Tom Haney's "Birdhouse Builders" automaton going to auction Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016

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Just giving you notice that the auction of Tom Haney's piece titled Birdhouse Builders will happen this Saturday, November 12th at 10:00am. You can bid anytime up until then.

Here is where you can see and bid on Birdhouse Builders.

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In Memoriam: Vollis Simpson, Master of the Whirligig (1919 - 2013)

We are sorry to hear of the passing of Vollis Simpson over the weekend. He was a talented and dedicated man who delighted and inspiration countless people with his kinetic art.

Here is a full profile of Vollis Simpson's life and career from The Wilson Times (North Carolina).

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Gizmos & Gadgets special issue - see the projects in action!

The Gizmos & Gadgets Special Issue

I was asked to contribute an article to a special issue magazine called Gizmos & Gadgets. Not to be confused with the technology magazine of the same name, this one is put out by the same folks that publish Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine as well a many of the best carving, woodworking, and craft books you will find. They have to be one of my favorite publishers, so when I was asked to write for them, I was really excited.

The magazine was a year in the making and they did a fantastic job. The projects are awesome and the documentation excellent. They did the job right. The video above shows the projects in action. The automaton I designed may be seen at the 00:53 second mark. There is a wealth of useful techniques within these pages and more than 10 cool projects. What follows is a list of the projects in the magazine.

1 - Kicker Gumball Machine

This fun gumball dispenser will test your hand-to-eye coordination, give you a great project to build, and reward you with a treat. Lots of fun!

2 - A wooden chest with a working wooden lock

Notable wood clock-maker Adrian Iredale shows you how precise cuts and careful sanding can produce a working padlock made almost exclusively of wood. I'm looking forward to making one myself.

3 - Rapid-fire rubber band gun

The ultimate in wooden rubber band guns, this one is fired by turning a hand-crank much like the old Gatling gun. It's incredible.

4 - Simplest possible working wooden clock

Master of the wooden clock, Clayton Boyer, provides detailed instructions on how to make a wooden clock. If you have always dreamed of making a wooden clock, but were intimidated, this is the one start with! It's unconventional design makes it a unique timepiece as well as a work of kinetic art. FULL SIZE plans for this project are included in the magazine centerfold. This is a great value -- more than worth the price of the magazine alone. Trust me.

5 - Tiny ship automaton

Fellow automaton-maker Wanda Sowry contributed this really cute automaton featuring a tiny ship rocking on the waves of the ocean. This would be an ideal choice for one's first wood automaton. It would also make a nice gift.

The Unwelcome Dinner Guest - Automaton by Dug North

6 - Dog and bird automaton

My own contribution to the magazine is a scene featuring a bird stealing a dog's food. The poor dog is tangled in his own leash, so all he can do is wag his tail and bark at the winged thief who pecks away at the food. I worked hard to use materials that could be found easily online and at local home improvement stores. I'm quite pleased with the dog's barking action which uses a four-bar linkage.

7 - Bouncing buggy toy

This charming pull-along toy features a horse and buggy with two riders. The riders are having a bit of bumpy ride. This piece has a strong ties to a long tradition of folk toys. Why not be a part of that tradition?

8 - Wood spitting whirligig

No written work on wooden gizmos could be complete without a whirligig. The Gizmos & Gadgets issue delivers with this fine example. A very traditional scene -- a man chopping wood -- is animated by wind power alone. A classic.

9 - The 'Smoke Grinder'

This is a fun little do-nothing gadget that is loads of fun. It's a great beginner project that will also make a nice gift for kids.

10 - The mother of all gear machines

Ed Legler documents how he made this intricate kinetic sculpture that graces the cover of the magazine. The author uses some tools that may be beyond what you have in the workshop, but you can cut the gears on a scroll saw. I'm going to tackle this one sooner or later.

11 - Marble track tower

A nifty marble machine is also described in detail at the end of the magazine. Because of the complexity, the plans themselves have to be purchased separately. Still, you can get a good look at what you would be buying or perhaps be inspired to come up with your own design.

That's one great magazine if you ask me!

Have I got your attention? If so, here is where you can order a copy of the Gizmos & Gadgets special issue. You can also get the issue for free by signing up for a two year subscription to Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine. If you like scroll saw projects, that would be the best value. You will get 8 issues of the magazine plus this special Gizmos & Gadgets issue which sells for $10 alone.

