keithv Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Wasn't sure if this belonged here or in the Q&A section. If it's in the wrong spot could someone move it? How well does pine hold up when used for toys? I like the price and apparent ease of use for pine. Since the toys get painted wood grain and the like is less important. Any information/guidance would be appreciated. tomsteve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrollerpete Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Pine is too soft for toys they will mark easy, I would use oak which is cheap enough and not too hard to cut. keithv and SCROLLSAW703 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 A friend of mine has been making toys for years. He uses nothing but pine and they seem to hold up for him. keithv and tomsteve 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 I have made a lot of toys out of pine and poplar......so far so good ! tomsteve and keithv 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsN Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 I have made lots of toys out of pine. Like scrollerpete mentioned it is soft so if it gets rough play (or teething) it can get marks. I think those marks add character to the toys so it never bothers me. I also like that it is a bit lighter than most hardwoods, which makes toys a bit easier to play with. Pine is also easy to find in 1 1/2 thickness (think 2x4) and most hardwoods are harder to find thick. The most importat thing is to make sure that you are not using treated lumber (the stuff used outdoors) Poplar is another good choice for inexpensive wood that will be painted. It cuts well and is a hardwood. tomsteve, keithv and SCROLLSAW703 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 I agree that pine is fine. tomsteve, SCROLLSAW703 and keithv 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Dan the Poet. Good one! tomsteve, SCROLLSAW703 and keithv 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredfret Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Pine works just fine for playable toys. Heirloom toys well hardwoods look better setting on the shelf. Just my opinion. Fredfret Wichita, ks tomsteve, keithv and SCROLLSAW703 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill WIlson Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 As noted, there is nothing necessarily wrong with pine. Personally, I would probably prefer a tight grained, medium hard wood, something like poplar or soft maple. Both take paint well, are hard enough to hold up well to normal use & abuse, without being too heavy or so hard & dense that they are difficult to work with. Open grained hard woods like red oak are somewhat more prone to splintering, especially on sharp corners, so they may not be the best choice. SCROLLSAW703, keithv and tomsteve 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fab4 Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 2 hours ago, Rockytime said: Dan the Poet. Good one! And he doesn't even know it Fab4 keithv 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fab4 Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 (edited) 15 hours ago, MrsN said: I have made lots of toys out of pine. Like scrollerpete mentioned it is soft so if it gets rough play (or teething) it can get marks. I think those marks add character to the toys so it never bothers me. I also like that it is a bit lighter than most hardwoods, which makes toys a bit easier to play with. Pine is also easy to find in 1 1/2 thickness (think 2x4) and most hardwoods are harder to find thick. The most importat thing is to make sure that you are not using treated lumber (the stuff used outdoors) Poplar is another good choice for inexpensive wood that will be painted. It cuts well and is a hardwood. Katie: Hit the nail right on the head Marks add Character on a toy - - - This way you know someone is playing with the toys Fab4 Edited January 31, 2018 by Fab4 spelling correction keithv and SCROLLSAW703 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banderson Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 It depends on the toys you are making. I make a lot of toys out of poplar. If I am making a toy for someone under the age of 3 it is a hardwood; maple or beech. Kids will eat the poplar and pine right up. tomsteve, oldhudson, SCROLLSAW703 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 2 hours ago, Fab4 said: And he doesn't even know it Fab4 Heh, heh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithv Posted January 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Thank you all for the valuable feedback. I will give pine a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandaideman Posted January 31, 2018 Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, Fab4 said: And he doesn't even know it Fab4 But his feet show it because their Longfellows Edited January 31, 2018 by bandaideman Fab4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 On 1/30/2018 at 10:21 AM, keithv said: Wasn't sure if this belonged here or in the Q&A section. If it's in the wrong spot could someone move it? How well does pine hold up when used for toys? I like the price and apparent ease of use for pine. Since the toys get painted wood grain and the like is less important. Any information/guidance would be appreciated. Spruce is a nice alternative and stronger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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