Making Animated Whirligigs

by Anders S. Lunde

Book Overview

The handcrafted, wind-powered toys known as whirligigs have enchanted observers for centuries with their whimsical images: birds with spinning wings, people waving their arms, and countless other fanciful figures. In this volume, an expert at designing and making whirligigs shows both novices and experienced woodcrafters how to create more than two dozen large-scale animated models. The author's easy-to-follow discussions of design and construction...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486400492
• ISBN13: 9780486400495
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.1" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

Whirlygig Book

This is the greatest book ever if you are looking for direction to make a whirlygig. My husband made one and the instructions were clear and concise. There are illustrations and step by step instructions on how to make one.

a good place to start

I have seen whirlygigs in movies, and occasionally the simple birds with spinning wings. I wanted to know what sort of materials were needed to make the more involved mechanical devices - such as the man sawing wood. This book did not disappoint. The author provides information on materials to use for reliable service in a device exposed to the elements. This is an excellent place to start.

Tells you how to make them!

I haven't actually made a whirligig yet, but I plan on it. Since I read this book I really believe I can. What I wanted to know, it told me, mainly things you can use to make the mechanical components of a whirligig. I've done woodworking and that part I knew I could do but putting it all together was another matter. This book definitely helped me see how it can be done.

...

This is the best of Lunde's series. He is the man who resurrected the whirligig from the ashheap of historical American culture. In the 1970's, Lunde first investigated old whirligigs in New England, researched in the Library of Congress, and just plain hit the woodworking bench to figure out what makes a good whirligig work. Others have tried to copy him, but his whirligigs spin and turn and twist with a freedom and naturalness few can match. His political whirligig creations are snapped up immediately these days, because at 86 years old, there is no telling when he will stop. Simple, straightforward, and detailed, these designs and instructions will put you in the drivers seat for making any design you desire. He is a specialist in devising creative designs, not of the art crowd kind that look great but don't work, but the kind that really move in ways pleasing to all. He is the master of this genre.

Very good

I speak spanish, it is my native language, but this book is easy, I can understand it very good because it has many picture, in my country the Whirligigs are unknown and get hardware for them is very difficult, but thanks to the Anders' book I can build my own devices. This books is very good