What wood to use?

[Jeff-oh]

We're in the process of adopting a 2 1/2 year old and I want ot make her a set of building blocks. What wood would work wonderfulest... how's that for aleteration?

I am thinking Maple, though Oak and Poplar are also available.

Jeff

 

[Larry in Mo]

Try some Osage Orange. LE

 

[molinebob]

I work at a big window company, we deal in lots and lots of hard wood, I would have to say the nicest to work with is cherry wood, We just started using black walnut, almost like oak but not quite, The problem with oak is that if it dries over time like I am sure it will it tends to crack and you could get slivers and splinters all over, Maplr would probaly be a good wood also, but overall I think I would look for some cherry wood.

 

[VADAVE]

Maple!

 

[RobMD]

maple makes for some smooth sanded pieces. Do not paint with toxic paint!!!

 

[Tim B from MA]

Among those three I'd say maple is the clear winner.

American beech would also be a good choice.

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

Hi Jeff,

It's alliteration, and it was pretty good. I realize that it's generally considered poor form to comment on grammar or spelling on Tool Talk, but if you're going to play the literacy card, you might as well go all the way. So...100 points for knowing what alliteration is, 100 points for using it correctly, 90 points for the quality of the useage (sorry, but it's going to cost you 10 points for "wonderfulest" because this is, after all, Tool Talk; it's the same way you'd lose points if you described a brush hog as "just darling"), and a negative 10 points for spelling. Let's see, what's the total? Oh, wait, I forgot the 1,000,000 point bonus for being an adoptive parent. So you got 1,000,280 points out of a possible 300. Not bad.

Congratulations on the adoption. Adoption is a wonderful thing. I wish you parents and your child every possible happiness.

All the best, Stan

 

[Chuck (CA)]

Don't know much about wood, but congratulations on your new daughter. It'll be terrific if you choose to ever tell her she was adopted that most parents don't get to pick their children. That really makes her special.

God bless.

Chuck

 

[BobinKS]

I would use maple it is a great wood to work with. Mills up nice and can be sanded to a wonderful smoothness. Do be careful with the paints. Check with a good woodworking store for some nontoxic ones. If you lived near the KC area I would give you a big old chunck of osage orange to use, it would be good solid choice but it is heavy and hard on tools, but I have several hundred board feet of it.

 

[kez]

Suggestion: laminate a light and dark wood. 3/4" boards in layers ! More time consuming to do but interesting results.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Amen on the congratulations, Jeff!!

Mighty good post, Stan!!

 

[Anonymous-0]

I would say to use Maple, The Tannins in Oak are very strong and Poplar is to me a "Bla" Wood. Congrats on the Newbie,Our latest came to us [and her Parents] all the way from China and she is the high lite of our life. She is 14 Months and really loves her GranPa and his crazy little Chug Dog [1/2 Chi-Hoo-Hoo as Barney Fife says and 1/2 Pug] Clea. Her Mother is our Youngest and at 43 decided "I'm not getting any younger,so it's this way or no" Much to her Parents great delight.Good Luck,It will be an adventure.JC

 

[PaulW_NJ]

When I made blocks for my 2 yrs old son (who is now freshman in college . . . how did that happen?) I cut them out of clear pine 2x4's, rounding all the edges on a router table. I figured softer was better. White shellac is a good smooth, non toxic finish. Not waterproof, but renewable. If I were going the hardwood route I would go for maple.

P.S. I always thoroughly enjoy your responses and humor Stan! I'll read any thread I see your name responding.

 

[MarkB_MI]

Maple is tough to work with, but it is very safe to use for toys. Some of the other hardwoods (such as mahogany and cherry) may cause allergic reactions.

Poplar is easy to work with, but won't hold up.

 

[VaTom]

When I lived in Denver, every fall we used to crank out block sets for a non-battery toy store. My first wood choice was hard maple (you didn't specify which) but the time factor got too expensive. Truly heirloom.

Switched to alder, readily available there and similar to tulip poplar which is probably what you're considering. Soft maple would be similar.

We left the wood unfinished, never a problem. BTW, the unit size we used was 1 3/8". Every dimension was a factor of that. Important to size the blocks correctly. Arches cut nicely and quickly with a simple bandsaw jig if you have that available.

Good luck with the adoption.

 

[Tim B from MA]

Stan,

I've said it before .... you are truely a pedant and truely,

it takes one to know one!

Regards,
Tim

(geez, I hope I spelled everything right - I mean correctly

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

Hi Tim,

Well, actually there's no e in truly.

All the best, Stan

 

[Jeff-oh]

Hey, I are a engineer. know math not grammer.

and yes I know it should be "-AR"


LOL

 

[Jeff-oh]

I was planning on leaving the wood unfinished. Let it patina with age and skin oils.

I had not thought about Cherry. I lost a 2' Diameter cherry tree this summer and I have the log aging now. I plan on bringing it to our local machinery show next year to be cut into lumber..... Hummm... not only hand made but the wood came from right here.


Thanks for the input.