Ron Altier Posted September 27, 2010 Report Share Posted September 27, 2010 I wanted to show you guys one of my projects that I am proudest of. My grandson loved firetrucks and I decided to make him one for Christmas a couple of years ago. I did some research on the web and found out that there is no standard type firetruck. When one is ordered, they get what they want on it for specific purposes. So I took some things from many pictures and made one up. I used Padouk, Yellow hart, curly Maple, Mahogany and what ever small scraps of exotic wood I could include. I wanted it to be played with, so I have a hose with a hand crank and an extending ladder. I turned the fire extinguishers on the rear and each gauge is a hole drilled out and filled with maple. My grandson loved it then and still does. He played with it a lot then, but has now moved on to the computer, soccer, bicycles, etc. Now it is in a special place in his room to keep it safe. Harry Brink 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warped & Twisted Posted September 27, 2010 Report Share Posted September 27, 2010 Hey Ron, that's a pretty cool fire truck you built. The grandson must be real happy. BTW what 's the red looking wood? Is the red wood natural or stained? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Altier Posted September 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2010 It is all natural wood. The red colored is Padouk, which can vary from bright red to dull crimson. The only down side of using dark woods is that they get darker as they age. I'm sure you have seen old Cherry or Walnut and how they have darkened over the years. The red will darken to a very deep dark red color as the years pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hechel Posted September 27, 2010 Report Share Posted September 27, 2010 that's one sweet ride ya got there Fella. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Moody Posted September 27, 2010 Report Share Posted September 27, 2010 That is awesome. I guess I may have to get started on one for my new grandson. Excellent job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Allen Jones Posted September 28, 2010 Report Share Posted September 28, 2010 Hey Ron, I truly like the quarter sawn white oak in the extension ladder for the rays really set it off. What did you use for the hose? What wood did you use for the wheels to get the silver look? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Rasmussen Posted September 28, 2010 Report Share Posted September 28, 2010 What a great truck for your grandson. I would suggest mentioning to his parents to keep the truck when he is through playing with it. I have some "toys" that my father made and played with as a boy. I've replicated one of them for my neices and nephews. Keepsakes are great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Altier Posted September 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2010 Ralph, I made the wheel hubs out of Maple, the lug nuts are decorative tacks and the caps are the caps used on a lot of toy axles. The silver stripe around the hub was made with a silver marker. If you look at all the pictures of the wheels, you will see that the Maple shows. The bottom photo must have a reflection that makes it all look silver. The extension ladder is Curly Maple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Allen Jones Posted September 28, 2010 Report Share Posted September 28, 2010 Hi Ron, Great job all around and you made it look so realistic. The curly maple through me a bit and I found one board thatI think is curly maple in my last supply of lumber Sunday. I also got in some butter nut that I want to make a mission style coffee table out of. I think that I will finish it natural for it will turn darker as time goes by. Ralph Ron Altier said:Ralph, I made the wheel hubs out of Maple, the lug nuts are decorative tacks and the caps are the caps used on a lot of toy axles. The silver stripe around the hub was made with a silver marker. If you look at all the pictures of the wheels, you will see that the Maple shows. The bottom photo must have a reflection that makes it all look silver. The extension ladder is Curly Maple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Pedersen Posted September 28, 2010 Report Share Posted September 28, 2010 Ron that is really very nice. You went to an awful lot of super detail. I hope you have your name and year made on the bottom, maybe. I like to use a new penny for the year. Drill a sized hole then insert and put finish over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 As I go through our forum updating links and finding cool things again, I may share some items of past, here is one from Ron Altier, I am having fun going through our older posts, a lot of nice work here! Harry Brink 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 Neat firetruck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted October 10, 2014 Report Share Posted October 10, 2014 Great Job. Thanks for bringing it back up John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted October 10, 2014 Report Share Posted October 10, 2014 Great Job. Thanks for bringing it back up John. You bet!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.