Toymakers Shop - Glueing Legs On Dragons

Handmade Wood Dragon Finished Version

Dragons
https://www.etsy.com/shop/odinstoyfactory?search_query=dragons

The dragons appear easy to build on the surface. However, getting all the parts aligned and glued into place is a challenge. I struggled with this for a while, trying to find a reliable way to mount the legs and get them all to align so the dragon sits flat and does not rock. I contacted the pattern designer for help and soon discovered that he does not make test builds on his designs. I was on my own.

 

Handmade Wood Dragon Parts Before Sanding

 

The first thing I do is cut all the parts and sand everything smooth, repairing any minor imperfections I find. I do all the sanding before assembly. It would be challenging to sand a dragon after assembly.

 

Handmade Wood Dragon Gluing On The First Leg

 First, I glue one leg in place, being very careful to get it aligned as near to perfect as I can. Positioning this leg is critical because everything will index off this leg. After I apply the glue and position the leg, I let it sit for five minutes before clamping to prevent the leg from moving when the clamp is applied. Five minutes is slightly less than the working time of the glue I am using. At this time, the glue is very tacky, but you can still move the part. After five minutes, I add the clamps and leave them in place for at least fifteen minutes. After fifteen minutes, the glue has set enough not to require the clamps. These times must be adjusted for the glue you use.

 

Handmade Wood Dragon Clamping The last Two Legs

 

Once the first leg is in place, I add another leg on the same side after first clamping the dragon to a flat surface. The same gluing process is repeated, but I clamp the foot of the second leg to the same flat surface. Once the glue has set, I have two legs that have their feet perfectly aligned. The process gets much faster now since I can add as many parts as I can fit clamps on using the same method for attaching the legs. Note that the two orange clamps in the photo above are clamping the feet of the first two dragon legs to the board. 

Handmade Wood Dragon Testing The Legs To See If They Are Even

After the clamps are removed, I test the dragon by placing it on a flat surface. Here I am using the table of my Shopsmith. At this point, any slight perfections are easily corrected with a bit of sanding. However, to this day, I have never had to make any corrections using this method.

My animals are all handmade, and no two parts are the same. This method works with every I have used it on. Even those that stand on two legs.

Wings horns and ears are not critical. I stick them in the place where it looks good. I do, however, glue and camp one at a time if it is tricky to keep them in place.

Handmade Wood Toy Monster Truck Based On The Play Pal Pickup Design - 496688424

 I have made a lot of these toy monster trucks. After watching my grandson try to push a toy car with small wheels across the carpet, I originally got the idea. I had made larger ones for him that he played with, but his hands were too small to handle them well. I looked at the size wheels I had and picked out some that would work. The standard 3/4-inch think pickup body would not do, so I doubled the thickness to 1-1/2-inch. It worked great, and my grandson loved the truck. I have since made a lot of Play Pal monster trucks. Not everyone likes them, but the kids do, and I have had people purchase as many as four in different widths and colors.

Etsy Listing
https://www.etsy.com/listing/496688424/

Other Items You May Like

Monster Trucks
https://www.etsy.com/shop/odinstoyfactory?search_query=monster+truck

Play Pal Toy Trucks and Cars
https://www.etsy.com/shop/odinstoyfactory?search_query=play%2Bpal

Toy Cars:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/odinstoyfactory?search_query=car

Toy Trucks:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/odinstoyfactory?search_query=truck

Shop Front Page:
https://odinstoyfactory.etsy.com

This wooden toy monster truck was handmade by me in my Toymakers Shop using traditional woodworking tools. I hand-finished the truck with amber shellac and acrylic paint. The toy is sturdy, durable, and built to withstand play.

My grandson has several of these in various colors, finishes, and materials. It is grandson tested and approved.

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.

Other sizes and colors may be available via custom orders or in other listings in my shop.

I make items by hand from natural wood and wood products. They can differ from one piece to the next. The one you receive may be slightly different from the item in the listing photos. Wood thickness may vary slightly from the stated size.

Not for children under three years old or kids that are still chewing things. If the toy breaks, small parts may present a choking hazard. Small children should not play with this toy without adult supervision.

Custom orders are always welcome in my shop. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me with your needs.

