Make an easy wood whirligig

Here's a very basic whirligig.
-----------
Follow-up video: • MM 6-3-12: Whirligig f...
----------------
Woodworking for Mere Mortals
© ZRAM Media, LLC

[@SteveRamsey]

We've been having some wind gusts today and I've been observing the action. I just shot a video and will post it on my other channel tomorrow. It seems to work okay, except that it pivots a lot trying to find the wind direction. I think some sort of fin on the back might help stabilize it. But the gusts today are all different directions, so I'll have to keep observing.

[@SteveRamsey]

Yes. I think 1/4" ply would work fine too.

[@sonjai7379]

Thanks for your suggestion! We made our own design last summer and finally got them on the fence this spring!! The kids are so proud of their work. Thank you!!!

[@charlescarter6175]

This whirligig is awesome, I remember Roy Underhill making a similar one when I was a child. Its probably the single most important moment that got me interested in woodworking

[@CarlJacobson]

Great video Steve, looks like a fun project

[@ErikAnderson1]

Great video Steve love the man working on making firewood for the winter.

[@tlojewelrylove]

That's awesome! ❤️ I wish I had a workshop with lots of power tools because I'd love to make one of those. Thanks for letting this video stay up all these years so I could find it. Good job! 👍

[@drumbumifyer]

in my opinion, YOUR BEST PROJECT YET!!! THIS IS AWESOME!!!

[@ecrusch]

This'll e a fun project! My grandson will love it. Thanks Steve!

[@eelcogg]

Making a whirligig is the best way to make sure there will be absolutely no wind for a week or so. Every freaking time.

[@eelcogg]

Wendlander Halseller reported spam

[@robinrai4973]

eelcogg​ Why did you report him for spam? This is a regular, slightly witty comment.. EDIT:oops. I thought you were someone else commenting on your original comment, as I can't see the spammer's comment. Sorry..

[@motooilermotooiler9597]

I second that :D :D :D Waiting for both rain and wind :D

[@usernamemykel]

Making a kite or model airplane has the same problems.

[@thetwogardens6048]

hahahahahahah So True !

[@Guidowood]

Steven thanks for your amazing contribuitions, you are a special guy

[@licketysplitlife]

I love it!!! Thank you for sharing your video. I believe this would be a great beginner project.

[@SteveRamsey]

Lacquer. I use it for just about everything!

[@Tuftofwool]

I started making these with my year 8 wood working students about five weeks ago... loving it :)

[@heli400]

I just realized why I like your videos so much!.... You show your mistakes that you've made during the process of building the project you've set out to make..... As a "mere mortal" it is great to learn from the mistakes one has made, but even better to learn from those before you! (ie - 3:25 you place the rod in the disc to find out you should have drilled the offset hole AFTER bending the rod)

[@c.a.m.6276]

Steve, great work. Congratulations!!! I am a whirligig lover too and I have done so many different ones down here in my country

[@BlueTolerated]

Love the wood, love the jazz ... I love this channel !

[@vincearcuri7976]

Great video Steve. Thanks for exposing us to the world of Whirligig's. They look like great fun little projects that could be made mostly from scraps (read miscuts). I'm always looking for a way to make use of (read conceal) my stock pile.

[@SteveRamsey]

It can be any size you like. If the notch for the turning part were deeper, the man would have more chopping action.

[@FitzgeraldFiles]

This just opens my mind for other similar projects, Thanks. By the way, the grand prize winner was my choice too. You should have more games like the Kreg contest, it’s was lots of fun.

[@NJEsperantist]

Glad you tried a whirligig, Steve. Looks good.

[@vinceb9310]

I know this was made a long time ago, but it's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks Steve

[@KadidaMia]

This is going to be super fun-Thanks!

[@oscartravis5740]

Sweet job and great inspiration, thanks!

[@DW351C]

i printed the file. and cut it out,looks great.cant wait to put it together.thanks for posting.

[@jrip195300]

Agree, great explanation and whirligig. Thanks for the PDF.

[@jwh33]

Your wood cutter got me fired up & had to try my hand. I used your tmplt. for the man & kinda winged it from there. I posted a video on my channel Thanks Steve!

