Shopsmith Forums

Hi there all,

I want to make some blocks that are suitable for toddlers to play with. I am going old school with the toys and want to avoid the electronic crap. That brings me to the good old blocks of my childhood.

What kind of wood should I use or not use in my quest of the best block set around? Also, for the finish. I was thinking of using a general finish that is designed for food grade materials.

I would love input on what I should be doing or not doing.

Thanks in advance.

The lighter the wood the better as they often become projectiles. As few sharp ends as possible. Round all edges and sand well to knock down chances of splinters. Finish, either salad bowl or none would be my suggestions. I made a large amount and the kids, no matter what their ages still like to play with them. I keep them in a nylon knit dirty clothes bag with a draw string. Make at least two of every shape.

The shapes in the wood block set I had in my childhood, and my kids had in theirs, were as follows:

All rectangular blocks were 1 3/4" thick (dimension lumber size). I bet you can cut most of the set from 2x$ stock.

Square blocks
Rectangles that are 1X2 (twice as long as the square shape)
Rectangles that are 1X4 (four times as long as the square)
Square blocks cut into triangles
1X2 rectangles cut into triangles
1X2 rectangles with a half circle cut in a long edge (an arch shape)
Half circle blocks that fill the arch cutout
Cylinders the same length as the 1X2 rectangles
Four-sided pillars that are 1/2X2...a 1X2 black cut in half lengthways
Quarter-round pieces that will form a circle into which the little half-circle blocks can be placed.
2-4 pieces of 1/8" hardboard that are about three square blocks wide by four square blocks long, to serve as bases or building roofs.

I have a set of plans from a very old book that calls for maple as the material. They suggest it is hard enough to stand up to the use and will not splinter. It also has a plan for painted blocks, and calls for poplar for those. All the edges are rounded over. Never made this set, so I don't really have any input. The blocks are pretty mach as listed above, but I think you could make your own list.

Whatever you will be fine, remember the purpose of the blocks is for the kids to use their imaginations. They will no matter what we do and try and figure is the best for them. Mine were all made from scraps including pine, fir, poplar and oak.

Good luck I know the kids will love them, let your imagination and the pieces guide you.

When was dimension lumber sized 1 3/4"?

I recall 1 5/8" and the current 1 1/2".

I can recall good maple blocks as well as cheaper pine sets. The larger ones were the best(only found in schools, not someone's home in the 40's).

None were 'finished' that I recall, but some were colored.

I thought about a salad bowl finish, and also buying some milk paints to color them.

I just didn't know if the 2x4s would suffice or if maple, cherry, etc. would be better. I have alot of scraps and could make up several kinds of wood.

My thought was one kind would splinter, and another would not. Just want to keep the kids safe while having the best block set around.

I made 2 sets of these a couple of years ago. Scrap 2 x 4 stock (fir and yellow pine). The rounds were from dowel stock from a closet hanger rod. For the finish I used Emmet's Good Stuff from Bally Block Co. I found this when I installed a butcher block counter from Bally. It's a food safe product. For a 'bag' I got sweatshirts with the kids names on them. The wife cut off the sleeves sewed up the sleeve and neck openings, turned the waist up and sewed a opening for a cord which when pulled closes the shirt into a bag. Sorry, no pics of the bag.

Good luck and be sure to post a pic when complete.

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Here is the ones I made and how I store them, maple, pine, fir and poplar.[ATTACH]18564[/ATTACH]

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Thanks for the replies. I think this is going to be a winter project, or at least November, as I have alot going on for the next month.

Glad to know I can make them out of pretty much anything I have around.

I will look into the different finishes or leaving them un finished as well.