Homemade Toys

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Have fun with this easy to make hummer button. To see the rest of the toys and construction details, click on "Image Gallery" above.

Hummer Buttons

Anyone can make and enjoy this simple, inexpensive, down-home toy. The only things needed are string and large buttons. But, a fancier version can be made by cutting 1/8- inch wood or hardboard discs in 3, 2-1/2 and 2-inch diameters. Drill the holes 1/2 to 1 inch apart and use two 3-inch pieces of wood dowel for the handles. Drill the holes for the string and thread the handles and disc. That's ` all . . . pull the handles and the "button" spins and hums.

Corn-stalk Fiddle

For some easy ole-time music, find a straight piece of cornstalk and cut four slits from joint to joint. Then whittle a notched bridge, lift the "strings" with your knife point and slide the bit of wood into place. A smaller length of stalk does fine for a bow.

Cut this old favorite's disc with a band saw from inch-thick pine board and assemble the top as shown. Thread an old shoelace through a small hole in the stem and wind the cord while steadying the toy with a starting block. Pull the string, turn loose and look at 'er go!

Whittle a Whammydiddle

Here's a mountain toy that any kid old enough to manage a jackknife can muster up in a few minutes. The only store-bought item necessary is a small 1/2-inch nail or sturdy pin . . . that's it! Cut a 1/4 to 3/8-inch caliper hard wood twig into the lengths shown. Install the free-turning blade, move the drive stick rapidly across the "washboard" notches and watch the little fella spin!

Sailboat

Build your very own sailboat using scrap lumber and other recycled materials.

For the hull you'll need a 20-inch piece of 2 X 4-inch pine board. Lay out the shape of the boat and carefully cut out the form on a band saw. Drill four 1/4-inch holes as shown for the mast, two joining dowel rods and the rudder shaft. Plane or sand down the bow sides equally and shape the underside of the stern with a band saw cut.

Make the cabin and keel out of 3/4-inch pine-board and join both units to the hull at the same time with two 2-1/2 X 1/4-inch dowels... matching those holes already drilled in the hull. Make sure the centerboard is both perpendicular to the hull and parallel with the ship's sides.

Next, position and glue the mast on the deck and slide the rudder shaft through the hole in the stern. Finish the rudder assembly.