His Wooden Toys Have Detailed Moving Parts

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #5, Page #22

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When Don Buldhaupt retired and moved off his Minnesota farm, he figured out a way to bring a bit of the farm with him by making wooden tractors, trucks, and other toys.
“My brother and I used to weld a lot of stuff on the farm,” he says. Working in the garage of his new home in town, he started with simple tools such as a jigsaw and rotary tool to create his first John Deere G tractor, like the two tractors he’d used for farming.
The wood, mostly ash, was cut from the farm and sawed at a local mill. Other than occasional wire or nails, all parts are made of wood in Buldhaupt’s toys. That includes cylinders that move, hitches that slide, and tires with tread that looks like real rubber tires or steel wheels with lugs. Using a rotary tool, he replicates tiny details such as sparkplugs and other engine parts.
The tractors are about 12 in. long, 7 1/2 in. wide and 6 1/2 in tall. They aren’t made to a specific scale, but he measures real equipment to get the right proportions.
In addition to models of a dozen tractors from John Deere, Case, Allis-Chalmers, Oliver and more, he created machinery such as corn pickers, combines, and a threshing machine. He made three trucks and construction equipment like the dozers and road grader he operated when he was younger. After taking photos and measuring, he even replicated an abandoned rock crusher.
One of his biggest challenges was making wooden tracks so they turn on a bulldozer. He has a hard time choosing his favorite piece from the 50+ toys he’s made over the years.
Besides the farm and construction toys, Buldhaupt has used his woodworking skills to make barns (which he sold) and dollhouses for granddaughters and neighbor kids.
Minus the toys his brother “borrowed”, Buldhaupt, 89, keeps the rest of the toys scattered around his Minnesota apartment.
“You’ve just got to love what you’re doing. I enjoy seeing the toys around me, though I often can’t remember how I made them,” he says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Don Buldhaupt, Pipestone, Minn. (mizb@iw.net).

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His Wooden Toys Have Detailed Moving Parts FARM HOME Novelty Items When Don Buldhaupt retired and moved off his Minnesota farm he figured out a way to bring a bit of the farm with him by making wooden tractors trucks and other toys “My brother and I used to weld a lot of stuff on the farm ” he says Working in the garage of his new home in town he started with simple tools such as a jigsaw and rotary tool to create his first John Deere G tractor like the two tractors he’d used for farming The wood mostly ash was cut from the farm and sawed at a local mill Other than occasional wire or nails all parts are made of wood in Buldhaupt’s toys That includes cylinders that move hitches that slide and tires with tread that looks like real rubber tires or steel wheels with lugs Using a rotary tool he replicates tiny details such as sparkplugs and other engine parts The tractors are about 12 in long 7 1/2 in wide and 6 1/2 in tall They aren’t made to a specific scale but he measures real equipment to get the right proportions In addition to models of a dozen tractors from John Deere Case Allis-Chalmers Oliver and more he created machinery such as corn pickers combines and a threshing machine He made three trucks and construction equipment like the dozers and road grader he operated when he was younger After taking photos and measuring he even replicated an abandoned rock crusher One of his biggest challenges was making wooden tracks so they turn on a bulldozer He has a hard time choosing his favorite piece from the 50+ toys he’s made over the years Besides the farm and construction toys Buldhaupt has used his woodworking skills to make barns which he sold and dollhouses for granddaughters and neighbor kids Minus the toys his brother “borrowed” Buldhaupt 89 keeps the rest of the toys scattered around his Minnesota apartment “You’ve just got to love what you’re doing I enjoy seeing the toys around me though I often can’t remember how I made them ” he says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Don Buldhaupt Pipestone Minn mizb@iw net

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