Making toy wheels versus buying?

[stoppy]

Which do you do?  Make or buy.  

I'm making a bunch of simple car, truck, tractor toys that all require wheels.  I'm currently in a debate with myself over buying versus making.  It was suggested to me to use the lathe vs the hole saw and sanding individual wheels. Watched a video where a guy made four at a time on his lathe.  I'm going to need several hundred wheels. To make the toys a little more interesting I should use some different sizes which leads me down the make my own path.  I also have plenty of scrap wood to make them.  I'm retired so I have the time.  I'm also cheap and not rich.  Sounds like I'm trying to convince myself to make them.

[Bill Holt]

"Several hundred wheels" caught my attention.  I'm in the bottom of the same boat you are in...retired...no money.  I really enjoy turning bowls and maybe a little spindel work.  Turnning even a 100 wheels would be too close to torture for me.  Most likely I would buy the most common size I needed and then turn the odd sizes.

Sounds like you are taking on an ambitious project.

Good luck.

[stoppy]

"Several hundred wheels" caught my attention.  I'm in the bottom of the same boat you are in...retired...no money.  I really enjoy turning bowls and maybe a little spindel work.  Turnning even a 100 wheels would be too close to torture for me.  Most likely I would buy the most common size I needed and then turn the odd sizes.

Sounds like you are taking on an ambitious project.

Good luck.

Bill,

I had/have serious medical issues and have not been in the shop for over three years.  After some serious weight loss I'm feeling much better and thrilled to be back in the shop. And my heart specialists are also thrilled I'm back in the shop. Had been thinking about trying to do some thing for charity in the shop but had made any moves in that direction.  A few weeks ago was watching the morning news when they had a feature about a 97 year old gentleman who had been making toys for charity for at least a couple decades and this was his last year.  That was enough to convince me to get off my lazy arse and do something. When I was in business I had worked with the local CAN Council (Child Abuse and Neglect).  I called them, they have five offices in this region and said they could use all of what I could produce and had allied agencies for toys if I made too many for them to use. So I can make this project as big as I want.  Have already printed out designs out the kazoo.  Also a couple woodnetters who already do this have chimed in with designs. Did release the moths from the wallet yesterday and bought the Ridgid Combo Spindle sander.  Wife has volunteered to paint so I better get started cutting car, truck, equipment, and tractor bodies. I like the idea of buying the common size and turning the more uncommon sizes.

[Bill Wilson]

Making vs buying wooden wheels is pretty much a matter of how much your time is worth to you.  I don't make that many wheeled toys and I typically buy my wheels, for what I do make.  They look better than most anything I could make anyway.  I know a few guys who make lots of toys for craft shows and to donate and they also typically buy them.  I think most tried making them at first and soon realized that was a pretty tedious operation.  If you buy them in bulk, they are considerably cheaper (per piece).

[Chuck Nickerson]

Most people try to make some but it's surprising tedious. I made 360 drag slicks once and t wasn't fun for me.

To emphasize what someone else said: don't confuse the 'bag of two wheels' price ($.75) with the 'bag of 500' price ($55).

[Arlin Eastman]

Jim

Tell us the size of the wheels maybe several of us can help you out with what we can make for you.  I know you are making this to give away to kids and I told you I can help.

So maybe we can make some maple, walnut, and other woods to look nice on the toys you are making.

What do you guys think???

[mike4244]

Which do you do?  Make or buy.  

I'm making a bunch of simple car, truck, tractor toys that all require wheels.  I'm currently in a debate with myself over buying versus making.  It was suggested to me to use the lathe vs the hole saw and sanding individual wheels. Watched a video where a guy made four at a time on his lathe.  I'm going to need several hundred wheels. To make the toys a little more interesting I should use some different sizes which leads me down the make my own path.  I also have plenty of scrap wood to make them.  I'm retired so I have the time.  I'm also cheap and not rich.  Sounds like I'm trying to convince myself to make them.

I also had to make lots of wheels. I turned a 18" long cylinder, parted enough to score each wheel. Then band sawed the wheels . I remounted the wheels in a chuck and faced them clean. Got about 30 wheels 1/2" wide from a cylinder. 
I then turned the wheel to look like it has a tire and a hubcap. Bore 1/8" dia. hole for axle.
Next time I'll buy the wheels.
mike

[Bob10]

Which do you do?  Make or buy.  

I'm making a bunch of simple car, truck, tractor toys that all require wheels.  I'm currently in a debate with myself over buying versus making.  It was suggested to me to use the lathe vs the hole saw and sanding individual wheels. Watched a video where a guy made four at a time on his lathe.  I'm going to need several hundred wheels. To make the toys a little more interesting I should use some different sizes which leads me down the make my own path.  I also have plenty of scrap wood to make them.  I'm retired so I have the time.  I'm also cheap and not rich.  Sounds like I'm trying to convince myself to make them.

Might want to contact a supplier and tell them what you are doing.  May help with pricing or possibly hook you up with others doing the same thing

[Robin Dobbie]

I wonder if this would be something someone with a CNC could help out with. 1/2 or 3/4 baltic birch ply could be used if the wheels were going to be painted. There's a lot of side detail that could be added without too much extra effort.

[oakey]

Stoppy
first of all congratulation on your new found health and the opportunity to get back doing things you love
i have made a few wheels very doable but hundreds of them will be very time consuming
have you looked on buying large quantity's?
one place i buy from that seems very reasonable is CASEY'S WOOD PRODUCTS small wheels are available in quantity's for a few cents each
[ i am just a happy customer not associated in any way ]
spend your time building the rest of the toy
good luck and good heath