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Almost every parent can make wooden children’s toys with their own hands: most of them have a fairly simple design, so we don’t need either expensive materials or complex tools for the job.
Still, the manufacturing process has many nuances, so before you take up a hammer or jigsaw, you should carefully study the tips given in the article.
Pros and cons of wooden toys
Recently, wooden toys for children aged 1 year and older have become increasingly popular. This is explained simply - the fashion for everything “natural”, “natural” and “ecological” dictates its own laws, which is why many parents refuse the usual rattles, cars and construction toys made of metal and plastic.
However, one should not idealize toys made from natural materials. They have both advantages and disadvantages, which we will try to characterize in the table below:
| pros | Minuses |
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However, despite all the shortcomings, toys for children made of wood can be considered quite a worthy choice. Naturally, this is only true for quality products, and here we will have to make a choice - buy expensive products from world-famous companies or start producing toys ourselves.
What is needed for work
Selecting materials
The price of a really high-quality, beautiful and safe toy made from natural material can be quite high. That's why many parents prefer to save money by making toys on their own. This is quite possible, and in this section we will describe what is needed for such an activity.
Firstly, we should take care of the availability of material, namely wood:
- To make toys and other items intended for children, it is advisable to take wood that does not produce sharp and long splinters.. This means that it is better to abandon affordable and widespread pine in favor of deciduous trees - linden, poplar, birch, etc.
Note!
You can also carve toys from maple and oak, but these materials are not as easy to process.
On the other hand, hard wood after processing acquires additional strength, so the product turns out to be almost “eternal”.
- To prevent our toy from cracking or breaking over time, the wood must be dry and smooth, free from knots, chips and other defects..
- It is also undesirable to use wood that has signs of rotting or damage from woodworms.: This is not only unhygienic, but can also lead to early failure of the product.
Besides themselves wooden blanks we will need:
- Fastening elements - nails, screws, self-tapping screws, metal rods for axes of moving parts, etc.
Advice! Metal fasteners should not be used if you are making wooden toys for children aged 2 years and younger. For the smallest children, it is advisable to use exclusively adhesive joints, and make the axles and moving parts from wood.
- Carpenter's glue for wood.
- Stain or similar composition for impregnating wood.
- Varnish for external treatment.
- Wood paint (preferably acrylic).
It should also be noted that you need to choose the least toxic ones possible, preferably those specifically designed for use in processing children's toys or at least children's furniture.
This is due to the fact that no matter how closely we watch the child, sooner or later a bright and shiny toy will end up in his mouth, and particles of varnish or paint will get into his mouth. digestive system. So let’s repeat it again – only non-toxic materials!
Set of tools
Despite the fact that wooden toys usually have enough simple form, For efficient processing we will need some supplies suitable tools. In principle, you can get by with a standard carpentry kit, but it must include:
- Saw on wood.
- Jigsaw for working with thin boards or plywood.
- Drill (we will need drills of different diameters for it).
- Grinding machine with a set of attachments.
- Wood cutters (knives, flat and shaped chisels, etc.)
- Hand tools – hammers, pliers, etc.
- Tape measure, compass and level for measuring work.
- Clamps for gluing structural elements.
- Brushes for applying glue, paints and varnishes.
If we plan to manufacture more complex products, then it is worth purchasing additional accessories. So, we will find it useful:
- Small lathe for the production of cylindrical parts.
- Manual milling machine for forming profile parts.
- Spray gun or airbrush for better varnishing and painting.
From time to time, hobbies that were forgotten for a while return to our lives. For example, making toys with your own hands is now at the peak of popularity.
Movable toys made of plywood are of particular interest, especially since the price of the finished toy will pleasantly please you, inspiring you to create new masterpieces.
Why is this necessary?
Quite often, manufacturing turns from a hobby into a profitable business.
Original colorful toys are used as:
- decoration home interior;
- decor for personal plot and flower beds;
- as memorable souvenirs;
- in the form of safe (environmentally friendly) educational toys.
Plywood inexpensive material, with the acquisition of which there will be no problems. Having mastered the basics, you will easily navigate the choice of sheet thickness for a specific toy.
Having insignificant weight and thickness, plywood is quite durable and can withstand serious loads.
The qualitative characteristics of the material allow you to create toys of various levels of complexity and sizes:
- doll and children's furniture;
- houses;
- designers;
- original New Year's toys, decorated with carvings.
