Making a whirligig part 2 propellers

[@dingydate]

THANK you, i have been looking for something ,to help me start my FIRST whirligig plan and yours video is better by far. Thank you AUSSIE Chris.

[@scrimperuk]

Hello Chris thank you so much for taking the trouble to comment and your kind words.

[@DiscosDead]

Thank you very much for your incredibly informative whirligig videos! I've always wanted to build one, but was never sure where to start and what to take into consideration. With your guidance, I'm going to give it a try. I also appreciate that you show where one can go wrong, and how to avoid it. I know I myself am a pro at learning things the hard way! Hopefully, I'll dodge as many frustrations as possible, thanks again to you.

[@scrimperuk]

Many thanks for your kind comment, making whirligigs can be addictive and fun but it is a lot of trial & error. It is nice to make one then take it out in the wind and watch it perform.

[@chuckfisher1351]

Hello from North Carolina USA. Thanks so much for the video a gentleman brought me a whirly gig to put a bigger prop on it for him. Having never done it this answers a lot of questions I had. Very nice

[@scrimperuk]

Hello to you Chuck from UK. Thank you for your kind comment, glad you found my video of some interest.

[@bobc5840]

One of the best Whirligig how to videos I've seen thus far, thank you!

[@scrimperuk]

You are very kind, thank you for your comment Bob.

[@maarofkhairon7186]

TV3

[@gastonbatuco2391]

Sir thank you very much for your excellent lesson class. I'll do it here in Chile. 👍👍👏👏

[@scrimperuk]

Hello Gaston, thank you so much for watching my videos.

[@tonyprice5726]

Sir you would make a very good teacher you don't burden people with needless technical stuff and for any first time builder that is all that is required .you also provided samples of what you are discussing and the choices one could make to achieve the end result which shows good prep work ...thank you

[@scrimperuk]

Thank you very much for your more than kind comment. :)

[@leohorishny9561]

I have a question: I’m curious why you don’t drill a larger hole for the meccano wheel and insert the raised hub within the wood hub? Is it extra assembling steps doing that? Just curious.

[@scrimperuk]

Thank you for your comment. It just seems simple to screw the wheel on to the hub. also the less holes you make in the wood means it lasts a little longer fro rotting due to water ingress. I leave mine out in all weathers and they do need regular maintenance.

[@festerhairball6588]

Your videos are very inspiring. I have no experience building whirly gigs but I will try to make the hub using a hole saw that I have. thanks again. Raul from California

[@scrimperuk]

Thank you so much for your kind comment. The fact that it inspired you makes it well worth my time in making them. :)

[@skymaster547]

My son has a very small wood chopper whirly gig that is need of repair. The propeller hub is broken and very small about 1" (one inch, 25mm) in diameter. I was wondering if you have any suggestions about how to make a small hub as it seems very dangerous to make it on the table saw using conventional methods. Love your videos!

[@scrimperuk]

Thanks for the comment, I found a bandsaw about the safest machine to use to cut the slots in the hub, but my hubs are between 2 1/2" to 3 1/2" dia. They don't have to be circular either, I have made them triangular and square and all work fine. 1" seems a bit small for a hub to be honest.

[@rockerdad2]

Great Videos , we really appreciate your teaching us to have a go at making one of these awesome pieces. Can we use a hole saw to make the rounds for the propellers? Great teaching style!!!

[@scrimperuk]

Thanks for your comment. you can use a hole saw and I have tried this method but I found it easier to use a band saw or fretsaw. You do not actually need to worry about the shape, you can use just a square block if you wish. I have used all shapes and sizes even triangular and all seem to work fine. I have made propellers with up to 12 blades (I just liked making them!) but have found that four blades are normally fine.

[@davidfaber1454]

Great video,Thanks for showing a newbie like me! Cheers!

