The
Pull-Along Dog
Anyone who has ever owned a dachshund will be quick to
tell you that they’re clearly among the most affectionate and well-mannered
of all breeds…and our articulated friend is no exception.
Originally made by the father of a Dayton, Ohio woman, it’s sure
to bring hours of fun to the little ones who are fortunate enough to find
one under their tree this Holiday season!
Start by transferring the patterns for the three body pieces to some 1”
x 6” stock.
• Be sure the grain of your wood runs from head-to-tail on your
Dog for maximum strength.
• Note that thee are three pieces to the Dog and that they overlap
at the finger joints.
• A NOTE ABOUT SIZE: This 15” long dog could just as easily
be made to 150% (22-1/2”) or 200% (30”) of the sizes shown
here.
Cut out the three pieces for the body, using your Bandsaw or Scroll Saw.
Make it from your choice of 1/2" or 3/4" thick stock. Slowly
and carefully hand-sand the inside hinge-areas on all three pieces with
150 to 220-grit sandpaper to achieve the best fit. Clamp the three pieces
together temporarily and use your Drill Press or Horizontal Boring set-up
to carefully drill the 1/8” holes for the 1/8” dia. dowel
hinge pins. To ensure that your hinges work smoothly, be sure to center
the holes in the hinge tabs, both top-to-bottom and front-to-back.
Unclamp the pieces and use your Disc Sander or Belt
Sander to round the male hinge tabs where they’re inserted into
their mating female slots. Do this slowly and carefully to avoid sanding
into the holes you just drilled for the hinge pins. The object is to round
these outer edges so they swing freely through their slots, allowing the
dog to bend in the middle.
Temporarily assemble the three body pieces together with dowels –
and NO glue – then use your Drum
Sanders to sand the edges of all parts smooth.
Make two 3/4" x 3/4" x 3-1/4” long axle-holders and form
your choice of 1/2" or 3/4" wide by 3/8” deep dadoes in
the center of each for the dog’s front and back legs. Glue and clamp
the body segments to the axle holders and allow to dry thoroughly.
With the body still temporarily assembled, use your Horizontal Boring
set-up to drill the appropriate-sized axle holes in each end of each axle
holder.
NOTE: The commercially available 2-1/4” dia. wheels we used came
with 5/16” dia. axle pins. You can also turn your own wheels on
a Lathe and make your own axle pins. If you do the latter, you may have
to adjust the diameters of your axle pin holes accordingly.
Remove the 1/8” dowel hinge pins and finish sand the dog…being
careful not to over-sand the areas around the joining hinge components.
Apply the finish of your choice – even hand-paint the dog with non-toxic
paints, if you prefer. Cut the ears out of vinyl or leather and attach
them with glue and/or small nails (with heads).
Mount a small screw eye in the front for the pull string and reassemble
the dog segments… this time, gluing just the ends of each dowel
hinge pin so the hinges will articulate freely.
Suggested
retail price: $15 to $40 each, depending on size, wood used and detail
added
Assembly
and Diagrams
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