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How to Make a Spool Tractor

Spool tractors are American folk toys that parents made for their children in the early 20th century out of common household items. With the help of a wound-up rubber band for motion, a thread spool races across the floor like a tractor tire. Make your own spool tractors on a rainy day, at a party or scout event or just to alleviate boredom. Wooden spools were originally used, but you can use plastic spools instead.

Things You'll Need

Permanent markers or stickers
2 ½-inch thread spool (preferably empty)
Metal paper clip
Thin rubber bands
Round wooden toothpick
Masking tape
Wooden shish kabob skewer
1 ¼-inch metal washer

Instructions

- 1
  Decorate the thread spool as desired.
- 2
  Unbend a paper clip, leaving one end in the shape of a hook and the rest a straight wire.
- 3
  Slide a rubber band over the hooked end. Poke the straight end through the hole in the center of the thread spool.
- 4
  Break a wooden toothpick so you have a piece about ½ inch long. Stick this piece through the loose end of the rubber band and secure it with a small piece of masking tape so the rubber band doesn̵7;t pull through the spool.
- 5
  Pull the paper clip slowly through the spool until the end of the rubber band is out far enough to grasp.
- 6
  Slide the washer down the paper clip onto the rubber band; remove the paper clip while holding onto the rubber band. Pull the rubber band out slightly and stick the skewer through the rubber band so about 4 inches of the wood sticks out the ̶0;front̶1; of the spool tractor.
- 7
  Wind up the rubber band using the long part of the skewer as a ̶0;handle̶1;. Place the wound-up tractor on a flat surface and let it go.

Wooden Toys