If you decide to make a toy with your own hands, you need to start from the very beginning. simple product. As you gain practical experience, you can make the task more difficult.
First of all, you need to prepare diagrams of plywood toys with your own hands. This is the basis on the quality of which the external characteristics and functionality of the toy depend. The drawing must be made to a real scale, thus avoiding errors and inaccuracies.
Once you are sure that the drawing is perfect, transfer it to cardboard or paper. The next stage is transferring the image onto plywood.
What do you need for work?
Tools
For this exciting activity you will need an initial set of tools, but their quality must be impeccable:
- a circular saw;
- jigsaw;
- sandpaper;
- Circular Saw.
Skimping on tools can result in insufficiently polished edges, which can cause injury.
After the drawings of plywood toys are transferred to the base, you can begin to work:
- for straight cuts use circular saw;
- for curved ones - disk.
- for excessively curved lines - a jigsaw.
Auxiliary elements
Having prepared all the parts, you can begin assembling the toy.
For this purpose you will need auxiliary materials:
- screws;
- nails;
- wood glue.
To ensure the strength and functionality of the toy, we use screws and nails to small parts, which should not move - glue. When assembling, please remember that metal fastenings should merge with the surface.
Advice. Before you start making the product, prepare a place where you can work unobstructed.
Success largely depends on the ability to concentrate and move freely, without fear of knocking over or scratching something.
It is easiest to consider the entire work process using a specific example.
Making toys
Bee
When choosing a material, you should pay attention to the presence of obvious defects:
- knots;
- dents;
Before you start transferring the drawing onto plywood, it must be thoroughly cleaned with a coarse grater and polished with a fine sandpaper. It is extremely easy to transfer an image onto a perfectly flat surface using a soft, simple pencil.
To make you feel comfortable during the polishing process, it is recommended to wrap the block in sandpaper. Translate the drawing slowly, after attaching it to the base with buttons.
Advice: For beginners Special attention You should pay attention to your posture; the accuracy of your movements and, accordingly, the final result depend on this.
To cut, you need to be patient; straight or, on the contrary, curved lines are obtained after acquiring practical skills. Finished parts must be sanded again using fine-grained sandpaper.
As a rule, the first crafts are made using ready-made drawings, which sequentially indicate the assembly process.
Connect the parts in strict accordance with the instructions. The properties of the material allow you to adjust the shape of parts when deviations are identified during the assembly process; the main thing is not to rush.
Advice. It is necessary to sand plywood exclusively along the layers, the surface should be ideal, glossy-matte, and you will experience a pleasant sensation when touched.
Making dynamic toys
Children's dynamic toys are of genuine interest to representatives of different generations, the production of which you can safely move on to, having mastered the basic skills of working with materials and tools.
As an example, let's consider one of the most popular options: a duck that will tap its legs as it moves.
You will need:
- drawing and a simple pencil for transferring to the base;
- plywood sheet, optimal size A4;
- stick 80 cm long with a diameter of 7 mm, ball - 50 mm.
Manufacturing process:
- You can print the template on a printer with resizing and apply it to a previously prepared surface. (see also )
- Use a jigsaw to cut out the wheels and duck. You should cut out carefully; the results of haste and sudden movements are quite difficult to correct.
- Sand thoroughly with fine sandpaper finished parts, especially the edges. Skillful use of sandpaper allows you to correct errors made during the cutting process, and irregularities become invisible.
- To produce dynamic toys, in addition to the standard set of tools mentioned above, you need to prepare a drill.
- IN in this case you need to drill a hole in the tail area to attach the wheels.
- The final stage is the coloring of crafts; when choosing colors, you can give free rein to your imagination.
In principle, if you act in accordance with the instructions and drawings that come with the model you are interested in, no problems will arise, but it is still recommended to start with the basics.
Christmas toy made of plywood
DIY Christmas tree decorations have been especially in demand lately; the demand for them is growing due to the return of fashion for products self made.
To make them you will need a sheet of plywood, a set of tools, bright paints and all kinds of decorative elements: lace, beads, pieces of fabric or leather, glue. A lot of templates are available on the Internet, but individuality is valued in handmade products; give free rein to your creative fantasies.
