I have a couple of grandkids visiting next weekend for a week, needed something for them to them to put together (ages 3 and 5). So, I came up with a simple car for them, no plans, just off the cuff. These are just pine 11" long and 3-1/2" wide x 2-3/4" high. I glued up the pine blocks, I did cut a dado in the bottom to attach a axle housing. The blocks for the axle are Poplar.
Then marked to cut the side profile with the bandsaw. Sanded the cut lines out then rounded the bumpers. I set the bandsaw at 30* to cut the side on the top back a little.
Finished shaping for a pleasing shape and smooth. Then cut some blocks with a dado centered on one side to house the axle (3/8" Oak). I also glued up some Oak for a turning blank, I then turned all of the wheels which worked out to be 5/8" thickness and 1-7/16" diameter, (I was thinking about wheel wells on these little things and sized to one of the fostner bits I could use) (I need a full set). The turning was quick and I drilled the center hole using the M2 drill chuck, about 2" at a time, and cut off a few of the wheels, rinse and repeat until all of the wheels were done.
Then went back to the drill press set up the fence and clamped the body to the fence and cut the wheel wells, sanded and trimmed the axle housing to fit. Figured out the axle length and cut, then sanded with it chucked in a drill to get a good fit (they were a tad bit larger than brad point bit I used to drill out the centers).
The first one I glued together, and finished with Howards Feed & Wax, that one is being shipped out next week to another grandson who is having a birthday.
The other 2 are ready for assemble by the grandkids that are coming for a visit.
The last one with the red rubber band, I'll hand on to and maybe add some embellishments to it, for now it's up on the project shelf.
All in all a fun little project, and more enjoyment watching the kids finish it up then playing with them. Another note: these were all from scrap, and I had the oak dowel in the shop.
Thanks for looking and comments are always welcome and appreciated.
hey the car project is cool but i noticed the vac hose under the rails ! does that pick up much sawdust ? still on the hunt for the best way to collect dust from a lathe !
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Pottz, thanks. yes the hose is connected to the DC. I can bring it close to the turning and it sucks the dust down, works great for being at the end of the run. I still need to play around with a more flexible attachment and see if I can catch the lathe chips. (good luck with that). It works for the drill press and the sanding disk though.
Tim, thanks. All set for the Derby. From what I remember they are a tad bit larger than the pinewood derby cars. And yes, the kids can paint them.
Dave, thanks. Must be the angle of the camera, they are all the same size. That one is the one I am keeping for myself for the time being, and it needs to be sanded a bit more. Might do some carving on it and outline the hood, trunk, doors and glass.
Getting started on the next project, need a bunch of handles for some files. have a few Oak blanks ready for the lathe.
Rob, thanks. By the time they start working we'll probally have flying cars.
Dutchy, thanks. Sharing the love and maybe one day they will get the woodworking bug.
Tony, thanks. Got to keep that creativity flowing, now that the shop is mostly set up I can concentrate on making some cool gifts for the grandchildren. Between doing a few projects for myself, been enjoying the lathe work lately, more tool handles are getting prepped now.
Great project for the grandkids, Eric. Much better than watching TV or playing with their thumbs on a phone. Next yoiu will need to make ramp for side by side racing!!
Cheers, Jim
Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day
Jim, thanks. Well said about the screen time, as for the ramp, the drive here has about a 3% grade so that should work. But maybe put up a simple board for the starting gate.
Splinter, thanks. Better half is taking about getting the markers, but the temper pants sounds good too.
Yrti, thanks. If you have a lathe you can do it too, you have the skills for shaping a car.
WoodGuy, thanks. It was a fun project over a few afternoons, threw some blocks together and drew lines for cutting, then shaped with the belt sander, and a few areas with a wood rasp.
