whirly gig instructions

POP CAN WHIRLY-GIG

Supplies needed:

two pop cans

3 feet of 1/16" piano wire (or similar)

6 8MM beads of choice

1 tri-bead to match the bead size

ruler

good felt marker

household scissors

needle noise piers

wire cutter or fine toothed hack saw

two strong pliers to bend the wire

**optional but VERY handy** table vice to hold the wire as you cut and bend

**optional but VERY handy** a small hammer in case you have to wrestle the wire.

INSTRUCTIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS

Take an empty pop can, rince it out well.
Using a good marker, measure and mark at 3/4" using dots - measuring from the bottom of the can where the silver ends and the color beings. Join the dots all the way around the circumference.
From this line, measure 2 3/4" and do the same as before.
There should be about 1" left to the top of the can.
Using the printing as a guide, draw a line from the first line to the last.

Beginning on one of the top or bottom lines, and starting at the horizontal line along the printing, start measuring at 1/2" intervals. When both lines are marked, join the marks to create horizontal lines.
(it isn't easy to get the initial marks perfect, as you can see, when you're using a straight ruler. It isn't 100% essential to have them perfect.)

Once the markings are complete, use regular household scissors and start cutting the can at the line closest to the top.
Remove the top part, pop the tab off and set aside.
Now, cut along all the horizontal lines to meet the bottom line.

Once all the lines are cut, use needle nose pliers to bend the strips back at the bottom line.
Go back and crimp that bent edge nice and sharp.
With the marker, make an angles mark at the crimped edge as in the illustration. This will be your "bending" line.
At the tips of the 1/2" strips, mark the half way point, then make an angles mark to meet the halfway mark. This angled mark will be your cutting line for the "wings".
Watch the illustration to see in which direction the marks should go.

Use the needle nose pliers to bend the base of the strips back so they stand upright. Adjust as you see fit so they all stand at the same angle.

Now, cut the tips on the angled line and with the pliers bend so they stand straight up. (see illustration)
Once you have this done, push the top of the can into the other half. Make sure it's snug.
You have now created one half of the whirly-gig.

Repeat the above instructions to create one more half.....ONLY this time reverse the sides you bend and clip the wings. This way each side of the whirly-gig will spin in a different direction.

Now onto the assembly.....
INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED

Got any questions? Or suggestions?
Send me email.

two pop cans
3 feet of 1/16" piano wire (or similar)
6 8MM beads of choice
1 tri-bead to match the bead size
ruler
good felt marker
household scissors
needle noise piers
wire cutter or fine toothed hack saw
two strong pliers to bend the wire
optional but VERY handy table vice to hold the wire as you cut and bend
optional but VERY handy a small hammer in case you have to wrestle the wire.

	Take an empty pop can, rince it out well. Using a good marker, measure and mark at 3/4" using dots - measuring from the bottom of the can where the silver ends and the color beings. Join the dots all the way around the circumference. From this line, measure 2 3/4" and do the same as before. There should be about 1" left to the top of the can. Using the printing as a guide, draw a line from the first line to the last.
	Beginning on one of the top or bottom lines, and starting at the horizontal line along the printing, start measuring at 1/2" intervals. When both lines are marked, join the marks to create horizontal lines. (it isn't easy to get the initial marks perfect, as you can see, when you're using a straight ruler. It isn't 100% essential to have them perfect.)
	Once the markings are complete, use regular household scissors and start cutting the can at the line closest to the top. Remove the top part, pop the tab off and set aside. Now, cut along all the horizontal lines to meet the bottom line.
	Once all the lines are cut, use needle nose pliers to bend the strips back at the bottom line. Go back and crimp that bent edge nice and sharp. With the marker, make an angles mark at the crimped edge as in the illustration. This will be your "bending" line. At the tips of the 1/2" strips, mark the half way point, then make an angles mark to meet the halfway mark. This angled mark will be your cutting line for the "wings". Watch the illustration to see in which direction the marks should go.
	Use the needle nose pliers to bend the base of the strips back so they stand upright. Adjust as you see fit so they all stand at the same angle.
	Now, cut the tips on the angled line and with the pliers bend so they stand straight up. (see illustration) Once you have this done, push the top of the can into the other half. Make sure it's snug. You have now created one half of the whirly-gig.
	Repeat the above instructions to create one more half.....ONLY this time reverse the sides you bend and clip the wings. This way each side of the whirly-gig will spin in a different direction.