Step-by-Step Instructions for Building a Toothpick Bridge

Toothpicks

The abillity to build a toothpick bridge demonstrates a certain level of finesse, some architectural prowess and more than a modicum of patience. It is a hobby that can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone of any age, so long as he is capable of following step-by-step instructions. Several models of bridges may be built with toothpicks, including the catenary suspension bridge, which is a curved structure.

Things You'll Need

• Toothpicks
• Wood glue
• Pencil
• Graph paper

Instructions

1. Create homogenous units with which to build the bridge. This can be achieved by gluing together toothpicks back-to-front -- the opposite ends should be placed next to each other.

2. Design the bridge. Two curves should be drawn on the graph paper, one inside the other, the inside edge being smaller than the outside. Straight edges should be drawn at each end of the bridge so that they intersect perpendicularly with the lines of both curves.

3. Place the toothpick building units so that they correspond with the drawn curves and glue them together. After the first two curves dry, repeat the process so that altogether there are four curves built of toothpicks.

4. Connect the four curves via toothpick beams. The inner and outer curves should be placed parallel to each other. The two inner curves should be connected via toothpick beams placed perpendicularly to each other. The outer curves can each be connected to their respective inner curves via building units that have been glued in the shape of a "V."

References

• Pi Symphony: The Toothpick Bridge
• The Toothpick Bridge: Design and Build Strong Toothpick Bridges