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Six of the most unconventional whirligigs you will EVER see

Here are six unusual whirligigs that were in exhibited in museums in New York, Baltimore and elsewhere. These delightful wind-driven pieces were created by retired surgeon, Ben Thal. Thal has made around 60 complex whirligigs in the last 10 years, devoting four to six weeks for the drafting, carving, painting and assembling of each one.

The Seattle Times did a nice write up of Ben Thal back in 1997. We learn a lot of interesting things about him such as the fact that he does the carving for his whirligigs actual surgical scalpels and that his condo has also been turned into something of a whirligig factory. Read the full article titled Spin Doctor -- Former Surgeon Ben Thal Builds Humor Into His Witty, Whimsical Whirligigs for more details on this fascinating man.

See more amazing whirligigs by Ben Thal on his YouTube Channel.

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Woodworking show episode about making whiriligs

Head on over to the PBS web site to see a full half-hour episode of The Woodwright's Shop that shows you how to make wind-powered whirligigs!

Here's a link to the Woodwright's Shop episode on whirligig construction.

[ Thanks Charles! ]

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Action whirligigs: 25 easy-to-do projects online

If you have ever wondered what you might find in the book Action whirligigs: 25 easy-to-do projects By Anders S. Lunde, you are in for a treat. A 'limited preview' of the book is now available online. When you've accessed the maximum number of pages allowed for the book, the remaining pages will be omitted from your preview. You can order full copies digital edition of the book on Google eBooks. If you really like it, you can always order your own hard copy of the book.

Here's a link to the full-size eBook Action whirligigs: 25 easy-to-do projects.

[ Thanks Charles! ]

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Book: How to Make Whirligigs & Folkcraft Objects

I haven't stumbled upon this whirligig book before; I'm not sure why -- maybe because it seems to be out of print. The one review on Amazon is glowing. The book can be found used at a very reasonable price.

From an Amazon review:

The book is a treasure trove of ideas, examples, information and entertainment all centered around crafts and skills that have nearly vanished from our cultural landscape. I was looking for a few whirly gig plans and found so much more in the narrative examples and instructions that ranged from making animals out of pine cones, to traditional quilting methods! An added bonus lies in the amazing illustrations that accompany each item that are, by themselves, beautiful works of art. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in American folk craft, toy making, history or just an appreciation of an entertaining read.

Here's where you can get a used How to Make Whirligigs and Whimmy Diddles and Other American Folkcraft Objects.

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Whirligigs for Woodcarvers: bring carvings to life

Here's a new...um...spin...on whirligig books. Often the figures on whirligigs are somewhat flat and tend to rely on paint for detail. This book looks like a remedy for that situation; it is specifically written for woodcarvers. It also looks like a very comprehensive treatment of the subject in general!

From the book description:

Full size patterns for making a knight, dragon, eagle, boxer and soldier whirligig; Numerous photos and illustrations for visualizing whirligig features and function; Woodcarving tips and techniques for beginner and intermediate carvers; Lists of all the tools and supplies necessary for woodcarving and whirligig construction. Plus this useful guidance for whirligig artists and craftsmen: The secrets for designing your own original whirligigs that will work right the first time; Sources of supplies for all necessary tools and materials; Troubleshooting tips for uncooperative whirligigs; Creative ideas for design, construction, carving and mounting whirligigs.

Well, I'm sold. Adding it to my wishlist now!

Here's where you can get Whirligigs for Woodcarvers

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Book: The Art And Craft of Whirligig Construction

Here's a book with 12 different whirligig projects with a lot of good general information on making moving things from wood and metal.

From the book description:

Over 50 color photos, 80 patterns and mechanical drawings, with clear, concise, step-by-step instructions, reveal all the reader must know to successfully create twelve original whirligig projects made from wood and/or metal, including imaginative, original designs that all will enjoy. Each project has been designed, built, and tested by the author to ensure success. The detailed text provides tips for simplifying layout and construction techniques, the proper use of bearings and balance to spin whirligigs in minimal wind, along with practical woodworking, metalworking, and decorating techniques.

Here's a link to the book The Art And Craft of Whirligig Construction.

