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Wood toys
Pope County Tribune - Starbuck Times
Written by Chad Koenen - Starbuck Times New Editor   
Friday, 23 October 2009 10:38

Local retired highway worker becomes a wood carving enthusiast


A former employee of the highway department, Don Dullum has always had a soft spot in his heart for big machines. ¶ "I guess I've just always been interested in trucks and tractors," he said. ¶ While Dullum retired from the highway department approximately 10-years-ago, the former state employee has found a way to merge his love of tractors with another passion-woodworking. Without the aid of a kit, Dullum has hand carved between 15-20 fully operational wood trucks, tractors, semis and trailers, in the comfort of his own garage.

Other than some of the smaller tires which Dullum purchases, everything from gathering the wood for the toys to carving the intricate pieces to the final finishing touches is built by Dullum's hands. Each toy features moveable parts from the tires on a truck to the arms on a skid loader. All of the toys feature wood purchased at local lumber yards, Dullum mainly uses pine wood to mold each toy.

He doesn't have a set schedule when making each toy, instead, Dullum just heads to his garage to work on the toys whenever inspiration hits.

"You don't do them all in one day," he said. "When I get in the mood I go out and do some more."

Many of the wood toys he has created mimic that of the machinery Dullum has either driven for the highway department or for his nephew who is a farmer near Lowry.

Other than donating some wood toys for a Habitat for Humanity auction a few years ago, Dullum said he has only sold one of the toys he created. In fact, Dullum said he has little interest in ever trying to sell the wood toys on a mass scale. After all, creating the wood toys is less about making money and more a way for the retired highway worker to merge a love of big machines with his hobby of woodworking.