Instructions for Making Wood Whirligigs
Wood whirligigs are part of the American woodworking tradition. Their heritage dates to Colonial times. Since that time, craftsmen and hobbyists have been making these ingenious designs for novelty. In addition to their amusement value, whirligigs allow the viewer to know wind conditions at a quick glance. Woodworkers can use their imagination and whimsy to create nearly anything to convey motion. Subjects typically depict rural life; however the urban hobbyist may choose to depict planes, trains or automobiles.
Things You'll Need
- 1 x 12 x 18-inch cedar board
- Pencil
- Coping saw
- 120-grit sandpaper
- 1 x 3 x 12-inch cedar board
- 1 x 3 x 6-inch cedar board
- Screw gun
- Four 1½-inch self-tapping wood screws
- Drill
- ¼-inch drill bit
- Wood glue
- 6¼ x 3½-inch dowels
- 3½ x 1-inch dowel
- 1¼ x 1 x 24-inch cedar board
- Miter saw
- Glue
- Protractor
- 2-inch copper nail
- Wood finish
Instructions
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Instructions for Making Wood Whirligigs
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1
Use a pencil to draw the outline of an airplane on the 1 x 12 x 18 cedar board. Cut the outline of the airplane out using a coping saw. Sand the edges with 120-grit sandpaper.
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2
Set the 1 x 3 x 12 cedar board flat on the work surface in front of you. The board will form the wings of the plane. Use a tape measure and pencil to measure and mark the center of the board. Position the airplane outline cutout on the center of this board. Flip the two upside down while holding them in place. Use a screw gun and two 1½-inch self-tapping wood screws to fasten the two parts together.
Position the 1 x 3 x 6 cedar board two inches in from the tail end of the airplane. Measure and mark the center of the board. Center the board in the center of the airplane body. Use two 1½-inch self-tapping wood screws to fasten the board to the airplane body. -
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3
Use a drill and ¼-inch drill bit to drill a 1-inch deep hole in the nose of the airplane. Drill a 1-inch deep hole into the bottom center of the wings between the two screws that fasten the wings to the body of the airplane.
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4
Apply wood glue to the end of one ¼ x 3½-inch dowel. Insert that end into the center hole on the bottom of the wings and body of the airplane. Wipe off any excess glue. Apply wood glue to the end of another 3½-inch dowel. Insert that end into the nose of the airplane. Wipe off any excess glue.
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5
Measure and mark the center of the 3½ x 1-inch dowel. Use a drill and ¼-inch drill bit to drill a hole through the center. Measure and mark four equidistant points on the dowel. Drill a one-inch deep holes into each of these four points. Apply glue to the ends of four ¼ x 3 ½-inch dowels. Insert the dowels into each of these four holes. Wipe off any excess glue. This structure forms the propeller assembly.
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6
Cut the ¼ x 1 x 24-inch cedar board into four 6-inch pieces with a miter saw.
Drill a ¼-inch hole one inch deep into one end of each of the four 6-inch pieces.
Place glue on the ends of dowels on the propeller assembly. Insert one 6-inch piece onto each dowel of the propeller assembly. Use a protractor to position each piece at approximately a 15-degree angle. Wipe off any excess glue. Allow to dry for the length of time specified on the glue bottle instructions. -
7
Attach the propeller to the nose of the airplane body using a 2-inch copper nail and a hammer. Drive the nail in almost all the way, but still allow room for the propeller to spin.
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8
Lightly sand all wood surfaces with 120-grit sandpaper. Apply a wood finish according to the instructions on the wood finish of your choice. To mount, drill a ¼-inch hole 1 ½ inches deep into the mounting surface. Place the dowel in the bottom of the airplane body into the hole in the mounting surface. The airplane body will swivel with the direction of the wind. The propeller will spin with the power of the wind.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Get creative with wood whirligig designs and use these basic instructions to make even more designs.
Always wear protective glasses when woodworking.
Follow tool safety instructions carefully.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit old barn image by SSGuess from Fotolia.com