After transferring the image onto the plywood, carefully cut out the desired shape with a jigsaw; the work is quite painstaking, since in most cases the toys are quite compact.
After using the drill, make a small hole for the tape or thread, now you can safely proceed to decorative finishing. Bright colors(acrylic, gouache) will give the craft a special festive look, patterns made by burning in combination with varnish coating- imitation of antiquity.
Subtleties that need to be learned to create quality crafts
- When attaching transfer paper to plywood, you should position the pins or nails so that you can easily lift the drawing to check the quality of the image.
- Lay the thinnest elements along the grain to increase their strength.
- When should not move exactly along the lines, but pass next to it, with outside.
- The diameter of the hole should be slightly larger than the nails used to allow them to rotate freely.
- You should not drive the nails in completely; you may need to move certain parts to improve the model.
Conclusion
You can find a variety of drawings of toys made from plywood using a jigsaw on the Internet and use them at your own discretion. If you have questions during the toy making process, watch the video in this article.
Similar materials
Once upon a time, wooden toys had practically no alternative for the vast majority of families with children. Nowadays, this niche is almost completely occupied by plastic products, and often not of the highest quality. Some sellers still offer factory-made wooden toys, but their prices are impressive. A way out of this situation can be. To make them, it is enough to have minimal skills in using simple woodworking tools.
Popular wooden toys
Wood is an excellent material for making the most various items and things of everyday use. Some of them will require high skill from you, but many can be done DIY wooden toys simple enough. These primarily include developmental items for children under four years of age:
Because children learn and grow quickly, such activities will only hold their attention for a short time. Therefore, you should learn to do more complex DIY wooden toys. Some of the most popular toys of this kind include:
Motivation of those who do DIY wooden toys, with rare exceptions, is unlikely to be associated with monetary gain. It is rather an expression of love for their children, as well as a source of pride for their skilled parents. For many of them, making such toys becomes a real hobby in which they can achieve great heights.
Materials and tools
First of all, the toy must be safe for the child. To the greatest extent this depends on the properties of the material and the quality of its processing. That's why DIY wooden toys It is recommended to make from hardwood:
- linden;
- aspen;
- poplars;
- alders
Harder varieties (oak, birch, fruit trees) are also used in the manufacture of toys, but they are more difficult to process. Conifers, the wood of which is prone to forming long, sharp splinters, are not suitable for children's toys.
To do DIY wooden toys, desire alone is not enough. You will need to acquire a minimum set of tools and Supplies. These include:
- hacksaw;
- jigsaw;
- drill;
- Sander;
- cutting tools – chisels, chisels;
- tools for marking workpieces;
- wood glue, varnishes, etc.
In fact, the set of tools is determined individually depending on what DIY wooden toys you're going to do. For example, for the production of cylindrical parts, a benchtop lathe will not hurt.
Manufacturing procedure
You can prepare the material for wooden toys yourself, but it is much easier to buy it in construction supermarkets, where there are special departments for selling illiquid goods. Cheap scraps, substandard wood and plywood are perfect for making DIY wooden toys. And the manufacturing procedure can be represented by the following algorithm:
In order to do DIY wooden toys of the highest quality, for their manufacture you should take well-dried wood. Since most of the parts of such products are small in size, you will need to be extremely careful when working with the material. The thinner and smaller wooden detail, the easier it is to split it. The final finishing of the finished toy can be done in color, preserving the natural texture and color of the wood, using the burning technique. Remember that varnishes and paints for surface decoration should not contain volatile compounds and heavy metals.
The easiest way to secure rotating wheels is with furniture (upholstery) nails. It will be much more reliable to install them using metal pins (axles), for example from bicycle spokes. It’s even better to use special threaded studs, which allows you to secure the wheels with nuts and prevent them from falling off. The presence of small parts in a toy significantly increases its value in the eyes of a child. For example, you can make a license plate for a car, glue wings over the wheels, etc.
