How to Make Swivel Wood Toys
Wooden swivel toys are one of the earliest forms of children's toys. Because swivel toys represent one of the most basic styles of toys, the possibilities are endless. The design can be stacked barnyard animals that can swivel on the post then be removed for play, or simple, colorful shapes that would be attractive to younger children. When making swivel wood toys keep in mind: the wood should be well-sanded with no sharp edges, there should be no small pieces that can be swallowed, and the paint used to decorate the toy should be nontoxic.
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Things You'll Need
- Coloring book with farm animal pictures
- Copy machine or tracing paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- 2 pine boards, 2 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches
- Scroll saw
- Sandpaper, medium grade
- Tack rag
- Power drill and drill bits set
- Dowel rod, 18 inches long with 3/4-inch diameter
- Clean rags
- Old newspapers
- Acrylic nontoxic paint
- Disposable foam paintbrushes, variety of sizes
- Artist's fine-bristle brushes (for details)
- Acrylic, nontoxic varnish
- Craft or wood glue
Instructions
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1
Create the design for the swivel wood toy by choosing pictures of side views of farm animals from a child's coloring book. Copy the pictures on a copier machine, trace the pictures or simply cut the pictures out of the coloring book. Choose four animal silhouettes that are at least 3 inches tall.
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2
Place the sheets of pine board on a flat surface and trace the animal outlines on the wood with a pencil.
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3
Draw a 2-inch (tall and wide) heart shape, which will serve as the top of the swivel wood toy.
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4
Draw a circle for the base with a 6-inch diameter.
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5
Cut out the outlines of the farm animals, the heart-shaped top and the base with a scroll saw.
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6
Sand the edges of the animal outlines, the heart and the base with a medium-grade sandpaper. Wipe off any sandpaper residue with a tack rag.
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7
Stand each animal up and and locate the center of the back of the animal. Mark the center with a pencil. This mark is where the hole will be drilled so that the animal can slide down and swivel around the dowel rod.
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8
Drill a hole all the way through each animal with a power drill and 13/16-inch drill bit. Test the animal shape on the dowel rod to be sure that it slides smoothly and easily and that it can swivel on the dowel rod. Enlarge the hole as needed. Sand the edges of the holes so there are no sharp points. Repeat this process with each animal.
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9
Drill a 3/4-inch-wide hole about halfway through the center of the bottom of the heart. The heart will be placed on the top of the dowel rod to act as a stopper and keep all the animal pieces in place. Sand any rough edges left on the heart from drilling and wipe any sandpaper dust with a tack rag.
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10
Mark and measure the center of the wood base with a pencil. Drill a 3/4-inch-wide hole that is about 1 1/2 inches deep to accommodate and support the dowel rod and the swivel wood toys.
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11
Decide what color to paint the animals, heart, base and dowel rod. Choose paint that is acrylic and nontoxic. Paint larger surfaces with foam brushes and smaller details with an artist's fine-bristle brush. Allow them to dry completely before applying a coat of acrylic, nontoxic varnish. Let the pieces dry completely again.
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12
Assemble the swivel wood toy by applying some craft glue to the end of the dowel rod and the hole in the base. Stick the glued end of the rod into the base. Allow it to dry completely before attempting to stack any animals on the dowel rod.
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13
Slide the animals on the dowel rod and place the heart on the top of the dowel rod.
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Tips & Warnings
You can add another dimension to your animals by adding tails, if appropriate. Braid three strands of jute twine until the tail is 2 to 3 inches long. Set the braid aside. Drill a small hole where the tail will be attached. Apply craft glue to one end of the tail and a small dab of glue to the hole. Use the end of a paper clip to push the jute twine into the hole and allow to dry.
If you are not comfortable using an artist's brush to paint in tiny details on the animals, try fine-point permanent markers. They come in a variety of colors and are easy to control. Do your detail work before you varnish your swivel wooden toy.
A personalized gift is always welcomed. Consider adding the child's name on the base of the toy. You have the choice of using paint or permanent markers, doing it free hand or using stencils. By adding the name, a simple swivel wood toy becomes a future heirloom.
Although the sizes of the animals and the heart are relatively large, you must always think about the chewing/swallowing behavior of younger children. Always consult with the parents of the child to see if this kind of toy is appropriate.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit wooden clown image by Bianca from Fotolia.com
