Construction-Grade

Skid Loader

Dimensions: 8"L x 45�8"D x 53�8"H

F 2
rom farmyards to building sites, a Build the body With a 1⁄4" Forstner bit, drill two
nimble skid loader squeezes into
1 Laminate two layers of 3⁄4"
walnut to holes 1⁄8" deep in the rear face of the
small spaces for all sorts of jobs: prepare a 11⁄2×3×12" blank. Along engine compartment (B) [Drawing 1a].
digging dirt, scooping snow, and the edge of the blank, spray-adhere Set your tablesaw blade 3⁄4" above the
moving all manner of materials. Just like photocopies of the Chassis Pattern and table and, with several passes, cut a
on the real-life machine, the arms of Engine Compartment Side-View Pattern notch in the engine compartment where
this tabletop version raise and lower a on page 62. Drill the 11⁄32" and 3⁄16" holes shown on the pattern. Then bandsaw
tilting bucket. If you haven’t built any of where shown, then crosscut the chassis the taper along the rear face, and rout 1⁄8"
the toys in our Construction-Grade (A) and engine compartment (B) from round-overs where shown. Remove the
series (see page 61), this would be a good the blank. Miter each end of the chassis patterns from the chassis (A) and engine
place to start. A kit [Source, page 61] at 10°, following the lines on the pattern. compartment, sand the parts to 220 grit,
provides the wheels and the hardware. then glue the parts together [Drawing 1].
58 DP-00923a ©Copyright Meredith Corporation 2012 WOOD magazine May 2012
 2¾"
3"
F ¼" 1a engine compartment
(Back view)
1⁄16" 1 chassis exploded view
45° chamfer 3"

¼"
3⁄16" hole
B B
2½" 1⁄8" round-over
3"

C
¾" ¼" hole
E D 1⁄8" deep
31⁄8" C ¼"
15° bevel 1¾"
E ¼"
31⁄8"
41⁄8"

10° bevel 7⁄8"

Get a load of the arms
A
1 Prepare two 1⁄4×21⁄2×57⁄8" maple
blanks for the loader arms (G). Spray-
adhere a Loader-Arm Pattern to one
5"
blank, stack them together, and drill the
11⁄32" holes 3⁄16" holes where shown. Scrollsaw, or

bandsaw, and sand the arms to shape.

3"

3⁄8" washer
2 Cut the cross brace (H) to size, adhere
the Cross-Brace Pattern to it, and
scrollsaw and sand it to shape. Rout the
2" wheel 11⁄32" axle peg, chamfers on the loader arms (G) and
15⁄8" long cross brace where indicated, then sand
the parts to 220 grit.

3 From 1⁄4" stock, cut the cab sides (C)

to size [Drawing 1]. Spray-adhere a
copy of the Cab-Side Pattern to a blank
4 1athe
Cut ENGINE COMPARTMENT
cab base
to size, beveling
(D) and fenders (E)
their front ends
( Back View)
[Drawing 1]. Glue the cab base between
3 For the joint plates (I), prepare two
1⁄8×3⁄4×6" walnut blanks and stack

them together with double-faced tape,

[Shop Tip, below], and scrollsaw and sand the cab sides (C). When this assembly
FILENAME: 211SkidLoad1a_#100673287.ai
keeping their ends and edges flush.
the cab sides to shape. Drill a starter hole has dried, glue it to the chassis (A),
Date: 11-11 Spray-adhere two copies of the Joint-
in the cab-side window and scrollsaw centered
Lornaside-to-side
J. [Photo A]. Then Plate Pattern to the stack and scrollsaw
the window. Then remove the pattern glue the fenders (E) to the chassis, butted the joint plates to shape. Remove the
and finish-sand the cab sides to 220 grit. against the cab sides and seated in the patterns and separate the plates. Finish-
engine-compartment (B) notch. sand them to 220 grit, then glue them to
shop tip
Stack-cut identical
5 Cut the roof (F) to size and chamfer
the front end [Drawing 1]. Sand the
roof to 220 grit, then set it aside.
the loader arms (G),with the upper edge
of the joint plates aligned with the lower
edge of the chamfer [Drawing 2].
parts in no time
IS EXPLODED
To VIEW
make identical parts, such as the cab sides GLUE THE CAB TO THE CHASSIS INSTALL THE CROSS BRACE
(C), loader arms (G), joint plates (I), and bucket Filename: 211 Skidloader
sides (K), stack the blanks together with No glue on ends of C .
double-faced tape. Then cut and sand them to
Lj 9-15, kb 10-4 CR 11/1,
shape at the same time. Before separating the C kb 11-1
parts, dribble lacquer thinner into the seam to
211SkidLoad1_#100673286.ai G G
dissolve the tape adhesive.

