St. Bernard Whirligig... I made it myself! =^..^=

[Lorace]

This is my second whirligig I have made.  My first one was the mule that kicks.
I took a clip art and kind of copied the style of the mule.  the dogs tail wags and
his head bobs up and down into his dog food bowl.  ( got that from Steve's dog house pattern)

I just finished  a trap shooter  that I hope will be working  tomorrow. =^..^=
I really would like to connect with other whirligig makers.    I have looked for forums and groups,  but
could not find one,   ( did on Yahoo.. but no activity )  I have bought two books.  but would be so helpful
to be able to talk to people about them.    LOL  pulling my hair out at times... but the books say that's the fun
of getting them to work.  I do feel good mine is working... but took for ever to work bugs out.
I took this photo the night of the red moon,    this was the sun set we had.. just Beautiful.
Do we have other whirligig makers in this forum?

[DWSudekum]

Very nicely done Lorace.  Mechanical things like this always take a bit of tweaking to get them running smoothly.  A friend cut a wooden clock complete with gears the whole 9 yards.  It took him 2 months to cut and another 5 to get it to where it would work decently.  Looking forward to your next one.  Thanks for sharing this with us.


DW

[Lorace]

Thanks,   I am just having a bad time making the bend out of the wire.  and my gig making is not good at all,  as I am finding out.

[DWSudekum]

Things like that take practice.  I know several folks well on their way to being not able to do this kind of crafting any more that have been doing this for 30 years or more and some of the learning tales that they tell are quite eye opening.  Basically keep at it you will get better, just like most things in life keep practicing and you will get better and better.


DW

[frankorona]

Wonderful work.

[gordster]

Now that one should catch on fast...imagine the potential

[Rapid Roger]

Yea!
Just add a fire plug and have him lift one leg. 

Rog

[whittlinwilly]

hello nice work  I have made  several thru the yrs.  Hardest part is getting machanical working right,  got a couple to fix then I post pictures.  your right there are no groups or stuff that Ive been able to find.  I dont think to many younger guys are doing it.  Maybe it just an old man thing.

[Lorace]

Thanks!!!   lol my husband said the same thing,  that I should add the fire plug.
I did buy a router table and used it for the first time yesterday,   that is going to make life
a lot easier on cutting the groves out for the wire.

[whittlinwilly]

had not thought of that.  I make some of the pieces on table saw in long strips cut shallow groove with it then cut to length as needed.

[Lorace]

lol  for some reason I am scared of my table saw.    first time I went to use it.   no one was home,   and I was cutting a big piece of ply wood,   and had nothing to hold part of it up with.   well it came back and punched my in the stomach....   and I have not used it again.    Im fine with my band saw,  scroll saw,  miter chop saw.  but forget the table saw....    and I know it was my stupidity!

[wombatie]

It looks amazing in the sunset.  Well cut too.

Marg

[Marcellarius]

that's really a nice project

[Lorace]

Thank you.   going to go cut a whale out now . 

[jeff44]

Have you ever heard of a catalog called "Micro Mart".  They have some very small pliers that are made to bend wire for small crafts.  Check them out and see if it could be of benefit to you.