Turning Toy wheels

[spannermonkey]

Hopefully in the new year I will be making childrens pull along toys.
is there a particular wood to make the wheels that would stand up to the rigours of these children and how do I go about turning the wheels to the same diameter?

is is best to turn lots at one time or as and when I need them?
MTA
Spanny.

 

[PAC]

Hi, you could make the wheels out of a tough wood like ash. To get them all the same diameter you could turn a long cylinder and use a parting tool to part off each individual wheel.

 

[PowerTool]

Close-grained hardwoods like beech,sycamore,maple should also be suitable.
As Paul said,turn it to a cylinder between centres (calipers come in handy for checking the diameter whilst turning) - if you can then hold the cylinder in a chuck,it would give you the space to shape the end of it to look more like a wheel and tyre before parting off and repeating.
If you just want parallel-sided wheels,it's relatively easy to do it all between centres ; turn a cylinder,make parting cuts at appropriate widths,round the edges off,deepen the parting cuts,then remove from the lathe and seperate them with a fine-toothed saw.
And if you want to make lots of the same size,but at different times,make a gauge from plywood (something like an open-ended spanner) - no need to measure or set anything then.

Andrew

 

[loz]

For basic wheels, you could drill down the centre of your stock, then mount, round, create beads, then either chuck and part off, or remove and saw as Andrew suggested.

eg



Edit - rather embarrassed by them beads i did when starting out !! but you get the idea !

 

[dedee]

I use a hole saw in a bench drill. By using the hole saw one gets an axle hole in the very centre of each wheel. My hole saws have a lead drill of 6mm which is the same size as the dowel I have used for the axels.

If an off centre hole is required use the hole saw without the lead drill - dont try this in a hand held drill. Off centre axels are great for getting moving toys - especially animals - to "bounce" up and down as they move.



Andy