Make Your Own Wooden Train Track
By Benjamen Johnson
So you think you can make your own wooden train tracks for cheaper than buying them. Well, unless you plan to make a few sets you’re probably wrong. Still, that’s no reason not to do it yourself. You can create custom track pieces or build a track that fills a whole room — your toddler would be the envy of every kid on the block.
To make wooden track out of the recommended white birch, maple, or European beech you need three different bits. One bit makes the female connector with a single pass, another makes the male connector in two passes, and the third makes the tracks themselves. The single-track bit works well for both straight and curved tracks, but if you want to spit out straight tracks in one pass, you want the dual-track bit.
Three different companies sell bit sets for making wooden train tracks: Rockler, MLCS, and Hartford Tool. Whiteside makes the Hartford Tool bits and possibly the MLCS bits. The origin of Rockler’s bits is less certain. Also, watch out: There’s a couple of different track styles. The MLCS bits make the tracks that work with Thomas the Tank Engine sets — if you own a train set like the one in the Rockler picture above, you probably want their set.
The individual bits will cost you $20 to $40 when purchased separately, but you can get kits with all four bits from Rockler and MLCS that’ll cost you around $100.
Train Track Router Bits [MLCS]
Train Track Router Bits [Rockler]
Train Track Router Bits [Hartville Tools]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
August 28th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I cant really get my head round what sort of jig you would need to make up to do say a tight 90 degree curve?
Cool idea though, a custom made one with a battery train pack would make a much better present than a off the shelf trackset.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:48 am
I can’t wait to get this,,…. this looks soooooooooo cool
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
[...] your own could cost you more in heartache and pain than going to Toys’r’Us ever could. Toolmonger has links to each manufacturer although they recommend using MLCS’ kit to ensure [...]
August 9th, 2009 at 12:39 am
I just buy the wood from Lowe’s or HD. Their stock straight pieces are about 1/16″ too narrow but work fine. I worried that the 1/32 narrower edges would break but they havent. A 1/4″ router cuts the grooves, a 1/2″ drill bit makes the female, and I use a craft saw for the male end and cut in the female. you could just cut the male end straight and screw in an eye hook but I enjoy the fine cuts. The cost? About $20 worth of maple made about as much track as my boy’s figure 8 starter kit. Heartache and Pain? Didn’t notice any. I can’t do sharp 90 degree turns but I can make just about anything else. I’ve also made a coal hopper (it’s very cool, a smashable (a la, Percy’s Choclate Mess) chocolate factory). If I could get my hands on decent wheels I’d make rolling stock too but the engines have to be the real deal.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Why is there nothing available for use as decent wheels? I’ve been looking for months but still have not come up with anything. If anyone comes up with something post it up, I would appreciate it.