Building the Magician Whirligig

This video chronicles the build of my 2014 Whirligig Wars entry. Although not a traditional build video, I think the process will be interesting to anyone wanting to make their own whirligig. This was the first one I built so it was a learning process for me and I wanted to share what I learned with you.
Regards,
Bob

[@billmclaughlin8438]

For your first whirlyGig you did a great job on design, mechanics and execution. Your video is also well done. Clear, concise and to the point. Really enjoyed it as well. 👍

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you Bill. Regards, Bob

[@c.a.m.6276]

That is a great idea for a whirligig. You have done a great job. Tks for the inspiration, I'll run to my humble shop to starting making the plans for this one. Congrats!!!

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you. Regards, Bob

[@walnutcreekwoodworksofjack3520]

Nice work and idea. I really like the card painted on the propeller. Right now I making Twirliegigs from craft sticks. Have to thought of painting the other side of card on other side of Propeller? Made print that side from printer.

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you. I haven’t made one of these in a long time. I need to make another, they are fun to create and watch in the wind. Regards, Bob

[@woodysdiy8998]

Great build there, i have got lots of inspiration from it.Well explained thank you.

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you. Regards, Bob

[@alihobby]

Love this! will have to have a go at making one of these! great job.

[@RJBWoodTurner]

+alihobby Thank you. Regards, Bob

[@valborchardt3596]

Huge thumbs up, love it

[@RJBWoodTurner]

+Val Borchardt Thank you Val. Bob

[@jaredfekete8651]

Fun video to watch. Very Clever!!

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you Jared. Regards, Bob

[@thomasgilbert9347]

Looks great. I like the magician theme.

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you, I went with that theme because my youngest son loves magic. Regards, Bob

[@paulnorris820]

I do realize this is an older video BUT I am just now approaching retirement and have had an idea of making WGs as a retirement hobby for several years. working long hours and moving often with the job did not allow exploring my end game until recently so I am behind on learning but this video gave me a HUGE leg up. Nice build and after reading several comments below I would like to know some of the lessons you learned from making this (your 1st) WG. THANKS FOR SHARING!

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Hello Paul, I have to be honest, this build was so long ago and I haven’t made a second WG so I honestly don’t remember much about it. I’m sorry I can’t be more help. Regards, Bob

[@SterlingsWoodcrafts]

Great Job explaining the whirligig, I could of used this 2 weeks ago lol, Thanks for sharing, not many whirligig build videos out there, You did Great

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you Sterling, I had the same issue while building mine, no build videos, lots of demo vids. I used Steve Ramsey's video and I had a book I bought years ago at a used book store on WGs. This was the first one I ever built and I have some ideas to make it easier next year. Thank you for the comment and complement. Regards, Bob

[@luiscarrascofernandez1399]

Excelente 😊

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you.

[@captaing5166]

Great idea thanks for sharing.

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you.

[@nelsoneduardocarrenocastro6735]

Eselente explicación gracias

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you. Regards, Bob

[@georgecooke2600]

Great job and pretty work!

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you George. Regards, Bob

[@SalihArtAndTech]

It's very cool. Great work 👍

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you.

[@danielmurzellotheunknownma7481]

Hello👋🙋‍♂️ there Amazing and very interesting project... Super like👌👌👌 Well explained.. Thanks for sharing. Do keep posting👍 Warm regards and best👍💯 wishes The UnknownManCub 👍👨‍🏭😎

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you Daniel. Regards, Bob

[@marcusdenice1557]

great video, thank you

[@RJBWoodTurner]

+Marzo Buffon Thank you. Regards, Bob

[@athiker7209]

I like this whirligig. Enjoyed the video!

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you Ron, It was really fun to make especially since it was the first one I ever attempted. The whole thing was a learning process. Regards, Bob

[@rogercarnight8108]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you Roger. Regards, Bob

[@juvenilmendes]

Muito legal gostei 👏👏👏👏

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you. 😃 Regards, Bob

[@carlford8568]

I was wonder how you made your cam bends so sharp and how you kept the cam shaft so straight. Cheers Carl

[@RJBWoodTurner]

I roll it on the top of my table saw with one hand and lightly tap it with a hammer looking for high spots. It takes some time and patience but works well. Regards, Bob

[@gwheyduke]

Great whirligig. I enjoyed watching. I've made a few whirligigs in my shop also. I use a round hub propeller. Nice traditional propeller design.

