Building the Magician Whirligig 

Thank you Bill. Regards, Bob

Thank you. Regards, Bob

Thank you. Regards, Bob

+alihobby Thank you. Regards, Bob

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

Thank you Jared. Regards, Bob

+Val Borchardt Thank you Val. Bob

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

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

Thank you.

Thank you Daniel. Regards, Bob

Thank you.

Thank you George. Regards, Bob

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

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

+Marzo Buffon Thank you. Regards, Bob

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

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

Thank you. Regards, Bob

Thank you.

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

Thank you Johnny. Regards, Bob

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

Sure =)

Thank you. 😃 Regards, Bob

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

Thank you Bill.

Thank you Dave.

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

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...

+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

Thank you Roger. Regards, Bob

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

@@RJBWoodTurner Many thanks paul uk

+Dennis Adams Thank you. Regards, Bob

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you.

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

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? macken121@yahoo.com

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.

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

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

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

Ok thank you

+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

+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

+Susan Keener Thank you, Bob

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