Scooter for Kids

This project was designed for children to ride and enjoy. It is very simple to assemble and very entertaining for children. This is a perfect toy to give as a gift and is highly affordable. I made the scooter for my little brother as a present for Christmas, he enjoyed it so much! It made him want to spend more time outside, which is wonderful, because with this generation all they do is play electronics. Every kid should enjoy the great outdoors, even if that means a little assembly required. Also well making it, you can have your child help you, it will teach him/her valuable craftsman skills.

The Scooter for Kids is...

* A fun way to exercise.

* Great excuse for your child to play out side (away from phones and TV's).

* Easy assembly

* Affordable

* Great gift

* Imagination booster (my brother likes to think its a rocket)

What I expect of the Scooter for Kids end product...

* Durable

* fast

* safe

* non wobbly - stable

* easy to use

* makes a child smile :)

Every item can be found at Lowe's or Home Depot.

What you will need:

* Pinewood ~ 15"x.5"x5"

* Pinewood ~ 5"x1.5"x5"

* 2 ~ 2" Screw

* 4' PVC pipe

* Wood Glue

* 2 Skateboard Tires

* PVC Tee

* Paint (your choice of color)

* 7/8 Spade Bit for Electric Drill

* 2mm Drill Bit

* Screwdriver Bit

* 3/16mm Drill Bit

* 1mm Drill Bit

* 1mm Round Metal Rod 5" long

* Epoxy

*2 ~ 15mm screw

Required Tools:

* Band Saw

* Electric/Cordless Drill

* PVC Cutter

* Orbital Sander

* Table Vise Clamp

* 2 Trigger Clamps

* Heat Gun

* Hack Saw

* Hand Held Screwdriver

For this part, you are making the base that the child will stand on. To make this, get a piece of Pinewood 15"x.5"x 5", and on the end of the wood, mark where .5" and 4.5" are. Within the two markings, draw a semi circle (1" diameter). This is the front and where the first Skateboard tire will go (but won't go on yet.) On the other end, mark where 2" and 3.5" are. Using those marks, cut 1" deep (making a square shape), this will be the back and where the second Skateboard tire goes (but not yet.)

TIP: When cutting out the base, use a band saw and cut a row of small lines. Then, cut following the main line, making the pieces fall one by one.

The handle holder is an odd shape, and even odder to describe. Get a piece of Pinewood with the dimensions of 5"x 1.5" x 5". On the far left, vertically, mark where 2.5" is. Make a 120* clockwise angle and draw a straight line that is 4.5" long. Now going back to the bottom left corner, horizontally make a line going to the right 3". At the end of your line on the bottom go up 2" (when cutting with Band Saw curve this part slightly.) Where the two lines end (the top and bottom) make a rectangle, the height is 2.5". The top part of the rectangle is 1" and so is the bottom. It should look like the picture above. Once you have all your lines made, cut it out with the Band Saw.

TIP: When cutting out the square, cut a bunch of little lines and then cut out the main line you drew. This method makes it easier for the machine and for you to cut longer lines more straight.

Get the Orbital Sander and start to sand your Base and Handle Holder. Make sure to round the edges, so the child doesn't accidentally cut its leg or foot well scootering.

On the handle holder there is a small rectangle, this rectangle is where your handles is going to go threw. Using two trigger clamps, clamp your handle holder flat to a work table (make sure the top of the handle holder is pointing towards you.) Using a pencil, mark where the center of the rectangle's top is. Then using your electric/cordless drill and your 7/8 Spade Bit, drill a hole where the mark is.

Now you are going to attach your base and your handle holder together. First, you have to know where your base and handle holder will line up. So on the front of the base (where the semi circle is) put your handle holder on the middle edge of the semi circle. Using a pencil trace the area of the handle holder, then take the handle holder off. Using the 2mm bit and the electric/cordless drill, drill two holes in the middle of the rectangle you drew. Now put the handle holder back on top of the base, inside the rectangle. Take your pencil and put it underneath the base inside each of the holes you just made, leaving a mark. Take your handle holder off and drill a hole in each of the marks (going less then half an inch in). Pick up the base, using the Drill and a Screwdriver Bit, underneath the base (so the screws are sticking up) drill the screw 3/4 of the way in. Get your handle holder and put the screws in the holes you made, and drill it the rest of the way. There will be a space (like in picture) between the base and handle holder, the wood glue will go in the space (but not yet). Put your handle holder inside a table vise clamp and tighten (so the bottom of the base is sticking up). Put wood glue inside the gap, then screw the screws the rest of the way, so there isn't a gap anymore.

To make the handles, get the 4' PVC pipe and mark where 2.5' is. Then using the PVC pipe cutter cut on the line, take the 2.5' pipe and put it in the bottom of the PVC tee. Take the remains of the pole and find the middle, cut it in half with the PVC cutter, and put those two sides in the left and right of the PVC tee.

With the color of your choice, paint the base and the handle holder. Also, it will need more then one layer, so make sure to wait till it has dried thoroughly to put the next layer on.

On the back-side of the base (the side of the square cut out), use the 3/16 mm drill bit to drill a hole from the side, to the cut square area. Do the same to the other side as well, BUT be careful to align the holes together, or the metal rod that holds the tire will be crooked and wont work well. Take the 3/16 mm metal rod and put it threw one of the holes. Put one of the tires in the square cut out, then push the metal rod threw the tire and threw the other drill hole. Then cover the ends with Epoxy, let it dry for a day, then repaint that area.

Cut a piece of PVC pipe 3" long and then draw a line down the middle all the way around. Cut it down the middle, to do so, put the PVC pipe sideways inside a table vise clamp. Use the hack saw to cut down the middle, following the line. Take the tee piece that holds the handles off of the handle bar (this makes it easier to put the handle back in its proper place, once the back wheel is on.)On your handle holder pole, mark where 2" from the bottom is. This line indicates where your half poles will be placed on your hand bar pole. Align one of the half PVC pipes with the line on the handle bar pole. Using the 3/16 drill bit and the Electric Drill, drill a hole in the middle of the two. Repeat the same process to the other side, making sure the holes align with the holes on the other side. Place a 15mm screw in the hole of the sawed PVC pipe and the bottom of the handle holder, screw it in using a Screwdriver. Repeat this process to the other piece of cut PVC pipe on the other side of the pole.

As you can probably tell, the front tire holder is to small to hold a tire. Use a Hot Air Gun to melt the cut PVC pipe (recommend doing this on a flat and cemented area, like the floor.) Once the PVC is melted enough to form it into a different shape, put a flat piece of scrap wood against the melted PVC pipe and the flat surface area. Put pressure on the wood, wait till the PVC has cooled. Do the same step to the other side. Once both sides have cooled, place the Skateboard wheel in the middle of the two cut PVC pipes. Mark where the hole in the tire aligns with the two cut PVC pipes. On the two markings, use the 1mm Drill Bit and the Electric Drill to drill a hole in those areas. Put your Skateboard tire in the middle of the two cut PVC pipes, and slide the 1mm Metal Rod threw the middle of the tire and the two holes on the cut PVC pipes. Put some Epoxy on the ends of the Metal Rod to ensure it's staying. Slip the pole back into the pole holder, and put the handle bars back on ( the PVC tee).

Now you have a fun scooter for your child to enjoy! I hope this Instructable helped you and brought a smile to your child. Please like and share it :)