A Forum Topic for 'TOYS'

With two grandkids and another in the way, I would be interested in that forum. I’ve already built them kids scale furniture, so toys are next on the to do list.

-- "With every tool obtained, there is another that is needed" DonW ( Kevin )

I build little robots that are selling well.

-- "despite you best efforts and your confidence that your smarter and faster than a saw blade at 10k rpm…. your not …." - Charles Neil

The term “toy” is an interesting one. Are we REALLY making these things for kids, or are they for the kid that still resides inside us. I personally hide my “toys” when my grandkids visit. They’re used to indestructible, bulletproof plastic toys that they can throw against a wall if they’re in the mood to do so. When I published my dragon with Woodworker’s Journal, they were reluctant to call it a “pull toy” due to liability issues, and that’s why it was simply named “Articulated Dragon”.

I suppose we could call them “ADULT TOYS”, but that term’s already in use. :)

-- John - Central Ohio - "too much is never enough"

I still think a toy forum would be GREAT !!!

-- John - Central Ohio - "too much is never enough"

This sound like a great idea for a forum and I ‘m sure Stefang would be an outstanding moderator. The only toy I’ve made is John HutchInson’s Articulated Dragon. However, this toy was received with more enthusiasm and interest than any other woodworking project I’ve done. Adults unanimously loved it and all who saw it wanted one for children and grandchildren. However, John doesn’t need to worry about me going into business with his design because I just don’t have the time, unfortunately.

-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington

Toys R Us…..or in this case…Toys R Me

I started making toys when I retired 10 years ago..and I havent looked back since. I make toys just for the pleasure of making them as I know that someone, somewhere, sometime, a child will enjoy them.

It is not a competition with fellow LJ to make a better toy but simply a forum to show my accomplishments and enjoy others at the same time.

Each toy is a part of me that my family and their family will remember me by. The same reason that all other toy makers make toys!

prez

-- George..." I love the smell of a workshop in the morning!"

I love what prez said. Maybe HE should be the prez of the forum.

I looked at some of his work and it’s amazing !!!

-- John - Central Ohio - "too much is never enough"

Sounds like a winner to me… I like toys :)

-- Dan

Boy-oh-boy, count me in! I have spent a significant amount of my woodworking life building toys for kids of all ages.

I sincerely hope to see this as a forum topic in the future, I think it will be very popular.

-- Im so impressed with what people can do, and I wonder how they do it. Thats what keeps me doing it.

I think a forum on toys would be interesting and get quite a bit of participation.

-- Bruce, Boise, ID

As a “toy builder” I will contribute. My span of “toys” goes from what I call Heritage toys to play with toys. I don’t try to sell them though, I have tried that and went home with a bill for my expenses unpaid. So I just give them away. Last Christmas I turned a Christmas ornament for every child and teacher in my granddaughters school. [grades K-6] I find more satisfaction in seeing the kids put their colors on them and displaying their finish work. As for John’s comment “Are we REALLY making these things for kids, or are they for the kid that still resides inside us. ” I think that I make fit in both categories. Heritage toys, like the play with toys, I never sell them, although I have given a couple away. Take a look at my L/J project list and it gives a broad brush view of some of them. My posting signature says it all. A CHILD’S SMILE IS PAYMENT ENOUGH

-- A childs smile is payment enough.

Just go make a forum topic, there is nothing holding anyone back. There are already threads for pipes, handplanes, saws, miter boxes, craigslist, etc.

-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/

G’Day All,
I count myself as a toymaker and spend a lot of time on an Australian base forum called “Woodwork Forums”.
It has 2 sections in the toymaking section of the forum; one for general toys and the other for models; I’d consider it as toys to play with or toys to look at so to speak. http://www.woodworkforums.com/
Some of the threads are very detailed as the person posting has done a Work In Progress of the build with photos & build notes, along with comments & questions [plus some good hearted banter from time to time].
This in turn helps everyone with the HOW TO of making the toy and I’ve found it extremely helpful.
While I enjoy LumberJocks as I’ve made a good few friends here, the camaraderie on the toymaking section of the Aussie forum is like having a Men’s Shed on the internet. http://www.mensshed.org/home/.aspx
So while I might struggle keeping up with this sort of format of two beaut forum; I’d love to try and see a specific “Toy Forum” on LumberJocks, please.
Well that’s my two bobs worth and I hope it’s helpful…

-- Lifes good, Enjoy each new day...... Cheers from "On Top DownUnder" Crowie

I love toys and I have made a few, but not in a class with those who not only build them but design them too. Right now my focus of interest is on marquetry, especially now that my grandkids are grown up so I wouldn’t make a very good moderator for such a forum. I am hoping for great grandkids in the not to distant future so I may be making more toys if I’m still able when that time comes. I do think a forum for toys would be very well visited as there are many fathers and grandfathers on this site who would benefit by it. I think such a forum would also encourage designs incorporating features that will activate kids with features like building, turning, viewing, pulling, etc. This requires more sophisticated designs and mechanisms and the advice required to build them properly and safely. That’s where the forum would be helpful.

-- Mike, an American living in Norway.

I am also another that make “Toys” whether they are scale models or for the children to play with. These also range from Rocking horses to small push along cars.
Like Crowie I also frequent the Australian site toy section and have learnt a lot from like minded people, I think that from what I have seen on here that there are enough people to benefit from a section for “Toy” making whether scale or play type of toys

-- Derek, Kent, UK, https://www.facebook.com/DLWoodart/?ref=bookmarks