do not recommend it.

The advice the book gives on tools is not up to date, maybe useful to a beginner. The book was copyrighted in 1990. It's not going to have up to date tool information 40 years later.

The book was not a total loss. I picked up a couple of ideas for modifications to some of my toy designs. I only paid four dollars and change for the book on eBay, but if I had picked this up at a yard sale, I would be hard-pressed to give up a dollar.

I do not recommend this book.

2020-05-27

Toymakers Shop - 3D Bird House Ornaments - Glue Up and Attaching Patterns

Glued Up Blocks for 3D Bird Houses Ready to Drill

These are not precisely toys, but they are an excellent way to use up the many small bits and pieces of wood I accumulate making toys. Once the pieces get too small to use for toys, they go into the kindling bucket to burn.

Here I have glued up many bits and pieces to make blocks for these Steve Good 3D Bird Houses. I got lots of practice with my plane and bench hook.

These are all wood reclaimed from discarded furniture. Poplar and mystery wood from Indonesia. I discovered than my smoother plane does a great job of removing paint.

I want to make some chess sets, and these seem like they would be great practice for making chess pieces.

2020-05-21

Toymaker's Shop - Harbor Freight Airbrushes and Compressors Are They Good Enough

Harbor Freight Airbrush Compressor

I have a harbor freight compressor that works very well. There are two compressors available. If I were to buy one today, I would spend the $20 more for the larger one. Most of the time, I use my big air compressor. I previously set up to use it when I received the Harbor Freight compressor as a gift from a friend. The Harbor Freight Compressor is very handy when I want to spray outside the shop.

Harbor Freight Central Pneumatic 3/4 Oz Deluxe Airbrush Kit

I have two issues with the harbor freight airbrush. First, The tip size is to small for many acrylic paints. The cheaper acrylic paints ($0.99) tend to have large pigments that clog the tip easily. I also spray acrylic house paint. I much prefer a larger tip (.5 - .7mm). I have found certain paints nearly impossible to spray through a .3mm tip.

My Harbor Freight Compressor With Airbrushes and Accessories

My second issue is the availability of parts. They claim you can order a new needle & nozzle, but you can't buy them in the store. You are going to bend or break your needle sooner or later. It would be nice to be able to pick them up in the store. Needles & nozzle kits are $9.09 plus $6.99 equals $16.08 if they charge tax (they do for me) your looking at $17.20 to replace the needle, so the airbrush is disposable. If you have a local store and your airbrush has a problem, you throw it away and buy a new one. Throwing away an airbrush bothers me.

Unbranded Chines Airbrush Purchased Off Of eBay

Harbor Freight is not alone. Other Chinese airbrushes have similar issues. I have several Chinese made airbrushes, and getting replacement needles for them is a pain. I've done it, but it took several months. I had to order them from Singapore.

A Harbor Freight airbrush and compressor are an excellent way to get started without breaking the bank.

My Etsy Shop: https://odinstoyfactory.etsy.com

2020-05-16

Toymakers Shop - Making Birdhouse Ornaments Form Salvaged Wood

Handmade Wooden Birdhouse Ornaments and Blocks For Bird House Ornaments From Salvaged Wood

On top of this pile of blocks are some of the birdhouse ornaments I cut from pine blocks I glued up from some cut-offs. Below the ornaments are blocks I glued up or cut from some table legs my grandson and I picked up on our walk around the neighborhood.

Gluing and Clamping Blocks For Bird House Ornaments From Salvaged Wood

Clamps Clamps and more clamps, how many clamps do you need to make the birdhouse ornaments. Zero if can buy the ready-made stock the correct size. Here, I am using wood I salvaged from furniture and cut-offs that would otherwise go into the kindling bucket or trash. In a production run, you need many clamps. I have a lot of clamps, but not as many small ones to make a large batch.

Making stock (blocks) for bird ornaments. Blocks are 1-1/2 x 3 inches. I had more wood, but I was running out of places to put them. It's incredible how many clamps you need for such small pieces of wood.

