How to Make a Professional-Quality Rain Stick

The Chilean Indians used rain sticks to affect the weather. This rain stick may or may not have that effect - that depends on how good you are with it and if the rain gods are listening.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bamboo Skewers
• Brushes
• Polyurethane Finishes
• PVC Pipe
• Acrylic Paints
• Beads
• Acrylic Paints
• Dried Beans
• Unpopped Popcorn
• 1/8-inch Drill Bits
• Painter's Caulks
• Sandpaper
• Variable-speed Drills
• Sandpaper

1. Draw a spiral from one end to the other on a 3- to 6-foot length of PVC pipe 2 inches larger in diameter.

2. Drill holes along the spiral every 1/4 inch. The drill bit should be just a little smaller than the diameter of a bamboo skewer; you want to be able to hammer the skewer in tightly, but not so tight it splinters or breaks.

3. Cut bamboo barbecue skewers a little shorter in length than the diameter of the tube.

4. Hammer the skewer pegs into the holes.

5. Use sandpaper to smooth any ends of the pegs that stick out.

6. Decorate the rain stick with paints, papers or tissue paper.

7. Apply a coat of water-based polyurethane when the paints and glues are dry. Add more coats to make it shinier. Sand lightly between coats with very fine sandpaper.

8. Cap one end of the tube.

9. Put some unpopped popcorn, beads, dry beans, pebbles, seeds, aquarium gravel, rice or other dry filler into the tube.

10. Put the other cap on.

11. Experiment with the amount of filler for a sound you like. When you're satisfied, use painter's caulk to glue the caps on.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask plumbers, electricians, and plumbing or electrical supply stores for scrap PVC.
• Use rubber stoppers for the ends. You'll find these in the plumbing department of the hardware store or at a plumbing supply store.
• Black PVC pipe is more lightweight, easier to work with, and louder than the white type.

on 11/22/2005 We adapted the directions about the materials. For our classroom project, we substituted cardboard tubes, masking tape and thin nails with flat heads. Most students could make the rain stick themselves. The cardboard was also easy to decorate.