Dave M. of Kellogg, Idaho has built rockers before, but this one came from a friend’s request: a John Deere tractor a kid can ride. He drew the layers out on cardboard, traced them onto the wood, and cut the whole thing on his bandsaw.
The frame, tires, rockers and brackets are red fir in 2×6, 2×12 and 2×2 stock, with 3/4" pine for the motor enclosures and seat and a 1" dowel for the handlebar. Tire tread was carved in with a Dremel, the Trex screws are countersunk and plugged with dowel, and the paint is Rust-Oleum farm implement green and yellow. About ten hours and $55 in materials.
In Dave’s words
I have made different types of rockers in the past and a friend asked for a John Deere tractor. This the result. I started by drawing the layers of the project on cardboard and transferred to the wood. The pieces were cut out with my bandsaw.
The frame work, tires, rockers and attaching components are made from 2×6, 2×12 and 2×2 red fir. The motor enclosures and seat are made from 3/4 pine and the handle bar is a 1" dowel. I used a scroll saw to cut the motor opening in the framework. The motor details were cut from 3/16 fiberboard with a scroll saw.
The motor enclosures are attached with 1 1/4" staples and the seat, wheels and rockers are attached with Trex screws. The Trex screws are countersunk and plugged with dowel pieces. The tractor was assembled then attached to the rocker assembly with 2×2 and Trex screws. The tire tread detail was done with a Dremel tool. The paint is John Deere correct colors.
The build
- Project type: Toys & gifts — ride-on rocking tractor
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Wood: Red fir (2×6, 2×12, 2×2), 3/4" pine, 1" dowel, 3/16" fiberboard details
- Finish: Rust-Oleum farm implement John Deere green and yellow spray paint
- Tools: Bandsaw, scroll saw, Dremel, staples and Trex screws
- Time: About 10 hours
- Cost: $55
- Plans: His own design, drawn full size on cardboard
Biggest challenge
The details on the tires is time consuming but are a detail that add to the overall look of the project. I found it to be much easier to paint the components before assembly.
Photos
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