Heirloom Car

Information

Heirloom Car

Build an heirloom wooden car for your child over a weekend afternoon.  Four part article series originally posted on GeekDad.com

Part 1 

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Total cost is around $40 to duplicate the design/style of a similar $350 wooden collectible car. Makes a great parent/child project, and is something that can be handed down over time as it's the most solid-built car you've ever held in your hands. And the metal parts and poly wheels make it roll straight, smooth, and quiet.

Website: http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/05/creating-an-heirloom-toy-for-your-kids/
Members: 4
Latest Activity: Jul 1, 2012

Video of car in action:

http://youtu.be/9AUaLaL6qm4

Parts List and Approx Prices:

  • $8.00 total for 4 blue wheels
  • $2.00 total for 4 acorn nuts — to add some Loctite later to keep them on good and tight
  • $3.00 total for 4 t-nuts — used as hubs
  • $5.00 total for 4 steel spacers — to cover threads on machine screws
  • $14 two brass plates — the most expensive part of the toy but I couldn’t have skipped adding them
  • $1.15 total for 8 #2 brass screws to mount plates — wanted to avoid adhesive
  • $1.44 total for 12 #2 steel screws for t-nuts — they look sort of like lug nuts
  • $3.50 for the wood (I used roughly 1/4 of a $13 piece of birch plywood
  • $0.20 total for 4 steel 1/4″ nuts — to hold steel spacers against t-nuts
  • $1.40 total for 4 steel 1/4 x 3.5″ machine screws — for axles
  • $0.50 total for 2 steel 1/4 x 2″ machine screws — bolt fenders onto main body

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Comment by James Floyd Kelly on July 1, 2012 at 9:42pm

I agree... I love making just about anything for my kids.  I have a set of plans for PVC Roadster that requires wheels, chain, and gears from two 16" bikes that I'm hoping to start towards the end of summer when it cools down.

Again, thanks for sharing the photos of your car. Has it hit you yet that that car will probably outlast you and your son? I love heirloom toys, and this was one that I was determined would be made to last.

Comment by Joe Duckhouse on June 28, 2012 at 6:06pm

It certainly is a solid chunk of toy! I expect he will do some damage with it.

Glad you like it. Its his birthday party this weekend so i'll try and get it written up next week. 

Next up is a big chunky puzzle for him, however the spindle controller on our cnc burnt out while i was cutting last night, so i doubt i'll be able to finish it for his birthday. 

Toy making for your own son has to be the most satisfying form of making!

Comment by James Floyd Kelly on June 26, 2012 at 10:37pm

Nice and heavy, isn't it?  Rolls quiet, too, doesn't it?

Comment by James Floyd Kelly on June 26, 2012 at 10:37pm

Hi, Joe.

Wow!  Love the flames and the monogram!  Nice upgrades!

Thanks for sharing all those photos, too. I always like to see how a project develops over time.  If you ever do blog this, do let me know... I might do an update on this as I really need to get the one sitting on my workbench finished (it's a truck shape).  Your version would be a great addition to the update.  

Jim

Comment by Joe Duckhouse on June 26, 2012 at 5:11pm

Hey,

Thankyou for the inspiration, here is my version. http://goo.gl/wjTNw

Took a bit longer than one weekend but I'm really happy with the results.

At some point i'll blog about the process but the images are fairly self explanatory. 

CNC and laser are from my local hackspace (nottinghack)

Comment by James Floyd Kelly on March 17, 2012 at 4:46pm

If anyone builds one, PLEASE post a pic... would love to see what others do with this basic idea.

 

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