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This is a project that I built about 30 years ago. I have been meaning to post it her here on Lumberjocks for a long time.

This is a toy crane that I constructed from an idea that I had in my head. The wood is red oak. The corners of the rolling base (the carriage) are splined miters. The wheels were purchased at the hardware store from the lawnmower parts department. The section that houses the winches is attached inside the seat (the motor house) with screws with plugs that are sanded smooth. Between the seat and the base, I installed the heaviest lazy-susan bearing that I could find. A brass surface bolt locks the lazy-susan swivel.

The steel plates by the winches, the boom, and at the pivot points are designed to prevent a break at what otherwise would be the weakest points. The white line is attached to the upper winch and raises and lowers the hook. The yellow line is attached to the lower winch and controls the angle of the boom. The yellow line runs to the top of the boom and through a pulley (the block) that I fabricated from 2 pieces of wood and two small aluminum plates. The sheaves at the top are replacement ball bearing wheels for heavy sliding doors.

The winches are locked by sliding the winch cranks and shafts about ½" where tension pins interlock to prevent either the hook or the boom from free falling.

Time has caused the zinc-plated hardware to tarnish but I don't think our grandchildren mind the discoloration at all.

Gallery

Comments

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308 Posts
Lots of good play time there.
 

· Registered
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2,671 Posts
Cool project!!!
I need one just a tad bigger in the shop when I'm taking things apart, it would be a great third hand.
 

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1,558 Posts
Grandchildren will love to bits any hand made wooden toy and this one is great sir….
 

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3,876 Posts
Very Nice Project! & Well Done Bob!
 
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