[@aoifeone]

Well for you that lives in California, the plywood wouldn't last very long here in Ireland. Going to build mine from solid wood, love all the videos.

[@SteveRamsey]

I used plywood, but I think anything should work. My thought is that the blades should be thin (I used 1/8" ply) but I have nothing to support that theory.

[@ItAintMeBabe99]

Still a great video. Thanks for making it and sharing it !

[@bigdec1]

really enjoyed it i need to spend more time in my workshop instead of on my computer.keep up the good work.

[@wilhelml]

Sweet work Steve!

[@kylerunyan5950]

AWESOME video! I am SOOOOO going to have to make one of these!!!!!!!

[@srobart]

Very clever, Steve! I bet someone could make a decent amount of $ making these types of things and selling them for a profit at farmers' markets, craft fairs and other community events (especially in small towns, people love stuff like this). Thanks for making a video like this, I really enjoyed it. It's really amazing to see what you can make with basic materials that most people have lying around the house. I'd love to see more like it!

[@tlap612]

I love it. I need to make one of these!

[@brad8665]

If you had a torch you could bend that steel like a straw. Great project!

[@melaniodejesusmonsalvemons1571]

I like very much woodworking. I make it in this quarentene. Thanks Mr Steve

[@Supersup.campos]

I loved that video. All my respect from Brazil.

[@LifeinTwinFalls]

Can't wait to try this! Thanks!

[@rhondamaddox6590]

Thanks Steve enjoyed your video! Think I will make one!

[@henniedutoit8436]

Hi Steve from Polokwane in Limpopo province South Africa this is the best will definitely make it during lock down

[@petervanrensburg4171]

Thank you for showing Steve

[@mar504]

Can't wait to see it in 60mph winds! Crazy wood chopping action!

[@MrGoosePit]

The first 'gigs I made were out of plywood. I left them outside all year. Sadly, the plywood delaminated and ruined my work. Your whirligig turned out really nice, just remember to bring it inside when it rains. As always, love your videos!

[@521farmer]

Thanks Steve for sharing your project with us keep them coming ya this ya make it look easy so signed up for the adventure in these this looks cool man l m on a farm wood be nice to have a few around great ideas for these thks again for sharing Paul later keep ya posted

[@Phoenixthemodder]

Man you are really smart! I need to make one of those!

[@frankorona1]

Very well done, thanks for sharing

[@buskingkarma2503]

As a kid growing up in Britain in the 70s/early 80s,I remember my dad and grandad would make and have a few these in their gardens, I remember being fascinated by the way they moved and worked. Yesterday I was thinking about it,and how you don't see 👀many in folks gardens these days😟 so I looked it up and here I am! And,,in honour of my dad and grandad,I will be making one ☝lol also I have a little extra time on my hands, so it will be something to do!👀😎👍

[@paigefive]

Cool video great tips keep up the good work !!!!!!

[@jeff123humph]

Hi Steve, Just as a point of interest the plastic insert in the under side of the body, to make it easier i found if you buy 3/16" pop rivets they are heavy duty rivets. One end is a nail the other end is your pivot post just the job for this. PS thanks for the PDF i have just made one of these and it helps a lot to get a helping hand like this to start us off, thanks .

[@captaing5166]

Thanks Steve, I'll have a go at this.

[@bigdec1]

Thanks for another great video.

[@CristianoFaleiro1]

Verry good!!! congratulations

[@saintjohnny1]

That is so cool, thanks!!

[@SamaroGitano]

wow, really nice proyect, I think I will be making some over here in mi house

[@DanielThomasChannel]

That is so cool!

[@RockinGuy1994]

Cool project!

[@thetwogardens6048]

Gonna give this a go . Thanks for the vid !

[@BackyardWoodworking]

Hey Steve, You can use brass rod. It bends easy and doesn't rust. Good going!

