A friend found me a great used lathe recently. I was able to get it set up and work up a couple of new tops.
Happy Making,
Jim
Archive for the Toy Making Category
A Tiny Stainless Steel Whistle
Posted in metalwork, Toy Making, Whistle Making on September 20, 2010 by JimIs there a machinist in the house?
I have a Unimat metal lathe. I prize it because it was my grandfathers. He was a blacksmith and he just about used this little lathe up. It earned its living – if you know what I mean.
A couple hours before bedtime to play tonight and I got the lathe out to see what kind of trouble I could get myself into. So I made this little whistle.
I dug out a little scrap of 3/8″ stainless rod left over from a jig I made and chucked it right up! Then I discovered what I do every time I use this lathe. I am not a machinist. I need to take a class or get some instruction.
Anyway, I like how it looks. I will like it even more when I get it to whistle 
Happy Making,
Jim
Robin Whirligig – it’s too hot to go birdwatching
Posted in Birds, Toy Making, Whirligigs, Woodworking with tags birds, Whirligigs on August 11, 2010 by JimFar too hot to be serious, I needed a little silly
It has been to hot to go to the lake to get in any birdwatching. Whirligigs make me happy. So, there you have it – it had to be a new whirligig for the yard. Seriously, I love things that move and spin and whirl. This weeks shop fun was a little robin whirligig:
He is cedar painted with latex house paint and held up on a brass spindle.
Happy Making,
Jim
A flood and a catfish – what a combination
Posted in Carving, Toy Making, Uncategorized, Woodworking on May 21, 2010 by JimWow, the last two days have been about water. Squirrels in my yard decided that my gutter downspouts were lovely walnut dispensers. They brought walnuts from the other side of the house to stack in my gutters. It was like a giant Pez dispenser for squirrels.
Without gutters to give the rain something funner to do, it all ran into my shop. I have been moving water from one side of the shop to the drain on other side since yesterday.
On a happier note, I got to play with the new draw-knives that my dad made me (see post just before this one). They flew through this poplar like butter. I am finding that I can rough out a carving like this faster and more happily with a spokeshave, hand plane, and a draw knife than with power tools.
This little catfish survived the flood. I was laughing a lot of the time I was carving him. I have been making up epic tales of his exploits in my head. (Maybe I was breathing too many paint fumes in the shop…)
If you need King Catfish to swim in your pond, or to recite to you his heroic exploits, he will be available on my Etsy shop here.
Praying Machine flies!
Posted in Automata, Carving, Gear Making, metalwork, Toy Making, Woodworking with tags Automata on April 13, 2010 by JimThe wings flap…
Our prayers are going to Heaven! I have not had a lot of time the last few weeks to work on the Praying machine but I did sneak in a few hours this weekend.
I got the bit of the mechanism complete that raises and lowers the wings. Next will the be the gearing that spins the prayer box itself.
Cranking on the Automata Praying Machine
Posted in Automata, Toy Making on March 29, 2010 by JimI am starting to think through how the gears are going to move in the Praying Machine.
I made a jig that lets me try out moving gear ideas.
Last time I posted about automata, I mentioned Dug North. I have found another maker that is also incredibly inspiring. Take a look at the work of Keith Newstead. He has a blog here. Just looking at his work makes me happy.
The process of making my machine is as enjoyable as any thing I have ever made – probably better.
I will keep you posted on the progress. I plan to sell this piece on Etsy when it is completed.
-Jim
Go Kart or Summer Sled
Posted in Toy Making, Woodworking on March 20, 2010 by Jim
Go Kart, Summer Sled, or ‘big wooden thing that is more fun than you can shake a stick at’…
Holy cheese Batman, this thing is waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyy more fun than I expected. We will not have to wait for snow to go sledding anymore.
The idea came from ‘The Dangerous Book for Boys‘ which I cannot recommend enough.
Automata! Automata! Automata! – who knew?
Posted in Automata, Carving, Toy Making on March 14, 2010 by JimOh man, everything else in the shop has come to a screeching halt. Chips are flying, brass is being milled, gongs are ringing! I discovered automata.
This idea stopped me like a ball bat to the forehead. Specifically, take a look at Dug North’s website.
Here is a preview of my first. It should be quite handy. When it is done, it will be a praying machine. I mean really who doesn’t need one of those? I will take all the help I can get!
I cannot stop thinking about this thing. I will post more as I begin to rough in the mechanism.
Captain Catfish
Posted in Carving, Toy Making on February 28, 2010 by JimI had just bought a copy of Al Streetman’s book 20 Folk Bird and Fish Patterns and I got inspired. I needed a birthday present for a child and I had this wooden catfish…
All that fish needed was a boat – so I give you Captain Catfish:
This is another post moved here from Make Stuff With Your Kid.
