Anyone make children's wooden blocks?

[Greenbean7]

My nephew just emailed me wanting to know if I could find someone who could sell him home made wooden blocks. He wants to give them to his 4 year old almost step-son.

My 4 year old great nephew knows right where I keep my wood and he just brings out everything I haven't carved and builds castles on my kitchen floor. But, I think Matt is looking for something a little more finished than just my hunks of wood!

Thanks much!

[Claude]

I don't have any patterns or anything like that, but I'd like to suggest something similar to some blocks we bought for our sons when they were young (35 years ago). The blocks were all in multiples of 2 for dimensions:
1 x 2 x 2, 1 x 2 x 4, 1 x 2 x 8, and in multiple primary colors. A couple of the 1 x 2 x 6 blocks had an arch cut into one long side - probably a 1 inch radius arc. This block could be stood up on edge for arched doorways, etc.

The main tools you'd need would be a good sander, and either a table saw or good chop saw. Maple would be ideal, but white wood (alder, poplar, or whatever else the home stores sell) would be a lot cheaper.

Claude

[Keoma]

Hi Grean bean! Last year I sold some home made blocks -in -a- bag at the local Christmas Bazaar. I was in need of some table filler and they ended up being my first sellers
I got a Maple 2x4 at the local lumber yard...got a deal too 'cause it was cracked and warped...lol...love those
I cut basic shapes and then just put a oft bevel on all the edges and corners. Basicly just got rid of anything sharp. My boy, 5 years old then, loved them! He played and played with them.
I used some old britches...including the pocket and made quick draw string bags out of them. Worked great!
Hope this helped. You could totally use your scraps of wood and make them. What a fun project! Best of luck!
loves!

[CarverFromNoWhere]

I asked a questions similar to this a little while back, I am soon to be an uncle. I had also seen on here I now forget who but they had made an excellent like a Lincoln log home little logs with dados and mortise cut ect. It was very nice I will have to go back and find it sometime, not sure about doing wooden blocks but I agree with what both Keoma and Claude have said I would suggest chop saw, bandsaw and an edge sander to make something like this. Also Birch is an excellent wood to use along with the maples for projects like this.
Carl

[jharris]

Greenbean,
This site has instructions and a material list to make a set. It's based on sets they have for sale. They give instructions for a simple set and their base set. How to Make Your Own Wooden Blocks and Toys

Jim

[Greenbean7]

Thanks, all! Your the bestest!

Sounds like a job for my husband the tool man! If I can get him to stop working on that boat for a while!