D H
Two stacked
blanks
A

A B
Apply glue to the bottom of the cab (C/D) but not Glue the cross brace (H) 1" below the corner of the
the ends of the cab sides (C) to allow the engine arms (G). After clamping, lower the arms to rest on
compartment (B) to expand and contract. the bench to keep them even.

woodmagazine.com 59
 ¼"

B
10-32 acorn nut
2 loader assembly
G
10-32 threaded rod
I 4¼" long

1"

10-32 acorn nut I

I

¼"

aside. Tilt the blade to 20° again, and

M H bevel-rip the square edge of the bucket
10-32 threaded rod 1¼" long
back to bring it to final width. Leave the
20° bevel blade tilted to 20° for the next step.
41⁄8"
3 Using double-faced tape, attach the
bucket bottom (L) to a 3⁄4×3×12"
carrier board with their square edges
K J M flush. Stand the carrier board on edge,
and bevel-rip the front edge of the
1¾"
bucket bottom [Drawing 2]. Spray-adhere
copies of the Bucket-Side Pattern to the
unused portion of the blank; then
L scrollsaw and sand the bucket sides (K)
1⁄16" 70° bevel to shape. Glue and clamp the bucket
20° ¼" together and, when the glue dries, sand
41⁄8" bevels the edges smooth and flush [Photo C].

4
21⁄8"
K Cut a 3⁄8×11⁄2×2" walnut blank and
spray-adhere two copies of the Pivot-
Block Pattern to it, aligned on opposite
2½"
edges. Scrollsaw and sand the pivot
blocks (M) to shape.
Assemble the pieces
1 Dry-fit the wheels and axle pegs to 5 Attach the pivot blocks (M) to the
arms (G) with threaded rod and
the chassis (A) [Drawing 1]. Cut a 41⁄4"
length of 10-32 threaded rod and attach
the loader arms (G) to the engine
2 To make the bucket back (J), sides
(K), and bottom (L), bevel-rip at 20°
one edge of a 1⁄4×21⁄4×14" maple blank.
acorn nuts [Drawings 2, 3]. Apply glue to
the flat faces of the pivot blocks, and
press the bucket (J/K/L) against them,
compartment (B) [Drawings 2, 3]. Secure Return the blade to 90°, crosscut the centered [Photo D].
the rod with acorn nuts. Glue the cross
brace (H) between the arms [Photo B].
LOADER ASSEMBLY
bucket back and bottom to length
[Drawing 2], and set the rest of the blank 6 Retrieve the roof (F) and glue it to
the cab sides (C), centered [Photo E].
Filename: 211 Skidloader
sand the whole bucket attach the bucket raise the roof
Lj 9-15, kb10-4, CR 11/1,
LENAME: 211SkidLoad2_#100673288.ai
te: 11-11
M kb11-1
rna J.

M
G
L J
K
F
J L

K
C D E
Lay a piece of 220-grit sandpaper on your bench Hold the bucket (J/K/L) against the pivot blocks After gluing the roof (F) in place, raise and lower
and sand the edges of the bucket sides (K) flush (M) for 2 minutes, then let the assembly sit the loader arms (G) to ensure they clear the sides
with the faces of the back (J) and bottom (L). undisturbed while the glue dries. of the roof.

60 WOOD magazine May 2012

 3 exploded view

10-32 threaded rod F

1¼" long
J 10-32 threaded rod
4¼" long Cutting Diagram
*H * I
K *M
A A *C *C
M
I B B
¾ x 5½ x 36" Walnut (1.5 bd. ft.)
10-32 threaded rod C B *Plane or resaw to the thicknesses
1¼" long E listed in the Materials List.
L J K D
E
I F G G
A ¼ x 5½ x 24" Maple (.5 bd. ft.)
G

10-32 acorn nuts Materials List

7 After the glue dries, remove the
hardware, tape off the tapered ends
of the axle pegs, and apply a finish. (We
and reassemble the skid loader, gluing
the axle pegs in place. Use a drop of blue
thread locker on each acorn nut.
Part
Chassis and cab
T
FINISHED SIZE
W L Matl. Qty.

