How to Design Whirligigs
Whirligigs are small contraptions that move when held in the wind. They are usually used as toys for small children, although they are also used for decorative purposes. The two main sections of a whirligig are the propeller and the shaft. The shaft is the stick on which the propeller is pivoted, and is used to hold the whirligig. The propeller is the area which catches the wind and spins. Designing a whirligig can be an enjoyable activity that does not require specialized knowledge or equipment.
Things You'll Need
- Thin wooden sticks
- Wooden shaft
- Card
- Nail (optional)
- Pin (optional)
- Glue
- Disc of wood
Instructions
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1
Decide on the purpose of your whirligig. If it is just for decorative purposes, then it can be a simple design, made attractive with colors and different types of colored papers. If you wish to design something more complex, you will need some additional material.
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2
Find a shaft. The shaft can be almost any material, though a wooden stick is recommended as it will providing rigidity and allow a tack to be pushed into it.
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3
Build the framework of the propeller by gluing thin wooden sticks to a circle of wood. The wooden sticks should splay outwards like the spokes on a bike wheel, at even intervals. Wait for the glue to dry completely before proceeding.
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4
Decorate the rectangular pieces of card with the color or design that you wish. The pieces of card should be the same size as the thin wooden sticks. The design can be anything, although making the pieces of card too heavy will prevent the whirligig from working optimally.
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5
Finish the propeller by gluing the rectangular pieces of card to the wooden spokes. The card should be glued onto the propeller at an angle, so as to allow them to catch the wind. An angle close to 45 degrees is optimal. Glue the card so that half is attached to the stick, and half is further out. This will allow for strength as well as a large surface area.
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Design a background for your whirligig. For example, if you have designed the propeller to look like a set of running legs, cut out the picture of a runner and align it so that the body of the runner hangs above the legs. Either attach the picture directly to the shaft, or mount it on a piece of card and attach to the shaft.
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7
Push a pin or nail through the centre of the propeller and into the shaft. Drill a hole in the centre of the propeller if necessary; the hole should be slightly larger than the pin or nail to allow for spinning. Place a piece of putty over the end of the nail or pin if it shows through the shaft.
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References
- Photo Credit wind turbine image by Jim Parkin from Fotolia.com
