MATERIALS
=Nails.= The nails used in the making of the toys described in the
following chapters are made of very fine wire, with fine points. The
wire commonly used for such nails is 17 gauge, but a finer gauge (21) is
better for light woodwork, for it does not split the wood so easily. The
nails vary in length from 1/4 inch to 2 inches, increasing by eighths of
an inch. The most useful sizes are veneer pins 1/2 inch in length and
3/4 inch in length.
Panel pins have small heads.
=Liquid Glue.= Though this is dearer than ordinary glue (it can be
obtained in small bottles, price 4-1/2d), it is always ready for use,
and is not affected by exposure to the air, except that it thickens and
hardens from evaporation. If spread thinly over the wood it holds the
various pieces firmly together. When fastening different pieces of wood
together it is well, whenever possible, both to glue and nail them.
=Wood.= (1) _Satin walnut_ is one of the easiest woods to work, and is
adapted for a wide range of work, but it is liable to warp and twist
badly unless properly seasoned.
For handwork in school, and for toy-making generally, satin walnut
machine-planed can be had in the following useful sizes. They are
supplied in lengths of 2 feet and are done up in bundles of 100.
(_a_) 2' × 1/4" × 1/4" about 2s. 9d. per bundle.
(_b_) 2' × 1/4" × 1/2" " 3s. " "
(_c_) 2' × 1/2" × 1/2" " 3s. 3d. " "
(_d_) 2' × 1/4" × 1" " 4s. " "
2' × 1/4" × 4" " 9s. " "
In the toys described in the following chapters satin walnut lengths
(_a_), (_b_), (_c_), and (_d_) are referred to simply as stripwood.
(2) _Round dowel rods_ in beech or birch 3/16 inch to 7/8 inch diameter
and 36 inches long are useful for axles and for the perches for the
swinging animals, etc. These dowel rods cost 3s. to 10s. per 100. Dowels
are made by planing up a strip square in section, then planing off the
corners, and finally the resulting eight corners. They are now nearly
round, and can be made quite so by hammering them through a hole in a
piece of hard wood or metal.
(3) _Sawn laths such as builders use_ are perhaps the cheapest material
that it is possible to get. These can be got from builders' and
timber-merchants' yards at a cost of about 9d. to 1s. per bundle of 100.
Each lath is 3' 6" × 1" × 3/16".
(4) "_Three-ply_" is composed of three thin layers of wood glued
together under pressure. The grain of the centre layer is laid at right
angles to that of the other two, so as to give additional strength and
to avoid warping. "Three-ply" will not split easily and should be used
for the jointed animals and swinging animals described in Chapter XX.
Ply-wood is usually sold in thicknesses varying from 1/8 inch to 1/4
inch. Price of three-ply boards in large squares for cutting up:
1/8 in. thick, 47" × 38", 3/4d. per sq. foot.
3/16 " 53" × 34", 1d. " "
1/4 " 72" × 48", 1-3/4d. " "
=Match Stales.= These are sometimes useful in toy-making, though
ordinary matches that have been used generally serve as well. Match
stales may be obtained from Messrs Bryant & May's, Fairfield Works, Bow,
E., at 1s. per bundle (about 1500 to the bundle). These are supplied
without brimstone, 4-5/8 inches long, and thicker than the matches in
common use.
Most of the wood so far described is prepared wood (with the exception
of builders' laths), and is ready for use at once; it has merely to be
sawn to the right length or the right size. But it is well to get the
children away as soon as possible from dependence upon this "prepared
material" and to encourage them to use "waste material."
If there is a kitchen or tuck shop in connexion with the school this
will supply the children with useful wooden and cardboard boxes of
various sizes. The wooden boxes in which Fry's, Cadbury's, etc.,
chocolates are packed are most useful in toy-making. The wood is easy to
saw and fairly free from knots.
If no school kitchen or tuck shop exists a grocer, for a few pence, will
supply a delightful collection of wooden boxes, sweet-boxes, soap-boxes,
boxes that have contained bovril, etc. The greater part of every wooden
toy in this book has been made from materials such as these.
To avoid expense one should begin at once to collect useful boxes; this
adds to the enjoyment of toy-making. A tobacconist will often give away
his cigar-boxes, the wood of which is a pretty brown colour and very
useful. Unfortunately, it is sometimes so thin that it is very liable to
split. It is difficult, too, to get the paper off some boxes, and the
children who resort to washing, scrubbing, and sometimes boiling (!) the
wood do not improve it. However, all waste wood has to be prepared in
some way; generally the file and sand-paper will make it ready for use.
Other materials that are invaluable to the toy-maker and should be
carefully preserved are old broom handles, reels, and the round rods of
various sizes that one often comes across.
Lead plays an important part in many toys; sheet lead can be bought in
pennyworths; lead buttons can also be bought. Chains are also useful
(for example, in Part II, in the drawbridge, the siege tower, etc.), so
toy watch chains or any odd pieces should be preserved, as these chains
look more effective than those made of wire. Very good chain can be
bought from an ironmonger's--price, 3d. a yard.