[@scrimperuk]

Thank you for the comment david

[@nrako]

Thanks for the video What’s your day job? I wonder how you get so many oil based colours paint

[@scrimperuk]

Thanks for the comment Guido. I am retired now but I spent most of my working life in electrical and electronics repairs and running a family electrical repair business. As for the paints, believe it or not some of those tins I have had for 50yrs which is why they take days to dry! But as a scrimper I can't throw them away.

[@rockerdad2]

Hello great vids! I do have a question and Maybe I missed this , how is the rod held in to the meccano cog? To clarify , what holds the propeller on ?

[@scrimperuk]

Thank you for your kind comment. the Meccano wheel or cogs are supplied with a thread in the side of the brass bush, a standard Meccano grub screw or bold holds it on to the axle or shaft. the bolt or grub screw are normally supplied with either of these.

[@neilmcateer2849]

Are the metal propellers dangerious for young kids or would wooden ones be safer if a kid grabbed the propeller in motion?

[@scrimperuk]

Never heard of any child or person being injured by a whirligig propeller, most whirligigs are on a pole and out of reach of children in any case. I made my very first propeller out of wood but soon realised that metal ones were better being much lighter. If you are concerned about danger to children make certain that you site the whirligig high enough so they are out of reach of little hands. Even a wooden propeller whizzing round in the wind could hurt if a hand is placed in the way of it.

[@mattedwards4533]

You showed how to make something with what you have on hand , Anyone can spend money just to take the parh of least resitance? Thanks for the video!

[@scrimperuk]

Thank you for the kind comment Matt.

[@danielmurzellotheunknownma7481]

Hello👋🙋‍♂️ there once again.. Amazing and very interesting project... Well explained from start to end Thanks for sharing Do keep posting👍 Warm regards and best👍💯 wishes The UnknownManCub 👍😎👨‍🏭

[@scrimperuk]

Thank you very much Daniel for your very kind comments, I am so pleased you enjoyed my video. John.

[@theartist2106]

Thanks for sharing, will be having a go at making my 1st whirligig

[@scrimperuk]

Thank you for your comment. Do have a go it is easy.

[@PhillsGarage]

Another brilliant video

[@scrimperuk]

Thanks for the kind comment.

[@gwheyduke]

Good job. I enjoy making whirligigs too.

[@scrimperuk]

Thanks. Good to hear you make whirligigs.

[@SalihArtAndTech]

It's cool. Good work 👏

[@scrimperuk]

Many thanks for your comment.

[@robertcornelius3514]

Here in America, we can find those metal parts in old Erector sets. I just bought three steel box sets for only $50.

[@scrimperuk]

Didn't it used to be called Gilbert Erector? I think it became part of Meccano eventually. I watched a TV film about A.C. Gilbert some years ago it was very good. (The Man Who Saved Christmas)

[@TheLidlClan]

Well done sir Great vids. Thanks

[@scrimperuk]

Many thanks for your kind comment.

[@BacktotheBasics101]

Thank you

[@CR10.07]

Hi. What is the metal in the middle called... or where do I get this Thank you

[@scrimperuk]

If you mean the little brass item? It is just an old Meccano wheel screwed on to the propeller boss.

[@3740Terry]

Very practical and entertaining. Thank you

[@scrimperuk]

Many thanks for your kind comment.

[@WollongongSkyWatch]

I remember my grandfather making these and those weighted table egde rockers. What style whirligig do you recommend for an absolute woodworking beginner?

[@scrimperuk]

Choose to make a simple one with one movement such as the horse and rider in my first video in this series, it does not have to a horse any subject can be used and you just use a simple cam or old Meccano handle if you have one which will do the job just fine. the tail sail can be any shape.Just experiment on the bench with various movements it's quite absorbing. :)

[@WollongongSkyWatch]

Thanks so much! Can't wait to get crackin'.

[@Tommy-gj9kn]

What are the sizes of the blades???👍😷🇺🇸👋

[@scrimperuk]

Sorry Tommy only just seen this question. They are approx 6 inches long but I have done them both shorter and longer and all work OK.

