Grasshopper Toy (a la Wood Whisperer)


wouldwurker

Recommended Posts

Figured this would be a quickie for my son's first birthday next month.

From video

http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/grasshopper-pull-toy/

Templates.

b26be547d5c90d7cd919f508b545c571.jpg

Using some 8/4 soft maple I picked up for a cross cut sled that never was.

Even a nice ambrosia beetle line

fe861881f49411ae425f4cc1f3aff2c9.jpg

Had a blow out on the router table, so 'fixed' it with a sweet tapered tail :). I guess that's the beauty of a cartoonish kids toy.

89b794eeda45dfd539df57c3f5aa2e35.jpg

Making two at once to see how things go. Also assuming all mistakes I make on #1 will be fixed on #2

If it goes pretty quick, I think I'll be making about 10 of these for Christmas presents this year for friends' kids (especially since I bought the wheels and pegs in bulk)

Wheels!

b2a1fe4c70d9827b3e1fe813978a597f.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It would be a big ornament!

Getting a better feel for the project and its parts, none of the parts even really need to be exact, as the dowels and wheels really provide the only mechanics.

If my drill press was set up already, this would be a half day build....most downtime I had was waiting for the open time to clear on the spray adhesive for the template and pattern.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just printed the pattern for mine. Have you tried 3M adhesive spray? I've used it within minutes of spraying.
I'm not even sure why I'm making one except that it's so cool (doesn't take much for me obviously). Heck, my grandkids are 13 yo. I may just tie it to my wife's cats tail (I had to reread that to make sure I said it right) :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been going back and forth between the video and the grasshopper plans from a book I have called Heirloom Toys. One thing I noticed was that the book uses axel holes that are one hair larger that the axel pegs ( 11/32 holes for a 5/16 dowel for instance). A 3/8 dowel in a 3/8 hole is a tight fit, even with sanding and a sloppy second drilling.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vin, Where did you get the wheels/axles? I went to Hobby Lobby and all they had were wheels that look like they belonged on a tractor, not that it mattered. They sold the axles separately to "fit" 3/8" holes in the wheels. They ended up being smaller than the 3/8" holes that I had already drilled. Now I have to buy 3/8" dowels to plug the holes and re-drill. How darned hard can it be to make a grass hopper :blink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hardly my idea....just changed the finish.

The wiping varnish really doesn't like to dry in the usual 24 hours in all the nooks and crannies ...I've been waiting 3-4 days between coats. And wiping onto small parts is a nightmare. I might actually use a pair of tweezers for the next coat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Who's Online   4 Members, 0 Anonymous, 37 Guests (See full list)

  • Forum Statistics

    31.2k
    Total Topics
    421.8k
    Total Posts
  • Member Statistics

    23,757
    Total Members
    3,644
    Most Online
    R Parekh
    Newest Member
    R Parekh
    Joined