NOT ALLOW YOUNG CHILDREN TO PLAY WITH THIS TOY UNSUPERVISED.

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Emil Flowers
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1 SNAPPING ALLIGATOR This wooden toy is great for parents or grandparents to play with young children. Hold by the tail and move the alligator slowly along with the front wheel slightly off the ground and he walks without snapping. Then put the front wheels to the ground and rush forward and he snaps viciously sending young children shrieking with delight. CAUTION This toy is intended for supervised play. It has potentially hazardous screws and wires and the mouth can easily trap small fingers. Please be careful. DO NOT ALLOW YOUNG CHILDREN TO PLAY WITH THIS TOY UNSUPERVISED. Plans and instructions copyright Philip Lowndes

Assembly Instructions Print out the pattern and using Pritt type adhesive stick

Cut out the pieces using a scroll saw and if available a bandsaw for the thicker

Depending on the tools you have available you can cut this to shape with a

of a belt sander. This is the one stage that is difficult to cut with a scroll saw.

2 Assembly Instructions Print out the pattern and using Pritt type adhesive stick onto the wood. Cut out the pieces using a scroll saw and if available a bandsaw for the thicker piece of wood. Mark out the jaw top as shown. Depending on the tools you have available you can cut this to shape with a bandsaw, a hand coping saw, whittle with a carving knife of sand down on the end of a belt sander. This is the one stage that is difficult to cut with a scroll saw. The 9mm hole in the upper jaw is drilled in the underside of the jaw to match the hole in the lower jaw. This should not go entirely through the wood but must be deep enough to accommodate the push rod.

Drill the holes as marked on the plan. The dimensions given are in mm. If you are working in imperial measurements 6mm = 1/4 inch. There are 2 sizes of large hole.

If the dowel is a different size the hole sizes must be adjusted accordingly. The smaller 2mm holes in the legs for the push wires are not a critical size.

Note the 9mm hole under the bird in the centre of its body. This hole does not go all the way though the bird. Sand all the pieces smooth.

3 Drill the holes as marked on the plan. The dimensions given are in mm. If you are working in imperial measurements 6mm = 1/4 inch. There are 2 sizes of large hole. Assuming that your dowell is 9mm the 9 mm hole is for a tight fit and the 10 mm hole allows the dowel to rotate in the hole. If the dowel is a different size the hole sizes must be adjusted accordingly. The smaller 2mm holes in the legs for the push wires are not a critical size. DO NOT HOLD THE WHEELS BY HAND when drilling the holes in them. This could cause injury to the fingers if the wheel spins in the drill. Note the 9mm hole under the bird in the centre of its body. This hole does not go all the way though the bird. Sand all the pieces smooth. The alligator is now ready for a trial assembly. Do not use any adhesive at this stage. It is just a check to ensure all the pieces fit. The peg for the front legs protrudes to just below the level of the body section. The front legs should swing smoothly on the dowel.

4 The dowel through the back legs protrudes 3mm, (1/8 inch) below the legs to reduce friction as the legs move. The dowel protrudes sufficently through the body to fit the bird with the bird standing 3mm above the body. The body will now fit on the chassis allowing free movement of the back legs.

The eyes fit on the chassis in front of the body.

The upper jaw should fit above the lower jaw and

5 The eyes fit on the chassis in front of the body. The lower jaw fits in front of the eyes. The hole should be centred over the outside edge of the wheel. The upper jaw should fit above the lower jaw and the hinge fits between the jaw and the eye. If all the pieces fit together well they can now be painted.

Painting I have used non-toxic acrylic paints for this example.

However, if you don t already have a set they are expensive to buy just for this project.

come in small bottles. These do raise the grain and need more sanding.

6 Painting I have used non-toxic acrylic paints for this example. Acrylics do not raise the grain of the wood and give good opaque colour. However, if you don t already have a set they are expensive to buy just for this project. An equally effective solution is to use a set of children s water colour poster paints which come in small bottles. These do raise the grain and need more sanding. On the plus side, once finished with polyurethane varnish they give a beautiful finish with the wood pattern showing through the paint. Whether using poster paints or acrylics, finish the pieces with 3 coats of polyurethane or acrylic varnish, sanding smooth before the last coat. Do not paint under the body. Leave the centres of the legs unpainted. Do not paint under the lower jaw.

