Make Fun!: Create Your Own Toys, Games, and Amusements

by Bob Knetzger

You don't need to own a factory to make toys. Author and toymaker Bob Knetzger has been making fun stuff all his life with simple technology like vacuum forming and mold-making. In an age where makers are tantalized by the capabilities of 3d printers and other digital fab technology, this book takes you back to old-school hand tools, simple electronics, and working with metal and plastic to make toys every bit as good as those you can find in a big-box store. This book has something for everyone, from a marble maze to a talking booby trap; from custom cookie cutters to an "EZ Make" oven. Discover the basic principles of science, electronics, and engineering through hands-on projects that range from easy to more challenging... and are always fun!

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2016

Reviews

[to'c · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little peek into how the mind of a toymaker works. I especially enjoyed his electronic dice. Where I would have Incorporated a little microcontroller he got by with nine small wires. Pretty dang neat.

Note that I didn't actually do any of these projects. But they will certainly inform some projects I have in mind.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting more projects and less history of games and less hacking of this that already existed. I was looking for more a how-to make them from scratch book so I only rated it low as it didn't fit my needs. Also, many of the parts listed in the projects were hard to find or hard to procure in bulk. I wouldn't recommend it for anything other than personal use. (i.e. It's not designed for groups or classes.)

[Adam Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. Lots of techniques and materials I didn't know how to work with.