Making Toy Wheels

[wizer]

I'm making a pram toy for my little'n and I don't know whether to make or buy the wheels. They are very cheap to buy, so it seems logical.

If I was to make them, what would be the process? I take it they'd need to be side grain? How would I hold them? The only method I can think of is to drill the hole and hold with a jacobs chuck.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Dalboy]

How about going this route as it will solve any problems with grain direction

 

[TobyB]

I made 4 for a toy truck (now given away, and no pictures to show, so it didn't actually happen ...) - rough spindle turned a rectangular block into a 6cms diameter cylinder, then parted one end down to make a dovetailed spigot so I could get a firm hold in some jaws in the chuck. Mounted there with the tailstock well back, I got a good outer and end finish (and a slight camber on the edge), and then drilled a central hole with a drill bit mounted in a Jacobs chuck in the tail stock. Then parted off the first wheel with a narrow tool (adding a slight camber again for the other side there before completely parting off), sanded/shaped the end again and parted off a second wheel and so on ... ended up with 4 wheels that all looked good but needed sanding on the parted-off face using the orbital sander ... I then put this face against the side of the truck so it was less observable/touchable although they came out fine on both sides.

Hope that makes sense ... have fun ... you could end up with a heavy plant-type 6-8 wheeler if you get carried away!

 

[NikNak]

How about you turn a 'skinny' disc.... do it in the normal way you would for a bowl i.e. with a foot on the base... this will become the inside of the wheel with almost a moulded in washer. Flip over and turn the other side.... as fancy or plain as you like. Drill a hole for the connecting rod.... then make another 3. Job done.




Nick

 

[John. B]

Turn them like these ones I did for my cannon. No end grain problems.

John. B

 

[wizer]

Thanks chaps.

John, are you saying you turned them long grain? i.e with the grain running from headstock to tailstock?

I'm not sure I'm going to do it. My skills are not there yet and I don't have the time to practise. The only other thing I thought was to make a jig for the bobbing sander.

 

[Dalboy]

Here is another design of wheels. Each is made of three pieces, The inner wheel(which has the spokes shaped in, and two outer rings as the tyres.

First the complete wheel (less the axle hole)

Then the centre section (I did change the spokes to what you see in the complete wheel)

The outer tyre (2 for each wheel)

I used MDF for these but you could just as easily use a wood of your choice

 

[John. B]

Tom,
Yes, the whole carriage is made from a single plank of Oak.
(The barrel is from Cherry)

John. B