OP
I need some help with a birthday project
- Thread starter wroughtn_harv
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OP
wroughtn_harv
Super Member
A couple of years ago East Texas Frank and myself had a pretty good discussion going about something or another here. He mentioned how he liked to build things according to plans. I replied that he must have been that kid in school that drove me crazy when it came to model car building.
I'm sure you've all known one. The kid that makes the model exactly like the picture on the box. I mean exactly and to perfection. Frank confessed he was that kid.
I on the other hand was the kid that would buy three model car kits and come up with a one of a kind car. It wouldn't be perfect like Franks. But it was totally unique. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I was also the kid that didn't like the Lincoln Logs because there wasn't enough options. You could only build the designs that everyone else built.
For some time now I've felt there needed to be another kind of building blocks out there for kids. Something with unlimited options when it came to assembly.
I made dimension blocks out of the teak. He'll be able to build like a brick mason with them.
But I will build the unique shaped blocks with the stainless pins down the road. And the only limitations they will have will be the builder's imagination.
The kids have some heirlooms from me already. Each of my kids have sandblasted photographs in granite countertop material similar to this one.
There's a rocking horse that goes from kid to kid it seems and it's still as nice as it was when I made it about fifteen years ago. My step daughter who's the caretaker passes it on but lets everyone know that it's special and deserves special care.
Almost everyone of the grandkids has something that I've made just for them. It's mostly little things but those are the things that count I've found.
I'm sure you've all known one. The kid that makes the model exactly like the picture on the box. I mean exactly and to perfection. Frank confessed he was that kid.
I on the other hand was the kid that would buy three model car kits and come up with a one of a kind car. It wouldn't be perfect like Franks. But it was totally unique. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I was also the kid that didn't like the Lincoln Logs because there wasn't enough options. You could only build the designs that everyone else built.
For some time now I've felt there needed to be another kind of building blocks out there for kids. Something with unlimited options when it came to assembly.
I made dimension blocks out of the teak. He'll be able to build like a brick mason with them.
But I will build the unique shaped blocks with the stainless pins down the road. And the only limitations they will have will be the builder's imagination.
The kids have some heirlooms from me already. Each of my kids have sandblasted photographs in granite countertop material similar to this one.
There's a rocking horse that goes from kid to kid it seems and it's still as nice as it was when I made it about fifteen years ago. My step daughter who's the caretaker passes it on but lets everyone know that it's special and deserves special care.
Almost everyone of the grandkids has something that I've made just for them. It's mostly little things but those are the things that count I've found.
Attachments
Bird
Rest in Peace
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It's mostly little things but those are the things that count I've found. )</font>
Yes, they are. The "toys" I remember best, and enjoyed the most when I was a kid, are the ones my dad and granddad made or helped me make.
Yes, they are. The "toys" I remember best, and enjoyed the most when I was a kid, are the ones my dad and granddad made or helped me make.
MF1455v
Platinum Member
Never had any Lincoln logs, but still have my Tinker Toys in the closet. Haven't been touched in 25 years. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
I like the blocks and that walnut sure is pretty.
Some day you will have to show us how you did the picture. I had to buy a new sand blaster 2 weeks ago when working on the propane tank. I can't even imagine being able to make something like that, but sure would like to try.
Thanks
James
I like the blocks and that walnut sure is pretty.
Some day you will have to show us how you did the picture. I had to buy a new sand blaster 2 weeks ago when working on the propane tank. I can't even imagine being able to make something like that, but sure would like to try.
Thanks
James
OP
wroughtn_harv
Super Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Never had any Lincoln logs, but still have my Tinker Toys in the closet. Haven't been touched in 25 years. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
I like the blocks and that walnut sure is pretty.
Some day you will have to show us how you did the picture. I had to buy a new sand blaster 2 weeks ago when working on the propane tank. I can't even imagine being able to make something like that, but sure would like to try.
Thanks
James )</font>
James it's something you could do.
I got the picture of the man on a horse off of a photo suite I bought. Using the computer I ran it into as many shades of grey as I could. You can do the same thing with a photograph of your own. It must be able to be turned into grey scale and still be legible. Silohuetes work best.
3M makes a product the pros call "blast resist". It's a rubber tape that will adhere to glass, granite, etc. You want the thicker material. The thinner stuff is what they use to frost glass. But it's worthless for doing stone.
I glued the blast resist down to a scrap piece of black countertop granite. I had five copies of the photograph. I glued down one photograph down to the blast resist.
Using an Exacto knife I cut out the lightest or whitest areas. I blasted the surface. I then glued down another copy of the photograph and cut out the next lightest areas.
It took about four copies with each blast a gentle sweeping of the piece. When all I had left was pure black I removed all the blast resist and then dusted the whole thing gently. Each blast on the black surface seems to turn the previous blasts a lighter color.
They have computer operated blast products out that do approximately the same thing. They also have laser and chemical etches that do a lot better looking job of putting photos on granite.