sprayed on three coats of satin A* chassis 11⁄2" 3" 5" LW 1

polyurethane, buffing lightly between Produced by Craig Ruegsegger with Kevin Boyle B* engine 11⁄2" 3" 21⁄2" LW 1
compartment
coats with a 320-grit sanding sponge.) Project design: Kevin Boyle
C cab sides 1⁄4" 3" 31⁄8" W 2
After the finish dries, remove the tape Illustrations: Lorna Johnson
D cab base 1⁄4" 13⁄4" 31⁄8" M 1
E fenders 1⁄4" 7⁄8" 41⁄8" M 2

Build the whole set F roof 1⁄4" 23⁄4" 3" M 1

with this skid loader, the construction-grade the side-dump and lowboy trailers. (find all three Loader/bucket assembly
toy collection, shown below, expands to eight pieces in issue 205, July 2011.) the bulldozer, G* arms 1⁄4" 23⁄8" 53⁄4" M 2
pieces. the crane (issue 185, september 2008) excavator, motor grader, and skid loader each fit
lifts and lowers its bucket and spins. reach and on the lowboy. H cross brace 1⁄4" 3⁄4" 3" W 1
CUTTING DIAGRAM
LODED VIEW scoop with the articulated boom of the excavator if you don’t own these issues, you can I* joint plates 1⁄8" ⁄4"
3 11⁄4" W 4
File
(issue 194, november 2009). move dirt around download plans for these projectsFilename: 211 Skidloader
for a small fee J* bucket back 1⁄4" 1 ⁄4" 41⁄8"
3 M 1
with both the bulldozer (issue 199, september atFILENAME:
woodmagazine.com/cgtoys. Lj 1
2010) and motor grader (issue 208, november
11SkidLoad3_#100673289.ai and there’s
Date:
Lj 9-15, kb 10-4 CR
211SkidLoadCD_#100673290.ai
11-11 more: look for plans for a dump K* 11/1,
bucket sides 1⁄4" 15⁄8" 21⁄2" M 2
2011). for heavy hauling, the tractor pulls both truck in
Lorna J.a future issue. kb 11-1 L* bucket bottom 1⁄4" 21⁄8" 41⁄8" M 1
M* pivot blocks 3⁄8" 1⁄2" 11⁄4" W 2
*Parts initially cut oversize. See the instructions.

Materials key: LW–laminated walnut, W–walnut,

Crane
Bulldozer M–maple.
Supplies: Double-faced tape, spray adhesive, blue
thread locker.
Lowboy Bits: 45° chamfer, 1⁄8" round-over router bits; 3⁄16", 11⁄32"
drill bits; 1⁄4" Forstner bit.

Source
Hardware kit: Each kit contains 2" wheels (4), 15⁄8" axle
Tractor pegs (4), 3⁄8" washers (4), 10-32×12" threaded rod, 10-32
acorn nuts (6),. no. 2265,
Order kitMeisel Hardware Specialties,
RS-00922,
woodmagazine.com/skidloader
800-441-9870, meiselwoodhobby.com.

Excavator

More Resources
 Get a free plan for a jig to help rout
small parts safely on the router table:
Side-dump woodmagazine.com/routsmall
 Cut small parts safely on the tablesaw
Motor grader Skid loader with these free tips:
woodmagazine.com/sawsmall

woodmagazine.com 61
 5"
1½"
A
CHASSIS 10°

11⁄32" hole
FULL-SIZE
3⁄8" PATTERN

1½"

B
3⁄16" hole
ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
SIDE-VIEW
2½" FULL-SIZE
PATTERN

1⁄8" round-overs

¼"
¾"

¼"

1¾" 1

3"

3⁄8" 23⁄16"
C
CAB SIDE
FULL-SIZE PATTERN
(2 needed)
31⁄8"

4 PATTERNS

FILENAME: 211SkidLoadPP_#100673291.ai
Date: 11-11 WOOD magazine May 2012
62 Lorna J.
 3⁄16" hole
1⁄32" chamfers

G
LOADER ARM Location of I
FULL-SIZE
PATTERN
(2 needed) 23⁄8"

5¾"

3⁄16" hole

H
CROSS I
3" BRACE 1¼"
1⁄32" chamfer ¾" ¾" JOINT PLATE
FULL-SIZE FULL-SIZE
PATTERN PATTERN
(4 needed)

½"
2¾" 3⁄16"
K M
1¾"
BUCKET SIDE PIVOT
FULL-SIZE BLOCK
PATTERN 1¼" FULL-SIZE
(2 needed) PATTERN
3⁄16" (2 needed)
hole

woodmagazine.com Filename: 211 Skidloader

63
Lj 9-15, kb 10-4 CR 10/20,
CR 11/1, kb 12/9