TOYS AND CRAFTS BASICS

Most of the requirements for build­ing furniture—functional designs, proper tool setups and techniques, and safe work habits—are also crucial to making toys and crafts. But wooden toys, because they are intended for use by chil­

dren, involve other considerations. Foremost among these is safety. As shown below, toys intended for infants and toddlers have to be large enough that they cannot be swallowed and lodge in a child’s windpipe. And since children
explore as much with their mouths as with their hands, the wood species you use for your projects and the finish you apply—whether paint or a clear finish— must be non-toxic. The charts on page 13 rate the toxicity of various finishes and wood species.

Because many toys are made with turned parts, many of which are small, the lathe and scroll saw are two of the most commonly used tools. This chap­ter also explains how to set up both machines and provides information on some basic operations and techniques.

MAKING CHILD-SAFE TOYS

Checking toys for size

If you are making a toy for an infant or tod­dler, you must ensure that neither the toy nor any detachable parts is so small that the child could swallow the piece and choke on it. The simple jig shown at right, consisting of a wood block with an oval hole drilled through it, will help you deter­mine whether a toy is sized properly. Mark the width of the oval—1% inch—by draw­ing two parallel lines across the board. Then adjust a compass to one-half this measurement and draw two circles within the lines so the oval opening formed by the circles will be T%> inches long. Drill out the opening. If any part of a toy, like the rattle shown, can pass through the hole, it is unsafe for a young child.

CHILD-SAFE FINISHES

TOXIC WOODS

The dust from many wood species can pose health risks ranging from respiratory ailments to skin and eye irritations. Some woods contain chemicals that can cause toxic effects. The chart above lists a number of species and their possible health effects.