Previously, it was in many kindergartens, and orders for production came even from above. Now it’s very difficult for the Bogorodskaya toy. The craftsmen who work in the factory for pennies do not let her die completely. Even with private woodworking orders you can’t go far; they lift your spirits more than the job. Factory workers still remember how one day a new Russian came and asked to make a stupa for his mother-in-law as a gift. With a hint:) The toy is about 350 years old. Then, under the control of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, wood processing began to develop in the nearby village of Bogorodskoye. They carved iconostases, platbands, wooden sculptures and toys. Later, a school of master carvers and a professional artel, the current factory, appeared. A more romantic version talks about a peasant whose children got tired of playing with a wooden doll and abandoned it. The peasant took the doll to the fair, where he was lucky - a merchant saw the toy and ordered a shipment. This is how the residents of Bogorodskoye began to engage in the “toy business.” A wooden toy is made from linden dried for 3-5 years. This soft wood is well suited for cutting: 
The product blank is first cut out with an ax or cut out with a hacksaw according to the template: 
Then they process it with tools - chisels and special very sharp Bogorodsk knives. Yes, the knives were also local. Once upon a time, while one part of the village was making toys, the second was preparing knives and chisels for their manufacture. Now craftsmen use imported tools or make them themselves, only the name remains: 
An experienced worker spends 15-20 minutes cutting one piece. However, the working day of the foreman at the factory is short - until lunch. Then many go home to private work or fulfill a factory order. We arrived just in time for lunch, and all the craftsmen had already left. I had to show everything to the escort. The norm is to deliver 130-140 items per month. Cuts and abrasions are a common occurrence at work, but people do not lose heart. 
They work here. It smells like wood inside: 
Further - in other buildings. They are already brick: 
After processing, the toy is assembled in parts: 
And these are the future Carlsons. Below will be colored: 
Although traditionally the toy was not painted, now this rule is sometimes deviated from. It turns out no worse :) They work with gouache, and then cover it with a harmless oil varnish. Previously, things were going well at the factory and several hundred people worked. Now there are fewer and fewer workers, some workshops are even empty. They say that in 12 years the team has shrunk by half and has aged a lot. 
However, the toy is still wonderful. Look how cool the Carlsons are: 
Just great. The toy is held in the hands, the ball rotates - Carlson moves his hand and eats jam, the jar of which has not yet been attached to him: 
But the spoon has already been given out... And he is happy 
There are also toys with characters from other fairy tales. Here the ball is spinning, and the grandmother and grandfather are baking a bun: 
There are different moving scenes - a cat catches fish, chickens peck grain. This toy develops imagination and hands. The unpainted toy often depicts the life of a peasant, who is “helped” by animals. However, there are many plots, and what the heroes will do depends on the imagination of the master. There are also mobile ones, like this - the most famous - “Blacksmiths”: 
Panel: 
In the museum at the factory there are compositions on fairy-tale themes: 
Masters also carve unique things, like these chess " North War" Peter and Charles XII with their queens: 
The factory's big problem is new personnel. After graduating from the local art school, young people either leave or take up private cutting. Otherwise, you won't survive. So workshops are being created at home. Many workers also find it more profitable to work at home and receive a percentage of the factory’s order than to go to work for a ridiculous salary of several thousand. The situation is also spoiled by the “masters” who sell fakes. According to the workers, there are many of them. Their quality is low, and the client can be easily deceived. In addition to toys, the factory’s craftsmen make custom-made carved furniture, wall hangings, wooden panels with three-dimensional images of people and animals. There are no problems with raw materials. In the village, traders sell linden from their cars. The prices are affordable - one cubic meter costs several thousand, and it will last for a year of work. 
The Bogorodsk toy was not included in the symbols of the Olympics in Sochi, it was not called beautiful at the top, but in fact an empty set of television words like “the pride of the region, with the help of which Russia continues to revive.” It is not given to foreigners at receptions. Today, the times of higher and mass orders are gone. But the toy is alive. The remaining masters are mostly women - fans of their craft. There is a store at the factory. Prices start from several hundred rubles, there is a choice. It will probably be more expensive in Moscow stores. And in general, is it possible to buy this toy in Moscow?
Today, the children's goods market is oversaturated with toys made from low-quality, hazardous materials. The main manufacturer of such goods is China. This supplier has long pushed out competitors from other countries and has become almost a monopolist in the field of toy production. Since China offers toys at low price, Russian manufacturers were forced to leave the “battlefield”. However, today the population is beginning to understand that children do not need cheap toys, but high-quality and environmentally friendly ones. This is why many people come to the conclusion that they need to make wooden toys with their own hands. Or maybe not just make them for your children, but set up a small production?
Tools
What is needed to produce children's wooden toys even in small batches?
