How to Make a Wood Toy Train

Wood toys are easy to make with just a few basic tools.  With these easy instruction you can make a heirloom to pass down from child to child.

When making toys for children, please ensure;  all wood surfaces are smoothed to avoid splinters, all corners are slightly rounded, and all paints or stains used are non-toxic.

Try to make the toys as hard wearing as possible.  Use a strong adhesive. For a durable, wipe-clean finish use polyurethane paint or stain.

As you see, the train in the picture is quite small, if you wish to make one larger, then scale up all measurements.

You will Need:

• Wood 3" x 9" x ½" for Bases
• Wood 3½" x 1½" x 1½" for Cab and Tender
• Pieces of Wood for Loads and Funnels
• 1¼" Dowel for the Boiler
• 1" Dowel for Wheels
• 1/16" Dowel for Axles
• 6 Picture Hooks for Coupling Links
• Strong Clear Wood Glue
• Non-Toxic Wood Stain or Paint
• Tenon saw – Coping Saw – Hand Drill and 3/16" Bit
• Files – Sandpaper – Vice – Pencil – Compass – Ruler

Making the Bases

From the piece of ½" thick wood cut out an engine base 4½" x 1½", two wagon bases the same size and a tender base 2½" x 1½".

Mark the cutting lines in pencil first then use the tenon saw for cutting.  Hold the wood in a vice or clamp if necessary and to prevent it from marking the wood, line the jaws with a rag or piece of cardboard.

Smooth the edges of each piece first with a file and then with sandpaper, slightly rounding the corners.  Mark in pencil the positions for the axle holes about ¾" in from the ends of each base (see Figure 1A).

Figure 1a

Clamp each base piece firmly in the vice and drill the axle holes right through each base piece using a 3/16" bit.

Cut lengths of the 3/16" dowel long enough to pass right through the base with an extra ½" on either side to take the wheel.

Paint or stain the base, when dry push the axles through the holes.  They will probably be a tight fit at first, so sand the axles down until they turn smoothly in the holes.

From the 1" dowel cut as many wheels as you need, four for each unit, making each one about ½" thick.  Sand each wheel well around the edges, and through the middle drill a 3/16" hole.

Paint or stain the wheels.  Glue one to either end of each axle (see Figure 1b) taking care to apply the adhesive only to the surfaces to be joined.  Any excess adhesive spreading over areas to be stained may prevent the stain from taking properly.

Make the coupling links from little screw-in picture fittings, the type that are used to hold the cord at the back of a picture frame (see Figure 2A).

Figure 2A & 2B

To make the hook, just use pliers to open the link a little (see Figure 2B).  Drill a small hole at either end of each base (except at the front of the engine base) and screw in the links and hooks.

This video shows an alternative way to make the basis and some fancier wheels.

Completing Engine & Tender

Cut a 2¼" length from the 1¼" dowel for the boiler, sand and stain or paint it.

Figure 3

For the cab cut a piece of wood 1½" x 1½" by 2".  Produce the cab shape using the coping saw (Figure 3) to cut out a semicircle in one of the 12" sides (see Figure 4a).

The concave surface will probably be quite rough when you have finished sawing, so use a round or half-round file and sandpaper to bring it to a smooth finish.  Paint and stain.  If you do not have a coping saw you could cut a V with the tenon saw.

Glue the boiler and cab to the engine base and to each other.  Drill two holes in the top of the boiler to take the funnels.  Stain or paint the funnels, glue them in position and your engine is complete (see Figure 4b).

Figure 4A & 4B

For the tender use a 1½" cube or cut off a corner along one edge to produce the shape shown in Figure 5a (dotted lines).  Paint or stain, then stick to the tender base (see Figure 5b).

Completing the Wagons

All that is needed to complete each of these is a load.

Using a large piece of dowel on one and a heap of small wood chunks on the other serve well as a load.

You could use bundles of thin dowel or matchsticks, a pile of wooden beads or lengths of dowel cut up to represent oil drums etc.  The amount of detail you add is entirely up to you, just make sure you stick the load firmly in place with adhesive, then paint or stain.

Getting a child involved while learning yourself is a great way to build lasting hobby memories, as well as having a project to share with your child.  As you get better at making the blocks and putting them together, check out internet, as well as your local library to expand on your skills.

Thanks for stopping by and until next time,

Happy Crafting!



Express Train Set Wood Paint Kit