How to Make a Rainstick Out of Cactus
Cactus rain sticks were originally created by tribal peoples including the Aztecs, Chilean natives and some of the tribes of Africa. Rain sticks were thought to bring the rain during ritual ceremonies. However, although they are still used in ritual ceremonies, cactus rain sticks are now more commonly used as musical instruments, due to the unique sound they make. With a little time and effort, you can have a traditional-looking cactus rain stick of your own.
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Things You'll Need
- Dried or drying cactus
- Knife or saw
- Cactus needles
- Steel rod
- Cactus seeds or small pebbles
- Wooden plug
Instructions
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1
Find a dead cactus that is soft but not completely dried out. Traditional rain sticks were made from the skeleton of the capado cactus, and all cacti are not suitable for making rain sticks. Check with a local plant expert to find out which cacti in your area would be best suited for this project.
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Cut a section of cactus off using a knife or saw. The section you cut should be the same length as the rain stick you want to make.
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Remove the needles. If the cactus has already lost its needles, gather the needles from the ground, and put them aside for use later.
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Hollow out the inside of the cactus by pushing the steel rod through it. Take as much of the center out of the cactus as possible without damaging the integrity of the walls. Depending on the size and width of your cactus, your wall should remain 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick. For a large cactus, a 1-inch-thick wall may be more appropriate. Use your best judgment.
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Push the sharp end of one of the needles you pulled out or gathered into the cactus through one of the needle follicles at the top of your section. The needle follicles are the holes where the needles used to be. Continue to insert needles, pushing in one needle at a time. To keep a traditional look and sound, create a spiral design with the needles around the outside of the cactus as you move down its length.
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6
Plug one end of your rain stick with a wooden plug of the same diameter as the hole. You want the plug to seal the hole. If you do not have a wooden plug, use a piece of cactus to fill the hole.
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Stand the cactus on the plugged end. Pour your cactus seeds or small pebbles into the top opening. The number of seeds or pebbles you need will vary based on the size of your rain stick. Fill it up no more than a quarter full, as the movement of the seeds or pebbles are what help generate the sound. For an 18-inch-long rain stick, you'd need approximately 1/2 cup to 1 cup of pebbles or cactus seeds.
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Plug the other end of your rain stick with another wooden plug or piece of cactus.
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9
Allow the cactus to dry out completely, and enjoy your rain stick.
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Tips & Warnings
If your needles bend when you try to push them through the needle follicles, you're not pushing the needle through a follicle, or your cactus and needles are not dry enough.
Traditionally, glue is not used when inserting the wooden plug or piece of cactus into the end of the rain stick. However, a natural glue, such as those used for fresh leaves or flowers in craft projects, can be used. Natural glue is usually available at your neighborhood craft store.
If you're not sure you have enough pebbles or cactus seeds in your rain stick, or you're afraid you have too many, cap off the end of your rain stick temporarily and give it a gentle shake. The sound should give you an idea whether you need more or less cactus seeds or pebbles.
Cactus needles can be very sharp. Be careful not to prick yourself.
