Wood Push Car, Truck and Helicopter Toys

Difficulty

Beginner Projects

DIY Wood push car truck and helicopter toy plans with template - easy to make from scrap wood!

Happy Black Friday!!!!

Boy oh boy do we ever got a deal for you!

How about free wood wheelie cars??? Handmade and personalized for that special someone?

These wheelie cars are just cut out (free templates below) from 1x4 wood scraps (a 1x4 new board can be purchased for about $5 for eight feet if you don't have scraps.

The wheels are also made from scraps, but if that's more woodworking than you want to take on, you can buy the wheels for about 38 cents each (use a coupon to score them even cheaper).

These adorable wood toy push cars with wheels were made by the amazing talented Jaime from That's My Letter. Make sure you check out Jaime's building post here for lots more pictures and building tips.

This plan is part of the Handmade Holiday collection Jaime from That's My Letter and I are putting on for you this year.

Take a second to check out all the plans in this collection here if you haven't been following along! Lots of good stuff!

Have an awesome weekend!!!

Ana + Family

Preparation

Shopping List

1x4 scrap wood

small wood dowel matching hole saw bit or store bought wheel axel hole (about 6" per toy)

store bought wheels (1-1/2" diameter) or cut your own wheels with a hole saw (see step 4)

Common Materials

Elmer's Wood Glue

120 grit sandpaper

Cut List

Cut 1x4 to length of the template

Cut two dowels 2-1/2" long per toy

If you are making your own wheels, use a 1-1/2" hole saw to drill out wheels, and sand smooth

Tools

General Instructions

Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!

Instructions

Step 1

Car - Cut car template out and trace on to 1x4 board. To cut window area out, drill a center hole in the window area bigger than the jigsaw bit and cut out with a jigsaw.

Drill holes matching hole saw bit (you could even use the same hole saw bit) in the template and thread dowel through. Glue the wheels to the dowels. Make sure you don't glue the dowels to the car to allow the dowel to spin.

Step 2

Truck - Cut truck template out and trace on to 1x4 board. To cut window area out, drill a center hole in the window area bigger than the jigsaw bit and cut out with a jigsaw.

Step 3

Helicopter - Cut helicopter template out and trace on to 1x4 board. To cut window area out, drill a center hole in the window area bigger than the jigsaw bit and cut out with a jigsaw.

The blades on the helicopter are just scrap pieces of wood. Attach back piece the same as the wood wheels. The top blade can also be attached with a small wood lag screw and washer between blade and top of helicopter. Predrill holes (IMPORTANT) to prevent wood from splitting.

Step 4

Jaime cut her own wheels using a hole saw bit. You can find more details on her blog here.

Finishing Instructions

Preparation Instructions

Fill all holes with wood filler and let dry. Apply additional coats of wood filler as needed. When wood filler is completely dry, sand the project in the direction of the wood grain with 120 grit sandpaper. Vacuum sanded project to remove sanding residue. Remove all sanding residue on work surfaces as well. Wipe project clean with damp cloth. 

It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.

Project Type

Toys