Making Heirloom Toys [Paperback]

Jim Makowicki (Author), Jun Makowicki (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1996

This guide includes a collection of toys that can be cherished for generations to come. Suitable for anyone interested in making their own toys, the step-by-step projects range from the simple to more complex.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Jim Makowicki's wooden toys show an attention to detail and sophistication of design that set them apart from the usual run-of-the-mill toy projects. This collection of toys includes 22 projects, primarily featuring transportation toys (cars, trains, trolleys, planes and boats) and educational toys. For each project, there's a full-page photo of the toy, detailed drawings and patterns, a parts list, construction photos and clear, step-by-step instructions on how to make the toy. A color gallery shows the finished toys in all their glory. Two introductory chapters explain the fine points of toymaking techniques, with helpful hints on working with small parts and choosing the best finish for your toy. Whether you're making a toy to entertain a child or grace a desk, this book will teach you how to create toys that your family will cherish for generations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561581127
• ISBN-13: 978-1561581122
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classy designs; safety first., March 16, 2001

By 

Duane Meeter (Tallahassee, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Making Heirloom Toys (Paperback)

I used this book to make a little dump truck, a jet plane, and a tugboat, soon to be given to my grandson. I did not find the fact that not all plans were full-sized a problem This is common and the %enlargement (if needed) is given The instructions were clear. (However, if you are making the little truck, check the width of 2" hinges available before gluing down the hinge block!) The designs are classic, and range from simple (the ones I made) to complex (the truck on the cover is said to take 40 hours.) There are a couple of educational toys included.

Many of the toys' parts are made out of fine woods, but you can substitute available wood in most cases. Makowicki is concerned with toy safety, e.g., the crane uses a magnet to lift barrels, not a hook, and he specifies child-safe finishes - references in appendix. He also gives many ideas for jigs for cutting angles on the table saw. (If you aren't going to produce for sale, in many cases you can use a band saw with a narrow blade or a scroll saw and sand smooth, instead of making the jig.)

I made the toys while taking a shop course, so I learned the safe way to operate power tools at the same time.

I also purchased Tarjany's "30 Toy Vehicles Made from Wood". It has cruder designs, but look there for semis, flatbeds, bulldozers, etc. (I made the long-hood semi with a gravel trailer.) His airplanes suffer by comparison with Makowicki's.

I am going to purchase Makowicki's "Marvelous Transforming Toys" next.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great toys - not the best plans, March 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Making Heirloom Toys (Paperback)

The book provides scale drawings of several projects. But in order to use them you first have to photocopy the plans at the appropriate (and provided) zoom level. This was difficult, especially since the paper size needed to be larger than standard copier sizes. In order to save pages, it seemed as if many steps were eliminated from the cutting and assembly instructions.

I made the dump truck and airplane for my 2yr old nephew. They're his favorite toys and he plays with them all the time.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Woodworker's Toy Book, January 12, 2008

By 

Gepetto (Mendota Heights, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Heirloom Toys (Paperback)

This book has very creative and quality toys to build. It has excellent plans, instructions, drawings and full color pictures. I recommend it highly. I have built the truck fleet and they are the talk of our family and friends.