Woodworker's Journal 1985-9-5, страница 54

Fu L k

Folk toys similar lo this Dancing Bear have been delighting children for generations. We won't try lo trace their origin, but we do know that this design has changed little over the years The basic concept behind this type of toy is the use of tension (from squeezing the bottom end of live slicks together) to straighten a pair ot crossed strings. Since iIk- toy is assembled so that when the bear is at resi the wirings are crossed, when the strings are ten sioned the bear flips around in acrobatic gyrations. The loose pinning of the bear's legs and arms to the body results in a positively unpredictable action, which in turn produces always predictable laughter from the litile ones.

The toy shown was crulted by Connecticui woodworker Dave Moretti. He used maple lor ihe arms, padauk for the bear parts, and a birch dowel, although alntosl any combination of woods can be used. Heavy duty waxed denial floss works great as the string, and a few short pieces of brass wire hold the bear's parts together.

Start by transferring the bear's parts from the full-size pattern lo your '/* in. thick stock. You can use carbon paper to transfer the pattern, or jusi photocopy (he pattern and paste the photocopy right onto the stock. Make (wo each of ihe arms and legs. After transferring the patterns, use a ^!/i<s in. diameter drill bit

to bore the various holes as indicated. Note that the string holes in the arms should be on-center in. apart.

Although the scroll saw is the idea! tool lor cutting the bear parts out, a coping or jeweler's saw will also work fine. By the way, if you don't have the ability to make 7s in. thick material. 7* in. thick stock, in several different wwxl species, can be ordered from Woodcraft (tel. 1-800-225-1153).

Wiih the bear parts cut. next rip the pair of ^xfi in. thick by 7* in. wide sticks ,md cut the 274 in. long dowel. Drill the pair of 7« in. deep dowel holes, and the in. diameter string holes in the stick ends. Make sure these 'M in. diameter holes arc also 7-i in. apart, on center. Glue the sticks and dowel together.

Sand, then finish the witod parts with a penetrating oil. Assemble the bear pans as shown wiih the two lengths of brass wire, bending the ends of the wire to hold the parts together, but making certain that the parts are loose. Now, with the bear in the position shown in Figure 1, thread the string through the holes in the sticks and bear, tie the ends together, and clip off any excess. *ITie siring should be loose, not tight.

Now. with the dancing bear toy held upright in your hand, try squeezing the bottom end of ihe sticks together. It won't take long and we're sure you'll have your bear spinning tricks that should insure him a berth on the next Oly mpic gymnastics team. EJi

54 The Woodworker's journal