I’ve just been playing around in AutoCAD designing a toy clock for the Holmesglen Toymaking course that I am running end of November.
Here’s a quick look at progress so far:
Toy Clock
The idea is that each of the removable numbers will have a number on them – possibly carved – haven’t decided! They will be made from a piece of dowel, and the holes cut with a forstner bit. The overall clock cut out on the bandsaw using a circle cutting jig, and at the rear of the clock there will be a stand that folds away so the clock can either be used flat on a table, standing up on a table, or hung on a wall.
Overall dimension is 300mm diameter for the clock, with each number being 20mm diameter.
One (good) suggestion is to fit magnets underneath each number – definitely sounds like a good idea (so long as they are affixed strongly enough – do not want a child eating one – or rather eating more than one – that is very dangerous. However, if mounted properly, this isn’t a problem.)
I’m also now thinking about how I could have a removable mechanism so when it is not being played with, and is hanging on the wall, that it actually works as a real clock.
Filed under: Wooden Toys | Tagged: AutoCAD, Clock, Design, Magnet, Toy
Stu,
My wife just picked up a similar clock for $12 on the chuck out rack at Coles (MDF of course).
The biggest difference is that each number is a different shape. This means our (not quite) 2 year old can solve the puzzle aspect of it while still learning about time an numbers.
(I can send you a photo if you want).
Stu:
We have a similar clock for our boys. The number blocks are different shapes and colours and the numbers are painted on the front. There is a small magnet in the back of each number recess, and what looks the head of a common box nail in each block. After a couple of years of rough play, we haven’t had a magnet come out.