Gator Snap: Wooden Toy Plans

Gator Snap: Wooden Toy Plans

By Bob Gilsdorf from Making Innventive Wooden Toys 

What does woodworking have to do with physics and fun? You’re about to find out! This toy has all the fun of cornhole with the danger of gator wrestling. Toss a bean bag fish into the gator’s gaping mouth, and SNAP — the gator’s jaws slam shut. This wooden toy project for kids was inspired by my son Adam at his gator wrestling class—in Mosca, Colo., of all places. Colorado Gators Reptile Park is set on naturally occurring hot springs to keep the gators happy year round. They offer gator wrestling classes to anyone brave, or stupid, enough to hop into a pond full of adult alligators. So, after a day of watching and hearing huge jaws snap shut I wanted to capture that adrenalin rush without the risk of losing my arm. While gravity gives the toy a nice action, for a more robust chomp, add the optional pegs to the sides and use rubber bands to connect them. Then, watch out! When you trip the action, you’ll know it!

Getting Started
Rip the blanks to the rough sizes in the Materials list. I find it much easier to mark cuts and holes on larger rectangular pieces of wood than individual smaller pieces. This also gives you more leverage when drilling the holes. Attach or transfer the patterns to the blanks.

1. Drill the holes in the jaws (A-B) and jaw pivots (C-D).

Drill the holes in the jaws (A-B) and jaw pivots (C-D). Remember to drill a blade-entry hole in the top jaw (A). Drill the holes for the extra chomp pegs (L), if desired. Countersink the 3/16″ (5mm)-diameter holes in the bottom jaw pivots (D) on one side. I use a Forstner bit and a drill press to make the holes for the teeth (I), but free-handing the holes might add a little more character because gators aren’t known for straight teeth.

3. Cut the jaw pivots (C-D).

Use a sanding drum in a rotary tool to enlarge the jaw axle hole in the pivots (so the axle rotates easily). Then, cut the three pieces. Transfer the hole locations to the flat end of the top jaw pivot (C) by folding the pattern down, or by measuring and marking, and drill the screw pilot holes.

5. Drill the axle hole and cut the perimeter of the tongue (F).

The tongue is the only tricky part of the construction. It rotates upward to hold the top jaw open. The tongue is designed to lie flat against the bottom jaw when depressed to minimize the stress on the tongue axle.

7. Attach one of the tongue holders (E) to the bottom jaw (B).

Use a coarse-thread drywall screw through the pilot hole. Insert the tongue axle (J) through the holes in both tongue holders, and screw the second tongue holder into position on the bottom jaw. The axle helps ensure the axle holes are aligned properly. Remove the axle, position the tongue (F), and replace the axle. The tongue should lay flat against the bottom jaw. If it doesn’t, sand its bottom. It should also be able to rotate upward at least 45°. If it doesn’t, sand the back corner under the axle, where it hits the bottom jaw.

9. Test the tongue latch.

Lay the gator head on its side and open the jaws as far as possible. Lift the tongue to see if the back of it will engage the top jaw pivot to hold the top jaw open. If the back of the tongue is too long, mark the location where the edge of the latch hits it and cut off or sand it. Reassemble the gator head and check the latch again. This time the tongue should hold the mouth open. Slight pressure on the tongue should release the mouth.

11. Decorate the gator.

Glue on the eyes and nose. Paint the top jaw a slightly darker green than the bottom jaw. The inside of
a gator’s mouth is fairly bland, but I made the tongue bright red to make it more visible. Paint the teeth separately and then glue them in place. Paint the extra chomp pegs (L) if you’re adding them.

13. Sew the fish bean bags (M).

Don’t have a sewing machine next to your scroll saw? Me neither. During the prototype phase, I cut fabric into a fish shape and then hot-glued the edges. This was a pretty rustic-looking fish. After proof of-concept, I enlisted my wonderful wife’s help to sew some actual fish-shaped bean bags. Another fun possibility would be to just fill a work glove with beans or rice and glue it shut. Any small stuffed animal would also work, but you’ll probably get some disapproving looks.