Kinetic or Frenetic Santa

As my daughter used to ask, back in olden times did kids play with sticks and stones for fun? Well my ible would be the equivalent of an iPhone compared to those times. It is actually a folk art toy that I think is still pretty fun to make and use. You can make a plethora of different objects to spin which can be seasonal or family oriented and create an heirloom toy for today and years to come. So hope you enjoy - especially the Drunken Santa video.

Materials

6 x 12 x 3/4 inch (W L Thickness) wood stock (Frame)

6 x 1/4 inch wood dowel

5 x 5 x 1/4 inch wood stock (Santa)

Glue

Sand Paper

Paint

Carbon paper

Santa drawing (google for pattern)

Tools

Table saw

Scroll saw

Belt sander

Sanding block

Wood burner (optional)

I had some left over floor boards that where 6 x 24 x 3/4” in length. I used one to make the base of the ramp platform which comprises four parts. To make: rip two 3/4 x 3/4 x 6 inch and two 3/4 x 3/4 x 12 inch rectangular strips. Then create half lap joints to form a grid for the base. Next, cut gout dowels to form the pillars for the ramp. Finally cut two thin strips 1/4 x 1/4 x 11 for the horizontal ramp. A pro option is to make a slanted ramp which creates more spin dynamics and longer plays. Make sure you sand the ramps so both sides are exactly the same. I used a sanding block for that.

Google your favorite Santa image (black and white like a coloring book is best) and with carbon paper underneath your 1/4 x 5 x 5 inch wood square, trace the Santa pic to transfer an image to the wood square. Then use your scroll saw, or a coping saw, to carefully cut out your Santa. The fun part is to let you kids color their Santas as the wish.

Finally for this part, and this is the only tricky part, you need to find the center of gravity (CG) of your Santa. I do this by balancing Santa on my pinky. Once you mark that, drill a 1/4 inch hole in the CG and poke him with your 1/4 x 6 inch dowel so it’s even on both sides (i.e., ~3 inches) Don't worry Santa can take it.

Now just take your Santa and do a gentle spin and watch him tumble across the ramp with glee. If you did the pro option with the slanted ramp, Santa will go back and forth. Rumor has it, the world record for a toy like this was 42 times back and forth. That's Magical!.

So I hope you think this Folk Art is amazing and way better than an iPhone for sure for your kids (and the grown up kids) ;-).

Bonus

You can have additional fun making other spinner toys and create a collection. See the whale and my epic wood burn dragon.

Last video is the Drunken Santa

Have fun iblers!