How to Make a Carnival Spin Wheel
A carnival spin wheel is a sectioned wheel that is often used to pick prizes or as a betting game with prizes. The wheels are usually mounted on vertical posts for easy viewing. You can make a basic carnival spin wheel using any thickness of plywood and a heavy, plant pot base. You'll also need enough woodworking experience to cut an even circle from the plywood.
Things You'll Need
- Plywood
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Band saw
- Lag bolt
- Drill
- Craft paints
- Paintbrush
- Two-by-four, 5 feet long
- 2 washers
- Heavy, large plant pot
- Sand
Instructions
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1
Trace a circle on the plywood that is 2 to 4 feet in diameter. Cut out the circle with a band saw. Mark the center of the circle and use a drill to make a hole slightly larger in diameter than your lag bolt.
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2
Place the circle on a flat surface and mark 12 equal pie-slice-shaped sections around the circle. Carefully paint each section in alternating colors that correspond to whatever game the wheel will be used for. Let dry.
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3
Place the two-by-four flat on a workbench. Measure 3 inches down from the top of the wood and mark the spot. Take your wheel and position it so that the wheel's hole is centered width-wise on the two-by-four and the top of the wheel does not extend above the 3-inch mark. This extra area helps keep the wheel stable. Mark the spot of the hole.
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4
Use the drill to create a hole in the two-by-four where you marked the spin wheel hole. Make the hole slightly smaller than your lag bolt. Slide a coordinating washer on the lag bolt. Add the carnival spin wheel, with the front facing towards the bolt head, and another washer. Screw the lag bolt loosely into the two-by-four hole so that the wheel can spin.
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5
Stand your two-by-four up in a large and heavy plant pot to the carnival spin wheel is at the top. Fill the pot with sand, dirt or pebbles to create a heavy stand. Make sure that the two-by-four stands solid and straight.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to build a carnival spin wheel that has pegs to click against a flexible wedge and slow the wheel down, you need some short, wooden dowels and a large plastic lid. Secure a peg at the middle of each section on the outer rim of the wheel. Cut a large arrowhead shape out of a large plastic lid, such as a whipped topping or cream cheese tub lid. Secure the plastic to the top of the stand so that it clicks against the pegs.
Make sure your plant pot is deep enough for the two-by-four to be solidly contained by the sand, dirt or pebbles.
