Pioneer Whirlygig/Buzz Saw Toy

Very simple and fun pioneer craft project.  Here's a video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QMmfDhrZxg

and another:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCutHjdDFvY

We made two versions: traditional (shell button and embroidery floss) and the other a modern update: recycled cardboard circles, stretch lace cording for jewelry making and washi tape to decorate. The stretch lace cording worked really well with this project! The embroidery floss on the other hand not as well and due to its nature will start to fray/separate into strands. I hadn't taken that into consideration. In retrospect I would use narrow leather cord for the traditional version. 

                                   Read *Warning* below!

If you want a LARGE button for this craft project, check out your local craft/hobby store. I've seen on many visits 3" in diameter and larger! 

You'll need these items to make your own Buzz Saw/Whirlygig toy:

-Large button (alternatively this can be made using a circle cut out of recycled cardboard or plastic lid with 2-4 "button holes" punched out)
-Crochet thread, embroidery floss, cording, string, yarn or similar that is strong but thin enough to fit through the button holes. I used embroider floss  
-scissors
-chopstick, pencil, aluminum sturdy knitting needle (ask first!) or similar item to punch out the "button holes"
-template for cardboard circles (we used a pencil holder)
-markers, washi tape, crayons, etc., to decorate the cardboard circle cut outs if desired

*Warning*-use with adult supervision especially if this toy is for young children. The button can get caught in a child's hair and in most cases the toy will have to be cut out of the hair. Not fun! 




Cost: ø 

A bit of history via: http://www.historicalfolktoys.com/catcont/2001.html

Historical Background: The Buzz Saw is one of the most popular noisemakers of all times! Native Americans made "buzzers" from a circular piece of bone or antler and used sinew instead of string. Colonial children played with buzz saws. This type of noisemaker was also known as "button on a string" during the Victorian Period and later. A very large button from a mother's sewing basket could be strung for this toy. Coins, bamboo, stones, and seashells have also been used to make this toy. Tin was even used, and teeth were cut around the circumference so that the disc would shred a piece of paper when the two came in contact. Made this way, it resembles a circular saw blade, and this is where it got the name Buzz Saw. Other names for the Buzz Saw are Whizzer, Whiligig, Whirligig, Moonwinder, and Skyewinder.


Also:

THE WHIRLING BUTTON The whirling button is so old that its beginnings are unknown. Fortunately for us, that makes the toy quite easy to make. Find a large button and some strong string, and you’re halfway to making this toy. The button should be about 2 in (5 cm) in diameter. Thread the string through he button as shown in Figure 19 and form a loop about 15 in (38 cm) long. Place one finger of each hand in either end of the loop and twirl the button so that the string twists. After he string has twisted, jerk both fingers away from the mutton and then hold them still. The string will unwind and then wind itself up in the opposite direction. Once you get the rhythm of the motion, you can keep it up for some time. 

This toy may not sound like much fun when you read about it, but when you play with it, you’ll find it almost hypnotic and difficult to put down. The button acts as a flywheel. But in this toy, it stores its spinning energy in the string by twisting it. When the string is winding up, it is storing potential energy, energy that can be converted to motion at some time in the future. When you jerk on the string, the potential energy is converted to motion, or, to be precise, kinetic energy: that is, the button spins in the other direction. Once the string has unwound, the button continues spinning, and the kinetic energy begins changing back into potential energy.  

THE BUZZ SAW:  Kids sometimes make a variation on the whirling button. They cut a large circle out of heavy cardboard, making teeth at the circle’s edge as shown in Figure 20. Then they thread string through two holes in the center as in the button version. Next they place a piece of paper so it hangs slightly off the edge of a table. Once they get the buzz saw spinning, they lightly touch the teeth to the paper’s edge. This makes a sound just like a buzz saw cutting wood. 

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