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How to Make Different Toy Cars

Creating toys by hand can be a satisfying hobby. One toy that is relatively easy to create is the wooden toy car. You can create three vehicles out of one 2-foot 2-by-4. Many crafters are attracted to the simple design and bright colors of wooden toy cars.

Things You'll Need

2-by-4, 2 foot long
Pencil
Band saw
80-girt sand paper
Wood craft paint (red, baby blue, green and black)
1-inch diameter wooden dowel rod, 18 inches long
Twelve 1 1/2-inch diameter wooden craft wheels

Instructions

- 1
  
  Trace the pattern of each car onto your 2-by-4. Trace the race car with a sideways triangle so that it has a long, pointed front end. Make it 3 inches long and 2 inches wide. Trace the truck by drawing a 3-by-3 inch square on the wood. Sketch in a 3-inch-long and 2-inch-wide rectangle to the bottom left side of the square. Trace the regular car by drawing a small rectangle 2 inches wide and 2 inches long. Sketch in a larger rectangle to the left side of this shape that is 3 inches wide and 2 inches long.
- 2
  
  Use a band saw to cut the cars out of the 2-by-4. After each car is cut out, use a 1-inch wide drill bit to drill a hole at the bottom left and right side corners of each vehicle for the axle of the wheels. Sand each car with 80-grit sand paper. Make sure to sand the corners smooth and slightly rounded.
- 3
  Cut a 18-inch long 1-inch diameter dowel rod into six 3-inch sections. Place each dowel rod into the hole for the wheel and turn it to make sure it spins. If it is too tight, wrap sand paper around the dowel rod and sand it vigorously until it is thin enough to rotate in the hole.
- 4
  Paint the cars with wooden craft paint. Some ideas for paint schemes are red for the race car, baby blue for the truck and green for the regular car. Paint the wheels black.
- 5
  Hot glue a small 1 1/2-inch diameter wooden craft wheel to the ends of each dowel rod. Be sure to place the dowel rods in the holes before doing this.

Childrens Toys