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Plans for mechanical flying goose on radiator cap

The folks over at the always interesting Modern Mechanix Blog recently posted this great set of plans for an animated mechanical hood ornament originally published in 1932. Like a reverse-whirligig, the air speeding past the car's hood powers the motions of this mechanical bird.

From the original article:

While your car is standing still this wild goose isn't so wild. He perches sedately upon the radiator cap surveying the world with a glassy eye. But as soon as you start up and shift into high he flattens out his tail, stretches his neck forward and begins to flap his wings as if he were going somewhere, and going there in a hurry.

The article has been converted in to text and scanned as three large images -- everything you should need to make this project yourself.

Here's the article on the Mechanical Flying Goose Decorates Radiator Cap.

[ Thanks deanS! ]

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Isaac Newton's great idea told in whirligig form

There can be no doubt: artist Ben Thal has taken whirligigs to a new level -- many having up to 30 moving parts and multiple actions. The whirligig shown here depicts Sir Isaac Newton's epiphany regarding gravity in animated wind-powered 3-dimensional form. Wow.

To learn more about the remarkable man behind this and other fantastic creations check out this great profile on him: Spin Doctor -- Former Surgeon Ben Thal Builds Humor Into His Witty, Whimsical Whirligigs.

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Vollis Simpson's windmill-powered whirligigs

Some time ago, I posted a YouTube video about Vollis Simpson, a man who has made a park full of windmills and whirligigs. There is a great web site with more about the man behind it all. The site also features a detailed virtual tour of his wind-powered mechanical park.

Here's a link to From Windmills to Whirligigs brought to us by the Science Museum of Minnesota.

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Whirligig of a Medical Student and Skull

Another video of a wind-powered automaton by doctor and automaton-maker Ben Thal. Very charming!

From the YouTube Description:
A white coat medical student inserts a tongue depressor into the snapping jaws of a human skull.

For books on whirligig construction, check out The Automata / Automaton Store. Whirligig books page 1 and Whirligig books page 2

Fantastic Wind-Powered Whrligigs Video

Automata maker Tom Haney sent the video you see above to me.

Tom writes:
I have something you might want to put up on your site. The man who inspired me to do mechanical pieces, Ben Thal, has posted a video on YouTube. I met him at a whirligig show in Oregon in 1994. He does great pieces with amazing and simple movements. He is a doctor and does whirligigs as a hobby. All his whirligigs are for indoors and are powered by a fan.

See it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnm_16KUF0M

The motions are pretty sophisticated for whirligigs...impressive!

Thanks Tom!

Wind-powered Whirligig Head with Moving Jaw

This week's Reader Contribution comes from Tim who has used a common whirligig mechanism to animate an uncommon theme.

Tim has fashioned a head with articulated jaw. The wind-powered whirligig mechanism drives a crankshaft which makes the mouth open and close.

Very clever, indeed.

For more on whirligig construction check out these titles:
Whacky Toys, Whirligigs & Whatchamacallits
Making Animated Whirligigs
Easy-to-Make Whirligigs
Whimsical Whirligigs
Action Whirligigs: 25 Easy-to-Do Projects
The Art And Craft of Whirligig Construction

Master of Windmills and Whirligigs

Whirligigs are a form of automata -- to my mind at least. They depict an animated scene with a person or animal. The only distinction between a contemporary automaton and a whirligig is that the latter are outside and are powered by the wind.

The folks over at The Proceedings of the Athanasius Kircher Society have a great post about a man with a passion for windmills and whirligigs. The man's name is Vollis Simpson, an 87-year-old retired mechanic from North Carolina. Simpson's back yard is filled with dozens of his wind-driven creations.

A quote from Simpson:
"The main part of doing anything that turns is to get it centered".

Truer words were never spoken.

Check out the post on Vollis Simpson's Windmill Farm at the Kircher Society blog.

Here's a list of books on how to make whirligigs:

• Making Animated Whirligigs (Woodworking Whirligigs)
• Easy-to-Make Whirligigs (Woodworking Whirligigs)
• Whimsical Whirligigs (Woodworking Whirligigs)
• Action Whirligigs: 25 Easy-to-Do Projects (Woodworking Whirligigs)
• The Art And Craft of Whirligig Construction