Woodworker's Journal 1992-16-5, страница 54
Fu L k Folk toys similar lo this Dancing Bear have been delighting children for generations. W'e won't try lo trace their origin, but we do know thai this design has changed little over the years The basic concept behind this type of toy is the use- of tension drum squeezing the bottom end of live slicks together) to straighten a pair o( crossed strings. Since Ihe loy is assembled so thai when the bear is at resi the strings are crossed, when the strings are len sioned the bear flips around in acrobatic gyrations. The loose pinning of ihe bear's legs and arms to the body results in a positively unpredictable action, which in turn produces always predictable laughter from the litilc ones. The toy shown was crafted by Connecticui woodworker Dave Moretti. He used maple lor ihe arms, padauk for the bear paris. and a birch dowel, although alntosl any combination of woods can he used. Heavy duty waved 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 lo transfer the pattern, or just photocopy the pattern and paste the photocopy right onto the stock. Make two each of ihe arms and legs. After transferring the patterns, use a 7l6 in. diameter drill bit to bore the various holes as indicated. Note that the string holes in the arms should be on-center 7* in. apart. Although the scroll saw is the idea! tool for cutting the bear parts out, a coping or jeweler's saw will also work tine. 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 del. 1-800-225-1153). With the bear parts cut. next rip the pair of xfi in. thick by 7* in. wide sticks and cut the 274 in. long dowel. Drill the pair of 7« in. deep dowel holes, and the 'fa in. diameter string holes in the stick ends. Make sure these 7i<> in. diameter holes arc also 7-i in. apart, on center. Glue the sticks and dowel together. Sand, then finish the wood parts with a penetrating oil. Assemble the bear pans as shown with the two lengths of brass wire, bending the ends of the wire to hold the parts together, but making certain I hat the parts are loose. Now, with the bear in the position shown in Figure I, 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 loy 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 Thi- Woodworker"* Journal |
