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Ed Weber

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Turning toy wheels
Aug 11^th, 2021 at 6:48pm

Well, I didn't

I hate to say it but it's not really worth my time to turn wheels unless the project warrants it, this one doesn't.
I thought I'd make a little lumber truck for my redwood guy.
The whole truck is redwood with a few notable exceptions. Wheels, stacks, lights and rivets.
I never even attempted to make a toy truck before, I can say I learned a bit. I basically started with a piece for the frame and said "this looks like it'll work". Then a hood and again, this should work. This is how the whole build went, not a method I advocate using. It started to have a hodge-podge feel to it but I think at the end of the day, it's passable as a truck.
I did make it to scale, so the lumber (4x4's and 4x6's) is correctly proportioned to the truck.

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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,939 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: Turning toy wheels Reply #1 - Aug 11^th, 2021 at 6:50pm All this to ask if you guys/girls bother with small items like this if it's not critical to the piece as a whole. For this project, it's a truck made of redwood for a redwood guy, not about the wheels.
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Buck Nemitt WR Addict Offline Lovin It Posts: 656 Toronto,Ohio Ohio USA Gender:	Re: Turning toy wheels Reply #2 - Aug 11^th, 2021 at 6:56pm Nice Truck, I’ve made very few wheels for the toys I’ve made but when I have it’s been Cherry,Walnut or Cedar for a special fit. BTW- headlights like yours are best drilled out before cutting the shape but I bet that’s what you did.
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Buck Nemitt WR Addict Offline Lovin It Posts: 656 Toronto,Ohio Ohio USA Gender:	Re: Turning toy wheels Reply #3 - Aug 11^th, 2021 at 7:40pm Speaking of Wheels, recently I read of a guy that bought Lego Tires which would be the black outer of the tire and he turns the center to make a darn attractive rimed wheel for a toy.
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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,939 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: Turning toy wheels Reply #4 - Aug 11^th, 2021 at 7:40pm I drilled into the fender, the light is a straight section of dowel
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Robert Fischer Senior Member Offline Posts: 299 Windham Maine USA Gender: Nova DVR XP	Re: Turning toy wheels Reply #5 - Aug 12^th, 2021 at 7:47am I like the grain pattern on the windshield!
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Ed Weber

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Re: Turning toy wheels
Reply #6 - Aug 12^th, 2021 at 9:10am

Buck Nemitt wrote on Aug 11^th, 2021 at 7:40pm:

Speaking of Wheels, recently I read of a guy that bought Lego Tires which would be the black outer of the tire and he turns the center to make a darn attractive rimed wheel for a toy.

I thought about making them more realistic by painting or staining but with this little gem I think they would stick out like a sore thumb. On the right project I think that would look great.

Robert Fischer wrote on Aug 12^th, 2021 at 7:47am:

I like the grain pattern on the windshield!

That part came out nice I think, something I'll try to incorporate into the next little vehicle.

The next one I make, I won't be limited to only redwood, which is not even close to the best species for this type of project.

An ideas on banding for the lumber? Thin flat wire of some kind

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Ralph Fahringer WR Addict Offline I'm the "Burly" Man!! Posts: 1,629 Ellsworth Maine USA Gender: PM3520b	Re: Turning toy wheels Reply #7 - Aug 12^th, 2021 at 9:27am Cute truck toy. How much is that truckload of Redwood currently worth??
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Ralph Fahringer WR Addict Offline I'm the "Burly" Man!! Posts: 1,629 Ellsworth Maine USA Gender: PM3520b	Re: Turning toy wheels Reply #8 - Aug 12^th, 2021 at 9:32am "An ideas on banding for the lumber? Thin flat wire of some kind" How about twisty ties? Plus you then need the take up ratcheting wheels on the side of the flatbed for the strapping to wrap around to tighten them down. No rear stop lights? ...and without a front grill for the radiator, the engine is going to overheat!!
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Robert Hayward

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Re: Turning toy wheels
Reply #9 - Aug 12^th, 2021 at 9:56am

That is a nice job Ed. Especially for working without plans.

Attached is a picture of one I did a while back from a set of plans bought on the Grizzly web site. The wheels, lights and steering wheel were bought, an "accessory" kit to the plans. Every thing else was hand made. The purchased parts, in my opinion, were not worth the effort to hand make them.

The project was done just as a fun project.

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Ed Weber

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Re: Turning toy wheels
Reply #10 - Aug 12^th, 2021 at 10:54am

Ralph Fahringer wrote on Aug 12^th, 2021 at 9:27am:

How much is that truckload of Redwood currently worth??

Let me do the math
4x4x8' PREMIUM Redwood POST $26.80 ea.
54 on truck = $1,447.20

It is 1:18 scale so, divided by 18 and it's $80.40 Roll Eyes

I don't have a price on the 4x6's, might as well just double it.

I like the little truck Robert Thumbs Up

Is that supposed to be a Model A Ford?

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Buck Nemitt WR Addict Offline Lovin It Posts: 656 Toronto,Ohio Ohio USA Gender:	Re: Turning toy wheels Reply #11 - Aug 12^th, 2021 at 4:43pm Craft wire is what they call it, available at Wal Mart, Jo Ann Fabric and such. I used it for rigging on a Trawler build .
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Robert Hayward WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 774 Tampa area Florida USA Gender: 3520b	Re: Turning toy wheels Reply #12 - Aug 12^th, 2021 at 5:14pm [quote author=734153545344360 link=1628725683/10#10 date=1628783650]Is that supposed to be a Model A Ford?/quote] 1928 Chevrolet. After the picture was taken I added a bowtie to the radiator shroud. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or [/url]
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Ed Weber

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Re: Turning toy wheels
Reply #13 - Aug 12^th, 2021 at 7:16pm

Robert Hayward wrote on Aug 12^th, 2021 at 5:14pm:

1928 Chevrolet. After the picture was taken I added a bowtie to the radiator shroud.

I like it.

Ralph I'm not sure the truck is complete yet, I haven't even wiped it down or blown it off yet. I keep thinking of things I can add without too much fuss. One of which was a grille or at least a radiator cap/hood ornament so it doesn't look like too much of a block. (it may be too late)

I have some thin wire I can use, thanks for the suggestions.

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Ed Weber

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Re: Turning toy wheels
Reply #14 - Feb 27^th, 2023 at 2:05pm

Recently we've been talking about lasers and how we can use them to sign and otherwise embellish our work.
This little ugly truck has been sitting on the shelf since I started this thread. I wasn't happy with it, so I though I would wait until "something" told me what to do with it.
I decided to try and burn the intended recipients company name and logo on it. Hoping it would break up the heaviness of the toy and turn it into a bit more of a novity.
I borrowed their logo from their website and set to work.
Personally, I think it's a huge improvement. I still have some other tweaks to do but at least I'll admit I made it. Grin

Thanks for looking

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