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you, I haven't made one since but I have been getting the itch to make another. Their really fun and I'm blown away at the ideas and designs I see others make. Regards, Bob

[@paigefive]

Beautiful job looks great keep up the good work!!!!!! Plus that was nice of you to do the Make-A-Wish foundation!!!!

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you William, This new YT tool is showing me all the comments I missed over the years. Apologies for not responding sooner. I hope you're still watching and enjoying my videos. If you haven't checked out the channel for a while, please stop by and see some of the newer videos. I've made a bunch of the over the years. Regards, Bob

[@96453281]

Magic!!!

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you Johnny. Regards, Bob

[@aaltan]

Nice video, thanks.. Even though you say you are not an expert on these you have done a very nice example. Meantime, I was wondering if it could have been possible to hide the wire that moves the arm... like the shaft being concealed in the groove at the bottom, the wire commanding the arm, could have been hidden inside the "body" maybe... What do you think?

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you Ahmet, This new YT tool is showing me all the comments I missed over the years. Apologies for not responding sooner. I hope you're still watching and enjoying my videos. If you haven't checked out the channel for a while, please stop by and see some of the newer videos. I've made a bunch of the over the years. Regards, Bob

[@near-0907]

Intreasting whirligig... I´m doing a school projekt and we are building whirligigs. I think I will do this one. Greetings from Sweden =)

[@RJBWoodTurner]

+Mr.Nils [SWE] Hello, Please do and send me a picture I'd love to see your version of it. Regards, Bob

[@near-0907]

Sure =)

[@gattbe5611]

I would have liked to see how you installed the bushings for the shaft as they are a critical part for the whirlygig to work easily.. the idea of the shaft laying in the groove does not work well because of the friction, ..nice job ..Bill

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you Bill.

[@mr.gadgets8200]

Great whirligig, just found it on the net. Any chance you could share the magician pattern. Can't find it anywhere. Thanks

[@RJBWoodTurner]

+Mr. Gadgets Hello, I just took a pattern of a guy with a moving arm and put a dowel in his hand. I got the rabbit from a clip art off the internet and just winged the hat. There really isn't a plan for this one. Regards, Bob

[@davebentley4829]

i dont have video cam,so there is no video of me making it,just a film of it working

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you Dave.

[@freewoodencrosses]

I love this idea, so clever, however, from a distance the rabbit would probably not be visible..

[@RJBWoodTurner]

+Dennis Adams Thank you. Regards, Bob

[@willemkossen]

I really like the Wgig. The way you have every detail covered. I was wondering about a few things though. How does the mechanism keep the wires that go up in place? Isnt it possible for them to slide off the part that moves and stop it working that way? Did you take any precautions to prevent that from happening? And did you somehow lubricate the groove the rod runs through? And to prevent rust seizing up the rod? Might not matter in a desert, but where i live, moisture would be an issue. (The Rainy Netherlands) The mechanism makes a bit of noise, a clicking sound. Is that of concern as something is touching and might wear out in time? Maybe I'm overthinking this. Don't get me wrong, i really like this Wgig a lot. Just trying to learn in case my kids force me to build one some time in the future :). I want to actually, my grandfather had one in the garden some 35 years ago... Nostalgia...

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you for the questions Willem, I am no whirligig expert but here are my attempts at answering. The wires that move up and down from the cam to the moving parts are loosely wrapped multiple times around the cam. Wrapping them multiple times allows them to move back an forth on the cam but prevents them from slipping off at the 90 degree corner. The cam is a wire bent at four 90 degree angles. This is a terrible diagram of the cam but I can't post a picture: ----- ----- |____| On the arm of the magician, I used an eye screw and loosely twisted the wire around it so it wouldn't bind. The rabbit has a hole drilled in the bottom and I C/A glued the wire into the hole. I did not use any lubricant because I really didn't know what would work well with wood and steel together. I am sure if you know of a good lubricant you could apply it. I think rusting will only add to the Folk Art appearance of the whirligig. The wires that go from the cam to the moving parts were aluminum, that's just what I had laying around. As for binding, I think the wood swelling would probably be more of an issue. Not really sure. I believe the clicking is caused by an error I made in bending the second cam. The back side is a little longer than the front. I tried to correct it but could never get it right. As time passes and the wood wears away a little, it may quite down. I hope this information helps and I hope you do build one some day. They are fun and each one is very individual. Regards, Bob

[@willemkossen]

Thanks for your elaborate answer. One day i build one with two musicians playing together. Thats my other hobby, making music. I think you're right that swelling of the wood might be an issue. Time will tell. I think any type of wax that doesnt harden would probably be a good lubricant, as would old fashioned graphite powder. I dont know how long it would hold up though. Thanks for sharing your methods. Learning is the purpose of life, right after sharing...

