Directions to Make Rain Sticks From Cardboard Tubes
Rain sticks are South American instruments best known for their soothing sound which closely resembles trickling rainfall. Traditionally, a rain stick is made up of hallow bamboo or cactus wood that is partially filled with pebbles and pierced with thorns. As the bamboo or cactus wood is rotated, the pebbles fall against the thorns, thus creating the trickling sound. Rain sticks can also be made at home with a cardboard tube in place of the bamboo or cactus wood. The final product of a cardboard rain stick is nearly identical to that of one made with traditional materials.
Instructions
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1
Pound nails up and down the entire length of the tube with a hammer. The nails should be just long enough that they reach from one side of the tube to the other, but not so long that the pointed end sticks out of the side. Each nail should go in at a different angle and be spaced out between ½ inch and 1 inch.
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2
Rub your hand up and down the tube to make sure the sharp ends of nails do not stick out. If they do stick out, cover them with packing tape to ensure you will not cut your skin on them. The amount of tape it takes to cover the nails depends on how far they stick out.
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3
Cover one end of the tube with packing tape. If you are using a tube that has plastic end caps, then you can use those instead of the tape.
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4
Fill the tube about halfway with rice. The amount of rice doesn't need to be exact, so use your best judgment.
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5
Cover the other end of the tube with packing tape or a plastic end cap.
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Tips & Warnings
If you use thin cardboard tubes from paper towel or toilet paper rolls, you can push toothpicks through the cardboard rather than using nails.
If you use cardboard that is 1/2 inch or thicker, you should drill holes for the nails with an electric drill. Make sure the drill bit it slightly smaller than the size of the nails.
Paint the outside of the tube for a more personalized touch.