Handmade in Tallahassee, Florida USA

 

Handmade Wood Wolf Family Stacking Puzzle

 

I made this in my toymakers shop using traditional woodworking tools. I cut the puzzle from 3/4-inch thick poplar using a scroll saw. After sanding, I will finish it with a shop-made blend of mineral oil and beeswax. The alligator puzzle is one of a series of stacking animal family puzzles I have in production. They will all be for sale in my Etsy shop when they are completed.

Puzzles:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/odinstoyfactory?section_id=22461824

Handmade Wood Whale Puzzle - 737750492

Etsy Listing
https://www.etsy.com/listing/737750492/

This simple, four-piece puzzle is suitable for young children just learning about puzzles. The puzzle has been carefully sanded smooth and finished with a blend of USP food-grade mineral oil and beeswax. I make these in my Toymakers Shop using traditional woodworking tools.

Approximate Dimensions:
Height = 3.5 inches/88mm
Length = 7 inches/178mm
Thickness = .75 inches/18mm

Other sizes and colors may be available via custom orders or in other listings in my shop.

Other Items You May Like

Puzzles:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/odinstoyfactory?section_id=22461824

Animals:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/odinstoyfactory?search_query=animal

Toy Trucks:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/odinstoyfactory?search_query=truck

Toy Cars:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/odinstoyfactory?search_query=car

Shop Front Page:
https://odinstoyfactory.etsy.com

I make items by hand from natural wood and wood products. They can differ from one piece to the next. The one you receive may be slightly different from the item in the listing photos. Wood thickness may vary slightly from the stated size.

Not for children under three years old or kids that are still chewing things. If the toy breaks, small parts may present a choking hazard. Small children should not play with this toy without adult supervision.

Custom orders are always welcome in my shop. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me with your needs.

Handmade in Tallahassee, Florida USA

In The Toymakers Shop - Handmade Wood Alligator Family Stacking Puzzle

 

Alligator Family Stacking Puzzle Ready For Sanding And Finishing

I made this in my toymakers shop using traditional woodworking tools. I cut the puzzle from 3/4-inch thick poplar using a scroll saw. After sanding, I will finish it with a shop-made blend of mineral oil and beeswax. The alligator puzzle is one of a series of stacking animal family puzzles I have in production. They will all be for sale in my Etsy shop when they are completed.

Puzzles:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/odinstoyfactory?section_id=22461824

How Read The Price Tags In The Big Box Stores

Price For An Eight Foot 1x6 Poplar Board At Lowe's

For me, the big box stores are Lowe's and Home Depot. "Big Blue" and "Big Orange."

The lighting is poor, and many of the price tags are located where you need to get down on the floor with a flashlight to read them. The stock is often in the wrong bin or mislabeled, with the wood prices as high as they are now. I don't want any surprises when I get to the checkout. I want to know how much it's going to cost me before I load my cart.

While shopping for poplar lumber one day and squinting at the price tag, it occurred to me that maybe I could take a photo of the price tag with my phone. It worked like a charm. I could easily read the tag on my phone, and now I have a copy of the price tag in case there is a problem at the register. In addition, I have a dated record of how much the item cost.

Using Tape To Prevent Wood Burning When Cutting Cherry and Other Hardwoods With A Scroll Saw

 

Dragon Patterns Attached to Wood Covered With Blue Tape

Etsy Shop
https://odinstoyfactory.etsy.com

According to Patrick Spielman, silicon on or in the tape keeps the tape from sticking together. The silicon gets on the saw blade as it passes through the tape and provides lubrication. He writes about this in one of his books, where he shows photos of cherry cut with and without the tape. The cherry burns when it is cut without the tape.

I suspect that all tapes are not created equal, which may explain variations in people's results.

I use the tape because it makes the patterns easier to remove. Some tape will pull out wood fibers when it is removed. In some cases, it can be bad enough to ruin the piece.

I have tried every method of attaching patterns to wood that I have come across. I am slowly becoming a fan of using spray adhesive without tape and removing the patterns by soaking the pattern with mineral spirits to remove it. The pattern comes off easily, and any residue is easily removed by wiping with a paper towel dampened with mineral spirits. I'll be saving the expensive blue tape for wood that burns.

You can use other types of tape. Clear packing tape is popular, but it doesn't stick as well as the blue tape, and I do not like the shiny surface.