[@tonyprice5726]

Greetings from Australia. On your previous video you mentioned using hard wood and I always have to smile when people say that because not many people know that Balsa wood is a hard wood ,[ I bet you could have some fun and games using that ] That being said , how thick are your main drive rods and the height of your figures .

[@scrimperuk]

And likewise Pitch Pine is a softwood but as hard as Oak! As regards main drive rods the thickness depends on what I happen to have available, often they are Meccano rod diameter which is just over 4 mm. obviously the thicker it is the more difficult it is to bend. I salvage old wire shop stands and cut out any decent straight lengths for future use. the guard cages off the fronts of old electric fires also offer some decent longish straight wire, basically I just salvage any bits of rod that I think might have a use. even old scrap printers can 'harvest' some useful rods and bearings. As for height of figures it varies but often the bigger the better, the Blacksmith one I made him about 6 inches high but I also made one with him being 9 inches high which looked better IMHO. To be honest they can be as big or small as you like but the bigger ones do show up better. Because of the weather in the UK they do need maintenance especially if they are left outside throughout the winter, so after a couple of years I take them back into the workshop for an overhaul. :)

[@tonyprice5726]

@@scrimperuk Thank you for that . I now have my cutting list and when I have finnished my 6ft Lancaster bomber I will have a go at whirlygigs

[@margel5110]

I wish premier kites offered a video on how to assemble some of their items. The spinners' instructions are very frustrating!!

[@prb-vp9ku]

Instead of using the mechano gear you can bend the wire at right angles and insert it back through the hub . Basically you make a hook that grabs onto the hub and just glue it in. I can remember those old gears from my set when I was a kid. You will run out of those gears eventually.

[@scrimperuk]

I like the Meccano wheel method because it is easy to remove the propeller for repair or replacement, just one small bolt to loosen. Thank you for your comment.

[@bernym4047]

Excellent video. Thanks.

[@scrimperuk]

Thanks for the kind comment

[@robertgrey6770]

great video thank you

[@scrimperuk]

Thanks for the comment Robert.

[@Slick1G3]

great info

[@scrimperuk]

thanks for the comment.

[@terrulian]

Excellent, thanks.

[@scrimperuk]

Thank you for watching.

[@prb-vp9ku]

I would have made the props out of wood and that would have been too time consuming and not suitable for this project.The sheet metal is a great idea and will last a long time. I like how you are recycling discarded material. If you have to save a penny it is remarkable how you can find an alternative rather than running to the shops to buy new all the time.

[@scrimperuk]

Many thanks for your kind comment. I recycle materials mainly because I hate things that have a use being thrown away. You also get more satisfaction from making something out of discarded stuff than if you bought new materials.

[@dereksturrock5546]

Nice One

[@scrimperuk]

Thank you.

[@poshboyhd4589]

Very good

[@tonyprice5726]

Hello again I would like to know how to connect a right angle shaft to the main drive shaft . Thanks for your help 'cos I need it

[@Tommy-gj9kn]

Cheers🇺🇸👍

[@lynnw.durkee7964]

What size are the blaids?

[@scrimperuk]

Blade length is not important, I use various sizes, they all seem to work fine, in general they are around 6ins (150mm) to 7ins (180mm) but anything from 5ins upwards work fine. :)

[@frankdelaney6316]

The crack filler might throw of the balance of the hub? Yes, but not much still wrk

[@scrimperuk]

Thanks for the comment, I don't think balance or lack of it is much of a problem on them to be honest.

[@georgehewett5682]

Great, except the woodpecker at the start seemed a little bury!

[@scrimperuk]

Afraid that is down to KZbin I am afraid, it was HD when I uploaded it they compressed it from 316Gb to 44Gb.

[@macdaddy5802]

I would like to see you do it on a band saw so I can learn please

[@fredbloggs2417]

u dont harth to do theart

[@viviangillcoat1870]

H