But it is a fun project to do. You never know what it's going to turn out like until you remove the last of the blast resist and that makes it extra interesting.
This is one of those things where a friend mentioned that they carve memorials (grave stones) with sand blasters. I had a bunch of scrap granite pieces. One thing led to another.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I like the blocks and that walnut sure is pretty.
Some day you will have to show us how you did the picture. I had to buy a new sand blaster 2 weeks ago when working on the propane tank. I can't even imagine being able to make something like that, but sure would like to try.
Thanks
James )</font>
James it's something you could do.
I got the picture of the man on a horse off of a photo suite I bought. Using the computer I ran it into as many shades of grey as I could. You can do the same thing with a photograph of your own. It must be able to be turned into grey scale and still be legible. Silohuetes work best.
3M makes a product the pros call "blast resist". It's a rubber tape that will adhere to glass, granite, etc. You want the thicker material. The thinner stuff is what they use to frost glass. But it's worthless for doing stone.
I glued the blast resist down to a scrap piece of black countertop granite. I had five copies of the photograph. I glued down one photograph down to the blast resist.
Using an Exacto knife I cut out the lightest or whitest areas. I blasted the surface. I then glued down another copy of the photograph and cut out the next lightest areas.
It took about four copies with each blast a gentle sweeping of the piece. When all I had left was pure black I removed all the blast resist and then dusted the whole thing gently. Each blast on the black surface seems to turn the previous blasts a lighter color.
They have computer operated blast products out that do approximately the same thing. They also have laser and chemical etches that do a lot better looking job of putting photos on granite.
But it is a fun project to do. You never know what it's going to turn out like until you remove the last of the blast resist and that makes it extra interesting.
This is one of those things where a friend mentioned that they carve memorials (grave stones) with sand blasters. I had a bunch of scrap granite pieces. One thing led to another.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
jinman
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Harvey, the blocks will look great and your grandson will really enjoy them. Kids like the darndest things. We all know they will walk past an expensive toy to play with a cardboard box. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif The thing about toys is making something that doesn't become too big a pain for Mom to pick up. If Mom gets too frustrated picking stuff up, it goes into a box on the top shelf of the closet. Just a thought.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
scott_vt
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Mornin Harv,
Very nice lookin walnut! Just another point for you to consider. Hopefully you cut this stuff thick enough to allow it to adapt to the prevailing humidity conditions. Even if its dry it will move around some, like twist and warp etc. I dont know what your time frame is on the toy project, but it needs some time to adapt after being cut. I realize that the toys your making will be smaller in size, so twisting and warping shouldnt pose to much of a problem. Just a note of caution more than anything else.
Very nice lookin walnut! Just another point for you to consider. Hopefully you cut this stuff thick enough to allow it to adapt to the prevailing humidity conditions. Even if its dry it will move around some, like twist and warp etc. I dont know what your time frame is on the toy project, but it needs some time to adapt after being cut. I realize that the toys your making will be smaller in size, so twisting and warping shouldnt pose to much of a problem. Just a note of caution more than anything else.
Chuck52
Veteran Member
Harv,
I think it's a good thing you plan to put off the pins-in-blocks for a while. I can see a two year old falling onto a pin-in-a-block and hurting himself. On the other hand, a somewhat older kid could have a ball making thingies out of such materials.
Somewhere around here (looking around my rather cluttered office) I think I've got a collection of wooden geometric shapes. I used to have it anyway. It was used for teaching an aspect of inorganic chemistry, or group theory or something. Cubes, pyramids, icosahedra, dodecahedrons, etc. I bet you could figure a way to make some of those out of some walnut. They'd be fun to play with and just plain decorative, too.
Chuck
I think it's a good thing you plan to put off the pins-in-blocks for a while. I can see a two year old falling onto a pin-in-a-block and hurting himself. On the other hand, a somewhat older kid could have a ball making thingies out of such materials.
Somewhere around here (looking around my rather cluttered office) I think I've got a collection of wooden geometric shapes. I used to have it anyway. It was used for teaching an aspect of inorganic chemistry, or group theory or something. Cubes, pyramids, icosahedra, dodecahedrons, etc. I bet you could figure a way to make some of those out of some walnut. They'd be fun to play with and just plain decorative, too.
Chuck
pennwalk
Veteran Member
Harv, You're amazin! The perfect gift... a stump hehehe. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif A set of blocks is a classic toy bound to give a boy many hours of pleasure. My brother and I had a set made out of hard maple. My girls have them now although they didn't use them as much as my brother and I did and now they are more interested in other things (like boys /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ). Those maple blocks have a nice heft and they are amazingly durable. Also they come in handy if you need to knock some sense into your brother. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Chris
Chris
MF1455v
Platinum Member
Thanks for the information Harvey. It always a education watching your projects.
Thanks again.
James
Thanks again.
James
