How to Make Indian Rain Sticks
A rain stick is traditionally made in Chile out of a hardened hollow cactus. Cactus spikes are driven into the inside of the plant. The ends are capped once lava pebbles have been inserted inside, and the outside is sealed and painted. When the rain stick is in motion, the lava pebbles cascade down and among the spikes, creating the sound of falling water. Making your own rain stick can be an interesting cross-cultural project.
Things You'll Need
- Long and thick cardboard shipping tube
- Polyurethane
- Paintbrush
- Leather
- Leather shears
- Pen or pencil
- Construction adhesive
- Leather cording
- Spiked mat
- Lava pebbles
- Large rubber band
- Acrylic paints
- 1/4-inch artist paintbrush
Instructions
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1
Select a long and thick cardboard shipping tube so that it will be sturdy for handling. Remove any stickers. Paint the outside of the tube with polyurethane and allow to dry for 24 hours.
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2
Cut two leather circles that are twice the circumference of the tube using leather shears. Place one leather circle facedown on the worktable. Place the tube end centered and trace around the circle. Cut thin wedges around the leather from the outside edge to this line.
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3
Apply construction adhesive around the bottom edge of the tube and lift the leather flaps, gluing them to the outside of the tube. Wrap the glued leather with leather cording for a nice finish.
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4
Cut a spiked rubber mat to fit the inside diameter of the tube. You can often find discarded car mats with rubber nubs for free in junk yards, or from family or friends. Insert the mat with the spikes inward.
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5
Pour two to three cups of lava pebbles into the tube. Lava pebbles are very light rocks. They are available at most home stores, but sometimes are called "vermiculite."
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6
Place your second round leather piece over the open end and secure temporarily with a large rubber band. Test the sound of your rain stick. You may need to add or remove pebbles for the best sound.
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7
Mark, notch and glue your leather end in place once you are satisfied with the sound of your rain stick. Wrap the leather with cording for a nice look.
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Paint your rain stick using acrylic paints and a 1/4-inch artist paintbrush. Often, rain sticks are painted to reflect images, animals, plants, symbols, patterns or shapes that are important to the person making the rain stick. The finished rain stick should be personal and symbolic.
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Tips & Warnings
This type of cross-cultural craft project is an excellent way to learn about the art and beliefs of other cultures and share this with your children or friends.
