(Page 7 of 8)
After 1,500 miles of alternative fuels vehicle driving, we found that you can run a truck with a wo...
Almost half the world’s original forests have disappeared, one-fifth since the late 1950s....
Children like to play, but they don't need expensive toys from the department store to have fun. Yo...
Patterns, instructions and diagrams for building a wooden rocking horse and dump truck....
Finally, measure 1/2" up from the bottom of the whistle's mouthpiece and 3/4" forward of its bottom edge Connect these two points with a curved line drawn on the side of the block and then cut the line out with a coping saw. (Don't be afraid to cut into the stopper dowels, as long as you don't saw all the way into the air chambers. Let the illustration be your guide.) And saw or sand a slight taper into the top of the mouthpiece. These two cuts — one on the bottom of the whistle and the other on the top — make it easier to hold the noise maker between the lips.
Sand the whistle down, round off all its corners and give it a good coat, polyurethane or any harmless sealer your choice. And then plug your ear with cotton, because the lads in the house never seem to tire of playing with this one!
Click here for downloadable construction details.
Better make several of these, 'cause you're going to want to keep at least a couple for yourself.
Start with a piece of wood that's 9/16" square and 3-1/8" long. Fix up a jig of some sort that'll hold the piece of wood straight up on end and then drill a 3/16" hole all the way through the block's length except for the last 3/8". Remove the drill, take the block out of the jig and cut, whittle and sand its undrilled end into a rounded pyramid shape. Sand the whole block as smooth as you can make it.
Now cut the pyramid off 5/8" from the main block's end and glue a 2-1/4"-long, 3/16" dowel into the pyramid's base. Once the glue has set, sand the dowel until it easily slides in and out of the long hole in the main block and cut a notch (see drawing) into the dowel's base.
Insert a good rubber band partway into one end of the main block and hold it there with a 1/2"-long, wedged-in piece of 3/16" dowel. Finish all exposed parts of the toy with clear acrylic (the smoother all the parts are — especially the pyramid — the better).
Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.
At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).
You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.