It is important to leave an unpainted patch on the

Assembly To glue the wooden parts together use PVA

This give a very strong bond within an hour.

7 It is important to leave an unpainted patch on the back of the eyes to allow the glue to take. Assembly To glue the wooden parts together use PVA adhesive. This give a very strong bond within an hour. Glue the wheels on the axle dowels and glue the dowel for the front legs. This should reach to not quite flush with the underside of the body Put the front legs in place ensuring that they turn freely.

8 Glue the rear leg dowel in place with about 3mm protruding beneath the legs. Glue the bird in place on top of the dowel. To ensure that the bird sits just above the body it is easiest to do this with the body held in place on the chassis. Ensure that the legs move freely. Using PVA adhesive glue the body onto the chassis. NOTE the front legs must be in place. Ensure that the rear legs can move freely.

Once the body is firmly set glue the eyes in place.

Ensure that the hole in the jaw is centred over the

50mm (2 ) flush hinge Loosen the hinge if necessary.

It can be loosened by prising apart the barrel.

positioned so that the upper jaw easily closes

Positioning the hinge on the body takes some

9 Once the body is firmly set glue the eyes in place. The lower jaw fits in front of the eyes. Ensure that the hole in the jaw is centred over the outer edge of the wheel. 50mm (2 ) flush hinge Loosen the hinge if necessary. It should flap freely. It can be loosened by prising apart the barrel. Fix in place with 1/2 x4 screws (to fit the hinge) positioned so that the upper jaw easily closes against the lower jaw. Screw to the upper jaw first. Positioning the hinge on the body takes some concentration. You may need to leave 1mm between the jaws for free movement but this should not prevent the snapping noise.

1 2 4 3 The jaw control rod can be held in place with either a brass rod or a

Drill a 1mm hole through the centre of the hole in the jaw from the side as

If a 25mm (1 ) panel pin is used this hole goes through only the outer edge of

If a brass rod is used it can go through both side so the the rod can be glued

It is essential that the pin or rod is firmly in place and cannot come out

10 The jaw control rod can be held in place with either a brass rod or a long panel pin. Drill a 1mm hole through the centre of the hole in the jaw from the side as shown. If a 25mm (1 ) panel pin is used this hole goes through only the outer edge of the hole. If a brass rod is used it can go through both side so the the rod can be glued in place with either epoxy resin or superglue. It is essential that the pin or rod is firmly in place and cannot come out again. The rod is held in place on the wheel by a round headed screw. This screw should be fixed with superglue on its last turn to prevent it becoming unscrewed. The rod needs to be the length that allows the jaw to close at the bottom of the cycle. It may need to be bent slightly where it enters the jaw to allow free movement. 5

The legs are similarly activated by push rods.

Ensure that there are no sharp edges to the brass rods which could cause injury.

11 The legs are similarly activated by push rods. These can be made of 1/16 inch brass or piano wire. The brass is easier to bend into shape. Ensure that there are no sharp edges to the brass rods which could cause injury. Again the round headed screws should be held in place with a spot of superglue before the final turn. The brass wire may need to be bent to achieve an easy fit into the leg and to fine tune the leg action. Note that the screws are directly opposite each other on the wheels to achieve a realistic walking movement. Enjoy your alligator.

12 Snapping Alligator Pattern. Copyright Philip Lowndes Parts list Wood Pine, finished size. Approx 20mm (7/8") 120mm (5") wide. Approx 60cms (24") long. Approx 15mm (5/8") Small piece for bird. Can be cut from above. Birch ply. 6mm 5 ply 20mm (8") square. Dowel 9mm (3/8") Approx 150mm (6") long. Brass rod 1/16" Approx 30mm (12") Screws Round headed 15mm (1/2") x 6. For hinge 15mm (1/2") x4. 3 units 4 units Wheels 40mm (11/2") hardwood 4 units HInge 50mm (2") brass flush hinge

13 10mm 20mm pine 20mm pine 9mm 10mm 10mm

14 15mm pine 20mm pine 9mm hole 9mm 1mm

15 6mm birch ply 2mm 2mm

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