[@Bennetts74]

Steve that's great I am decently going to make one of those it looks great fun. I just made a pine serving tray you got any tips you could share to give it a good finish

[@zeudafunceca9526]

Muito lindo vou tentar fazer

[@dineshkumarthakur5893]

Good explanation to make whirligig, Thanks

[@spilperson]

Thanks! I guess when I was googling around I was looking for some kind of "low tack" double sided tape, but no such luck so far. I will try the duct tape. I will be in Houston this week and wad going by the Rockler store, I thought I might see what they have, and how expensive it is! They tend to be proud of their stuff, but sometimes have good store sales.

[@HardCore_y]

I noticed the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale box. My all time favorite beer!

[@SalihArtAndTech]

Very Nice, I love this 👌

[@robertotiraboschi1960]

Excelente..te felicito..simple y muy bueno...lo voy a hacer 👍

[@franciscofranco24]

Dear Steve Ramsey, Seeing your video I made a model of this. My grandson liked it very much and he named it "Axeman". Instead of the U shape I made a small wheel and fitted a small screw away from the centre. It works even in a small breeze.I have posted it in my you tube channel. Thank you.

[@richardscanlon7023]

I know it's 8 years later but I just wanted to say that is a great idea! No wire needed to purchase or bend. I'm so glad I watched your video!

[@johndeakin4653]

Just look at your video it's so good am going to make one

[@Cidiots]

Nice! i might make one!

[@saintjohnny1]

Very cool thanks!

[@hilariosousa4728]

Está demais,vou ver se consigo;tenho a certeza que sim.

[@MrRonaldck66]

hi steve great job

[@conorcomerford9499]

very helpfull thanks

[@budclark9235]

P

[@TT9762004]

cool man,great vid

[@hanankamel]

i love it , thank u

[@ruytarouco-oseucanaldobem]

wonderful work....tanks...

[@SteveRamsey]

Chuck Norris doesn't need an ax to chop wood.

[@joancrumpler7579]

Your funny,

[@cquiles386]

If you take your blow torch to the metal it'll make it a lot easier to get in some nice tight bends on the steel rod. I had the same issue when I was making a stable work base out of a steel rose stem of the rose I was making before and heating it made the job much easier.

[@588158]

outstanding!

[@narubi007]

that's really awesome!! :-)

[@improvisandoquasetudorodri6342]

parabéns muinto bonito

[@MrTinman624]

Cracking video and whirligig

[@alexyoungcarpenter4208]

great job

[@franciscofranco24]

Good work

[@PU2WED]

Parabéns muito legal like merecido e mais um inscrito no canal

[@Ricko1122]

Hey steve nice video any dimensions on the base or wire bending desprate to make one.

[@tlcbear2]

sure like your videos keep em coming

[@ThE1pImP23]

AWESOME!!

[@aerospot2]

Looks like 'music wire'. I've used it making landing gear for my RC aircraft. Hard stuff!

[@neverancha]

muy bueno!!!

[@S3844]

I built a small box for shop class at school. It is really nice and I wanted to put a nice finish on it. I didn't think of lacquer at the time, so I used plain vegetable oil to bring out the grain. Is it a bad idea to add a lacquer on top? I was told that staining it now would be not such a good idea.

[@usernamemykel]

Cool!

[@wetypants]

Hello Steve, I was looking into getting into woodworking but dont have any tools yet, any recommendations on starter tools? P.S: I don't have a big space for a workshop.

[@jumpleadsx2]

Steve, you correctly point out that you're lucky to have a table saw. I think you should poll your subscribers to find out what tools they have and don't have. I have some tables and bookshelves to build and my powertool inventory is limited. My wishlist - a table saw, jointer, thickness planer, bandsaw, router and biscuit joiinter.. Mere mortals never have the right tools and are constantly trying to solve problems with workarounds.

[@alexanderaquino6625]

Muito lindo seu trabalho mais como e compensado se pegar chuva pode danificalo

[@assisjaimedeoliveira5042]

Great!

[@charlessurprenant1599]

Steve get video! Just got a scroll saw for Christmas. When I download the cut list I just get the man and the fan blades? Is the rest of the project out there for download?

[@cris4073]

grazie per il video gracias por el video thans for the video

[@tonyprice5726]

Please would you tell me what sort / size wire you used to tie his arm to the crank it looked so easy to bend I never know how strong it has to be thank you

[@robertlewisvazquez]

very cool