For actor Carl Lumbly, one of the stars of the hit series Alias, woodworking is more than a way of relaxing: it's a link to his early childhood in Jamaica. His father was a Jamaican immigrant, a traditional man who spent much of his free time fixing things around the house and making things that the family might otherwise not have been able to afford. His son loved having fun with his father by helping with the "construction," as the elder Lumbly always referred to his woodworking; in fact, young Carl's favorite things were a hammer, a block of wood and a few nails. Nowadays, Carl Lumbley is a successful actor and doesn't need to build items to save money; instead, he pursues woodcraft because he loves the satisfaction it brings him. His Berkeley, California, property abounds in hand-built bookshelves, fences, a deck, planters, workbenches, in-sink drain boards -- "If we need it and I can figure out a way," he says, "I'll build it." There's even a sauna (figure A), his pride and joy. He's proud of this achievement not only because he built it himself, though. It also has great emotional value for him because of the memories it helps evoke: "When you finish building it, you can go inside and relax. When it gets nice and moist in here, this is as close as I can come to being in Jamaica." Another link with the past is a whirlygig, a Jamaican version of a scarecrow. Made of wood and wire, this small wind-powered folk figure (figure B) is turned by means of a propeller (figure C); it also makes noise as it moves, thus serving as an ideal -- and charming -- bird-deterrent. Wood cutout parts Materials:
2' x 2' plywood, 1-1/2" thick
Cardboard templates: 2 each of legs, L-shaped, 3" long; and arms, L-shaped, 2" long; 1 head/body of the Rasta man, 5" tall; 1 wooden "coconut," 1"
Finishing nails
Hammer
Saw, electric or hand
Router with 1" blade
Wooden chassis, 12" long 2" x 2"
Nut
Cup hook
Double-eye hook
Coat hanger
Wire
Four 4" propeller pieces
Propeller head
Bolt
Super glue
Channel cover
Small rock Legs Steps: - Draw out the body parts for the Rasta man on cardboard, making sure the body, legs and arm proportions all look relative.
- When satisfied with the size of the body parts, cut them out of the cardboard.
- Trace the body parts on plywood, then cut out with the saw.
- Slide the bolt through one leg, then the main body and then the second leg. Make sure the legs are pointing forward -- the same direction that the head is facing.
- Tighten a nut onto the bolt. The man will move at the hips since the bolt is the only place the body can move from. Make sure that your Rasta man will be able to straddle the chassis piece with enough room to be able to move completely.
Arms Steps: - One arm goes on each side of the Rasta man's body. Since the arms are not going to move, you can hammer them in place with a hammer and finishing nails. Hammer an arm into place on each side of the body. The arms should reach forward from the body.
- Attach the coconut between his hands by nailing it into place with the finishing nails.
Making the chassis Steps: - Cut a 2" x 2" segment of wood to the length you want the whirligig to be (Lumbly's was 12" long).
- From the length and the top of the wood, router out a channel that is 1" deep and runs the entire length of the piece of wood.
- Where the legs of the man will be, cut a 1" channel across the wood, which will be perpendicular to the longer channel already cut.
Finishing the legs Steps: - After the arms are on your Rasta man, it's time to use two finishing nails to hammer the legs onto each side of the chassis. Make sure that the Rasta man is at the far end of the chassis from where you will be placing the propeller head. The man should be nailed onto the wood directly behind where the cross channel has been cut, and facing the propeller.
The coat hanger Steps: - First screw the cup hook into the chest of the Rasta man, about breast high. Place the double-ended eye hook on the hinge of the cup hook.
- Once that is attached, clamp shut the cup hook so the double-ended eye hook can move freely around the cup hook but not slide off.
- Insert the coat hanger from the looped wire, down the channel to the propeller. Once you know what the length will be, cut the coat hanger.
- At the end of the coat hanger, near the Rasta man, which is 1" from where one end of the double-ended eye hook is, bend it 90 degrees.
- Bend the coat hanger another 90 degrees so that you will be able to place the bottom end of the double-ended eye hook onto the wire.
- Drop the coat hanger in the channel and attach the 90-degree bent head to the double-ended eye hook that is at the bottom of the Rasta man.
- Run the other end down the channel to the propeller.
The propeller head Steps: - You will need to glue each propeller piece into the propeller head slots. The propeller pieces should already be premeasured and cut so that all you will have to do is insert them into place.
- Spread glue in the slot of the propeller head. Place the propeller piece in the hole and hold it in place till it dries, repeating the process with the other three pieces. Make sure that all propeller blades are facing the same direction.
Channel cover Steps: - Everything should now be assembled except for the channel cover, which is really just a piece of plywood. Simply cut out a piece of plywood that matches the width and length needed to cover the channel in the chassis.
- Now you are going to glue the piece of plywood over the channel so the coat hanger isn't visible. Be sure to hold in place till the glue dries.
The rock The final step: don't forget the rock. Glue it just in front of the Rasta man's hands on the plywood cover (it should barely be touched when the Rasta man bends down). Don't forget to paint the whirligig in bright colors! Now that you have assembled the whirligig, it's time to scare 'way some birds! Enjoy!
RESOURCES :
Sailors' Folk-Art under Glass: A Story of Ships-in-Bottles
Model: 0962616281
Author: Louis R. Norton
Making Rustic Originals : Turning Furniture Finds into Folk Art
Model: 0881791555
Author: Abby Ruoff
Tramp Art: A Folk Art Phenomenon
Model: 1556709056
Author: Helaine Fendelman
(September, 1999)
Stewart, Tabori and Chang
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-519-1200
By Hand: 25 Beautiful Objects to Make in the American Folk Art Tradition
Model: 1579902421
Author: Janice Eaton Kilby
Wind Toys That Spin, Sing, Whirl and Twirl
Model: 0806939346
Author: Cindy Burda
Order this book from Amazon.com.
(1999)
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
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