Customer Reviews

Tremendous Toy Trucks: With Step-by-Step Instructions and Plans for Building 12 Trucks

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an absolute OUTSTANDING book! I'm a home woodworker with a very small shop. I don't have a great number of tools but the great thing about this book is that you don't need many. (Although I did go out and buy a table top bandsaw to simplify a few of the operations)

The plans in this book are very easy to follow and the results are incredible. I've only made one of the trucks, but it turned out great. I spent a few hours for two or three weekends and I just can't say enough about this book.

The author suggests using hardwoods, but I've had some difficulties finding a place to get them. My truck was made mostly with scraps that I had laying about my shop and you would never know. If you like small projects, these make perfect gifts as toys, or as models. I'm also certain that there is a market for the trucks as I've been asked to make several already.

An easy to use, well documented series of innovative life-like wheeled toys that can all be made with a basic set of woodworking tools and limited woodworking equipment - Drill Press, Disc/Belt Sander and Bandsaw.
Excellent advice on sourcing off-cuts of highly coloured timber to create the effect of tyres, headlights, fuel tanks etc.
If you have a wood lathe many of the wheels and fuel tanks can be turned to add to the enjoyment of making these TOYS - not models.

Highly recommended to all woodworkers as the ideas presented in this book can be applied to all fields of woodworking.

Without question this book should be in every woodworker's library.
Paul

I'VE BUILT 7 OF THE 12 TRUCKS AND THEY ARE FANTASTIC. I PLAN ON DOING 11. PLANS ARE VERY DETAILED AND EASY TO FOLLOW. THERE IS SUPRISINGLY FEW ERRORS FOR THIS TYPE OF BOOK CONSIDERING THE NUMEROUS MEASUREMENTS ETC..IT DOES TAKE A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME FOR EACH BUT THE RESULTS ARE VERY SATISFYING. YOU WILL NEED AT MINIMUM A BAND SAW, DRILL PRESS AND COMBINATION BELT/DISC SANDER WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FOR UNDER A HUNDRED DOLLARS. I HAVE NO HESITATION IN GIVING THIS 5 STARS!!!!!

I was surprised by both the quality of the book and the detailed guidance. I found the illustrations and the the designes to be of high quality in both details and attractiveness. I am happy with this purchase.

I made 3 dump trucks and 3 flat bed trucks for my 6 nephews (3 pairs of brothers) this past Christmas. I'm rather new to woodworking, but these trucks turned out fantastic. One thing I liked about these plans is that three of the trucks shared quite a few common parts. The flat bed truck, the dump truck, and the tow truck all have the same cab, fenders, bumpers, exhaust pipes, and stairs. Their chassis are all very similar but slightly different dimensions. This was very helpful for making multiple trucks at the same time. I felt that the directions, pictures, and tips were superb.

The book calls for buying wheels for the trucks. Since my 6 trucks required a total of 60 wheels, I went ahead and bought a wheel/hole cutter for the drill press. I found mine at Lee Valley, but I'm sure they sell them in Amazon. The radius is adjustable and leaves a pilot hole which worked fine for an axle hole. I made my wheels out of pine. I rounded the edges and inset a wheel well with a forstner bit. In the hole where the dowel axle was inserted, I plugged the ends with furniture buttons. It took a little extra time and didn't save too much money, but I thought it looked really nice.

Oh yeah, the boys loved the trucks. Everyone was surprised that I could make something so nice. I have to give credit to a very well put together book.

I have only been woodworking for about a year, but I have already built about half the trucks in this book. They are not only fun to build, but not too difficult. Every kid I've shown them too has gone nuts over them! I can't recommend this book enough as a great learning tool for the entry level woodworker. It's a great confidence builder.

I do most woodworking in the winter. This book has been extremely satisfying. I've made all of the projects & several of the semi-tractors & mmonster trucks. Would like to purchase more projects by this author. Great book! Thank you, Ed

Item as stated, really fast shipping, had it in less than a week. only glanced thru the book but has details on how to make the toys, has several toys and not small toys like some books. Now that christmas toy making is over will probably make some of these.

First the good, I bought this book a few months back and have made two of the trucks and the designs are good looking and my son loves the trucks I have made and wants more.

Now the bad, I have encountered a couple dimensional errors which I find completely inexcusable. There is nothing more annoying than cutting a piece and then going to fit it only to realize it doesn't work Also the templates need to be magnified by 131%?? What is that about? The least the book could offer is full size templates. Also a few of the design features of the trucks make them weak in spots with pieces that break off easy when kids play with them. The designs do take a considerable amount of time to make and the flow of his chapters are not very logical the way each truck is presented. I have used his material cut list and the photographs and developed my own assy process.

Generally not very happy with the book, but I don't have the time to come up with my own designs so the book will have to stay.