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19/09/2008 10:04 AM

Wood for toys

Hi everyone,

I'd like to make some wooden toys for my kids, but I'm not really sure
what the best wood to use is, could you guys advise? I obviously want
to use a wood that won't splinter and which is quite hardwearing. What
would you suggest?

I haven't done any woodwork for years (since school), but would really
like to make a couple of things for the kids.

Thanks,
Stuart

www.ourscape.co.uk


This topic has 5 replies

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Andy Dingley

in reply to [email protected] on 19/09/2008 10:04 AM

19/09/2008 10:26 AM

On 19 Sep, 18:04, [email protected] wrote:

> I'd like to make some wooden toys for my kids, but I'm not really sure
> what the best wood to use is, could you guys advise?

Lime if you have it, otherwise beech. Both are easy to work and non-
splintery. Lime is appreciably lighter.

Avoid softwood. Mainly because this will force you to go to a half-
decent timberyard instead of a DIY shed. There will be better quality,
for lower cost. If you _must_ use softwoods, try to get as close to a
timberyard as possible (builders' merchant is poor, B&Q is dreadful,
Focus impossible). Then choose the "red deal" crapwood over the "white
deal" crapwood.

If you're building climbing frames etc. outdoors, go for larch.

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Andy Dingley

in reply to [email protected] on 19/09/2008 10:04 AM

20/09/2008 3:12 PM

On 19 Sep, 20:15, "StephenM" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Maple works for me.

OP is in the UK

Em

"Eigenvector"

in reply to [email protected] on 19/09/2008 10:04 AM

19/09/2008 8:38 PM


"Phisherman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:04:49 -0700 (PDT), [email protected] wrote:
>
>>Hi everyone,
>>
>>I'd like to make some wooden toys for my kids, but I'm not really sure
>>what the best wood to use is, could you guys advise? I obviously want
>>to use a wood that won't splinter and which is quite hardwearing. What
>>would you suggest?
>>
>>I haven't done any woodwork for years (since school), but would really
>>like to make a couple of things for the kids.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Stuart
>>
>>www.ourscape.co.uk
>
>
> Most any hardwoods would work. Cherry, maple, oak are very common
> with shellac finish. Poplar is an excellent choice if you plan to
> paint.

I was going to recommend poplar too. It's cheap, easy to work, and not
splintery.

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to [email protected] on 19/09/2008 10:04 AM

19/09/2008 3:19 PM

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:04:49 -0700 (PDT), [email protected] wrote:

>Hi everyone,
>
>I'd like to make some wooden toys for my kids, but I'm not really sure
>what the best wood to use is, could you guys advise? I obviously want
>to use a wood that won't splinter and which is quite hardwearing. What
>would you suggest?
>
>I haven't done any woodwork for years (since school), but would really
>like to make a couple of things for the kids.
>
>Thanks,
>Stuart
>
>www.ourscape.co.uk


Most any hardwoods would work. Cherry, maple, oak are very common
with shellac finish. Poplar is an excellent choice if you plan to
paint.

Ss

"StephenM"

in reply to [email protected] on 19/09/2008 10:04 AM

19/09/2008 3:15 PM

Maple works for me.

Common. very hard and tightly grained.

-Steve



<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:0c0b9c91-7885-415b-89cb-f9efab002c1c@m44g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> Hi everyone,
>
> I'd like to make some wooden toys for my kids, but I'm not really sure
> what the best wood to use is, could you guys advise? I obviously want
> to use a wood that won't splinter and which is quite hardwearing. What
> would you suggest?
>
> I haven't done any woodwork for years (since school), but would really
> like to make a couple of things for the kids.
>
> Thanks,
> Stuart
>
> www.ourscape.co.uk


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