First, you need a room. It is advisable to have at least three rooms: for wood processing, painting, assembly and packaging of finished products. But this is ideal. In reality, at first you can get by with a garage or a summer house.
Secondly, you will have to acquire woodworking machines and some other equipment. At first, a chisel and a drilling, milling, grinding machine will suffice. You can decide what specific other machines are needed after you have decided on the assortment.
Thirdly, in order to make wooden toys with your own hands, you need equipment for painting. Here the choice is only up to the master. The main thing is that all materials are environmentally friendly and do not harm children.
Fourthly, you need equipment for packaging products. But that's in the future. For now, you can simply purchase boxes of suitable sizes and pack the products yourself.
Fifthly, the staff. To start production, 2-3 people are enough. Then, when the range and scale of production increases, you can hire additional workers.
Requirements for wooden toys
At self-production toys, several rules must be followed:
- Toys should be easy to make. For example, a pyramid. Making such a toy is extremely simple, because they were invented a long time ago. A rod is attached to the support and rings are put on it different sizes and colors with holes. The top of the pyramid is crowned by a ball. That's it, the toy is ready for sale.
- Toys should not have small parts that a child can put in his mouth. The consequences of violating this rule can be very sad for the manufacturer and fatal for the baby.
- All products should be bright, elegant and beautiful. Only such toys can attract the attention of buyers and delight children.
Advantages of wooden toys
These gaming items have their undeniable advantages:
Wooden toys are environmentally friendly and safe.
Wooden toys are strong and durable.
This is a traditional Russian wooden toy.
Range
The first things that come to mind are pyramids, various wooden labyrinths for the little ones, cubes, and rocking horses. It is advisable to make the cubes not too small so that children can build castles from them not for dolls, but for themselves. Of course, in this case it is necessary to choose more lightweight material, such as thin plywood, or even lighter. After all, large wooden toys will be too heavy and unsafe for a child.
Can be manufactured simple swords and boards for boys, cars, prefabricated houses for dolls.
Outdoor toys
If you decide to make wooden toys with your own hands, you should not forget about outdoor toys. Various products will be in steady demand playgrounds, houses, slides, swings. Although the market is full of plastic analogues, the buyer is not satisfied with the quality of such towns and corners. Wooden products will serve the child for many years, giving the child the opportunity to spend time outside with benefit and pleasure. Of course, outdoor playgrounds and towns are produced only to order, since different customers need different configurations of these sets. And you can give the customer the opportunity to choose the color of the product themselves - this will be a pleasant bonus.
Sports corners can be considered as outdoor toys. Of course, such children's wooden toys are bought not only for the street - they fit perfectly even in small apartments, giving the child the opportunity to throw out pent-up energy.
Toy drawings
A craftsman or business owner can easily draw drawings of wooden toys on his own. As long as nothing difficult to perform is produced, there is nothing complicated about it. More complex outdoor playgrounds are even made according to individual drawings, based on the age and height of future users.
If you need a drawing, you can always contact a specialist who will make all the necessary calculations for a reasonable price.
Children love toys made of wood, especially if their parents created them, and the children also helped. In order to make wooden toys with your own hands, you do not have to be a carpenter. For example, anyone can make a wooden duck.
To do this, you will need a piece of wood at least 2 cm thick, a template, a saw or jigsaw, paints, a printer, nail files, a template, and sandpaper.
Print out an image of a duck's silhouette.
Cut out the image, place it on the tree and trace it with a pencil or pen.
Cut along the contour with a jigsaw. All cuts must be carefully processed, first with a rough file, then with sandpaper. This is done so that the child cannot get splinters.
Color the duck together with your child. After the paint has dried, you can coat the duck with varnish to make the color last longer.
You can leave the toy in this form, or you can cut it into several parts to make a puzzle. In this case, all sections must be processed again.
You can drill holes and put the duck on wheels, making a gurney for the baby.
Conclusion
Do-it-yourself wooden toys can bring joy not only to your children, but also to completely unfamiliar kids, who will be able to receive reliable, safe and interesting toys. If you approach the matter wisely and with soul, then the work will bring not only moral satisfaction, but also quite tangible material profit. The main thing is to correctly calculate all the pros and cons of such an event. To minimize risks, you can order a business project from a professional who will not only show the advantages and disadvantages, but also calculate the profitability of production.
