Introduction: Mechanical Wood Toy Car
this project was an assignment for school. i am currently enrolled in my first year in the Industrial Design Bachelor of Applied Technology at Humber College in Toronto. the assignment was to make a wood toy with at least two different moving Mechanical parts.
In this instructable i will show my process of making this toy.
Step 1: Sketch Model
The first thing i was required to do was to make a quick sketch model in order to prove that my concept worked
Step 2:
i started out with three pieces of rough cut lumber two of which are oak the other is walnut. after sanding them down and cutting them to the right shapes this is what i ended up with. sorry i dont have any pictures before this.
Step 3: Cutting Pieces
i then cut the radiuses out of the bottom drilled the holes and cut the two thicker pieces in half, so that I the two outer pieces of either side were symmetrical.
Step 4: Mechanisms
i then worked on making the mechanisms for the cams i started out with a pair of wooden wheels and cut and sanded them down to work as cams. for the crank i took two wooden wheels and sanded them down to make them thinner, drilled a second hole in them and cut the dowel to the right specification. for the piece on the crank that moves outside of the toy, i found a scrap piece of curly maple and cut out a fin like shape.
Step 5:
now that i had all the pieces I could begin to put i clear coat on it.
for this i used an satin water based veneer.
Step 6: Front Bumper
i decided to make a bumper on the front that i could attach a string to, to make it a pull toy.
to do this i had two small pieces of walnut and attached them together using dowels.
Step 7: Assembly
now that i had all the pieces cut out and varnished i began to assemble it.
Step 8:
once all the pieces were put together it was time for hours of fun.
below is a video of it working, not sure if the video works though
Attachments
Step 9:

Participated in the
Workshop Contest

Participated in the
Manly Crafts Contest

Participated in the
Supercharged Contest
38 Comments
9 years ago on Introduction
I have fixed the issue with the video.
should be up and working now
Question 1 year ago on Introduction
Can I please know the length, width and height of this car?
Thank you
8 years ago on Introduction
Thanks
9 years ago on Introduction
As soon as I saw the first pic I KNEW you were in first year of Industrial Design at Humber.
I still have the one I built in first year and I'm amazed to say that all these years later it stil works.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
oh cool, great to hear, where are you at now?
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Sorry for not responding earlier.
I'm a bit all over the place. I worked for one company for 3 years which I really enjoyed, but I quasi-transitioned into a new industry. I still keep busy with designing things and I have a few projects on the go.
9 years ago
How do I get the instructions for this?
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
you read the instructable
9 years ago on Introduction
Cool
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
why thank you
9 years ago on Introduction
Not child safe, but you can come up with something that is!!
Like the asthetics. The icorporation of artistic concepts.
Got my vote
Oh, and the video did finally download. Right in the middle of my comment writing.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
its more of a decoration than an actual toy for a child
thanks for the vote means a lot
9 years ago on Introduction
Cool and Interesting! :D
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
thanks
9 years ago on Introduction
I love the look and the simplicity, but given that young children have a habit of falling over easily, I'd be a bit worried about the 'lever' in the up-position...
Very nice, well explained Instructable and nicely executed - well done.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
thank you
haha i naver thought of that, wouldn't want any kids impaling themselves on it.
9 years ago on Introduction
I have never in several years seen such a well designed project. Great Going!
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Wow. thank you.
9 years ago
No video yet... only a picture of a "ghost hand"? Very elegant project. It deserves a video.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
im not sure why other people aren't seeing the video. on the 8th step there is a link at the bottom that says VIDEO0109-0.mp4 ive tried on different computer and devices and browsers and it works.