[@user-st5tj8ws6o]

Can you tell me what size steel is your cam

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Hello, It’s been a while but I believe it was a 1/8” rod. Regards, Bob

[@user-st5tj8ws6o]

@@RJBWoodTurner Many thanks paul uk

[@ireneduda5065]

I am new to this kind of crafting, I have worked with wood, however, I have never attempted to complete a whirligig, do you have any suggestions on starting out?

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Go to your public library, they will have books with patterns. That’s what I did. 😃

[@GMacko]

I am currently researching in making WG's, but am going to be using plastic as much as possible. Paint peel and warp should be better. Also, I am going to use a gearing system on the prop - blade turns 4-5 times for every work shaft turn. Would work in much lower wind, have higher torque and would not shake apart in high winds. Write me and we can share ideas? [e-mail]

[@davebentley4829]

ive made a gig my self,but it just wont turn round,ive put bigger blads on it,and also put the rod ina plasic pips to make it turn more smoothy,but it just wont turn round,i, m goint oil it in the morning,if it still wont go round,i,ll bin it and buy one.

[@RJBWoodTurner]

+dave bentley That was the hardest part for me too. The less contact the central rod makes the easier it will spin. Regards, Bob

[@davebentley4829]

ive put a video on here now of the one i made

[@RJBWoodTurner]

There are quite a few Dave Bentley's on KZbin. Can you please send me your video link. I'd like to watch your whirligig build. Regards, Bob

[@philfrederickiii2320]

Within the tight slot for the rabbit, how does the wire attach ?

[@RJBWoodTurner]

There’s a bend under the hat that connects to a rod like a piston connects to a crank shaft.

[@jorgemateus8707]

Obrigado! Vou construir um igual.....

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you.

[@hansjacituz4898]

Nice - but I'd really like to see it working outside in the wind - not convinced that it's going to work very well

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Thank you Hans, This is an older video and I don’t have the Whirlygig anymore. It worked ok but It could have used some improvements. That’s why I got rid of It.

[@hansjacituz4898]

Most whirlygigs I see on utube seem to be for show - don't have enough power to drive the mechanics in average wind

[@macdaddy5802]

I know it’s been a while but do you have patterns for this whirligig

[@RJBWoodTurner]

I don’t but I can tell you I used a fisherman pattern from a book I got from the library, I just modified the fish to look like a rabbit and shortened the fishing rod to a wand. Regards, Bob

[@macdaddy5802]

Ok thank you

[@luiscarrascofernandez1399]

Puedes mostrar mas modelos, desde Chile, VIII Region, Coronel

[@RJBWoodTurner]

I haven’t made any more models since I made this one. If there is a library near you they may have books with plans. Regards, Bob

[@osvaldoscor4495]

HOLA , ME PODRIAS PASAR LA PLANTILLA DEL DIBUJO PARA PODER ARMARLO , GRACIAS !!!!

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Hello, I have looked and I can not find the template. I do not know where I have stored it.

[@davebentley4829]

o,k thanks for that,going to have a another go at it to-day,ive put some photos of it on my facebook page,as i dont know how to put a video on here,as they dont let you use a web cam any more,but there must be a way of putting videos on here,as there are 100000's on here ?

[@RJBWoodTurner]

+dave bentley I tried to look your Facebook page up but there are quite a few Dave Bentley's on FB. If you can send me your FB address, I'd like to fake a look at what you have so far. Regards, Bob

[@cocoloco1956]

You failed to put your project into action( set up a fan in front of it) to verify if it was a bust or a success. Other than that I like your project.

[@RJBWoodTurner]

+Danny Irizarri Thank you Danny, I'd go back and do that but I sold the WG last year. Unfortunately, everything has a price. I do believe I'll make another, I have some Interesting ideas. Next time, I'll show it spinning. Regards, Bob

[@susankeener1701]

HAND...

[@RJBWoodTurner]

+Susan Keener Thank you, Bob

[@davebentley4829]

i mean pipe and i,m going to............. bad spelling

[@RJBWoodTurner]

+dave bentley No problem, spelling g kills me too. Spell check only makes it worse. Regards, Bob