I needed two clamps, in some cases three, to keep the pieces aligned and two clamps to hold the wood pieces tightly together. PVA glues do not bond well unless the parts are under pressure.

Gluing and Clamping Blocks For Bird House Ornaments From Salvaged Wood

How many clamps do you need? All you have room to store.

2020-05-12

Etsy Listing - Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Play Pal Laminated Hardwood Pickup Metallic Blue Polyurethane 496711514

Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Metallic Blue Trim Pickup Truck in the Play Pal Series

Monster trucks are great toys. I make them from laminated hardwoods and hand-finished each toy. The wheels and axles are hand-fitted with nylon spacer bearings to ensure they will roll smooth and fast without the wheels rubbing the body. They will roll well on carpets. This toy truck is finished with polyurethane, shellac, and acrylic paint all are non-toxic finishes.

Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Metallic Blue Trim Pickup Truck in the Play Pal Series 496711514

https://www.etsy.com/listing/496711514/

Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Metallic Blue Trim Pickup Truck in the Play Pal Series

A handmade wooden toy monster truck for adults or kids. A unique gift for a monster truck lover. Use them to decorate a kids room, nursery, home, office space, birthday, or even a shower cake.

Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Metallic Blue Trim Pickup Truck in the Play Pal Series

A handmade wooden toy monster truck made from high-quality hardwoods. Sturdy, durable, and built to withstand play.

Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Metallic Blue Trim Pickup Truck in the Play Pal Series

My grandson has several these in various colors, finishes, and materials. Despite his rough play, they are still going strong, outlasting factory-made plastic toys. Like all my toys, they are grandson tested and approved.

Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Metallic Blue Trim Pickup Truck in the Play Pal Series

By pressing down with your finger over the rear axle and slowly applying pressure until the monster truck pops out from under your finger, the truck can do backflips. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it, but my grandson has been able to make them flip since he was three years old.

Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Metallic Blue Trim Pickup Truck in the Play Pal Series

Similar Toys in the series are available at the link below:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/OdinsToyFactory?search_query=play+pal

Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Metallic Blue Trim Pickup Truck in the Play Pal Series

This toy not intended for children under three or children who are still at that stage where they put everything in their mouths. It is not a teether.

Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Metallic Blue Trim Pickup Truck in the Play Pal Series

I combine shipping for multiple items and strive to give my customers the lowest rates possible. I refund excess shipping.

Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Metallic Blue Trim Pickup Truck in the Play Pal Series

Custom orders are welcome.

Handmade Wooden Toy Monster Truck Metallic Blue Trim Pickup Truck in the Play Pal Series

2020-05-09

Etsy Listing Handmade Wooden Toy Car Classic 1957 Bug Play Pal Amber and Metallic Blue Hubs 741638026

Handmade Wooden Toy Car Classic 1957 Bug Play Pal Amber and Metallic Blue Hubs OnWood Ruler

Handmade Wooden Toy Car Classic 1957 Bug Play Pal Amber and Metallic Blue Hubs On Wood uler

Etsy Listing

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Handmade Wooden Toy Car Classic 1957 Bug Play Pal Amber and Metallic Blue Hubs On Wood Ruler

Here is a cute handcrafted toy made from 100% childsafe materials. I sand the car smooth and round over all of the edges. The finish on the car body is amber shellac. I paint the axle ends with metallic blue acrylic paint.

Handmade Wooden Toy Car Classic 1957 Bug Play Pal Amber and Metallic Blue Hubs

All of the parts are carefully hand-fitted and tested. My toys are made by me using conventional tools; they are not made with a computer, laser, or CNC machine of any sort.

Handmade Wooden Toy Car Classic 1957 Bug Play Pal Amber and Metallic Blue Hubs

Materials: Wood, Wood Glue, Shellac, Acrylic Paint

I like using shellac on my toys. Shellac is a childsafe finish and used in many foods. If you have eaten M&Ms, you have eaten shellac. Shellac is fast to apply and cures within minutes. I finished these toy cars with a coat of amber shellac and buffed it with steel wool and wax.