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How to Build a Whirligig Out of Cans

Whirligigs are little machines that you place in your yard and let spin in the wind. They can be made from all sorts of materials, and can be simple to very complex. Some artists make huge whirligigs of all shapes and colors, but you can make one easily at your home out of a few recyclable materials, and some soda or beer cans. This design can be placed in the yard to measure the wind direction, because it will both spin and turn around in the wind.

Things You'll Need

3 aluminum cans
Strong scissors or serrated knife
Wire hanger, untwisted
Awl or Phillips-head screwdriver
Super Glue

Instructions

- 1
  Cut off the top and bottom of one can. Cut down one side to open the can up into a flat surface. This will be the tail that turns the whirligig around in the wind.
- 2
  Poke a hole through the bottom of the second can. Cut the top off. Slice down the sides of the can toward the bottom to make about six or eight strips of can. Flatten this out to look like an asterisk. Then twist each strip slightly to the same side.
- 3
  Stick a straightened end of the wire hanger through the mouth of the top of the third can and poke it through bottom so about 1 inch sticks out. Place the asterisk-shaped can over the wire through the hole you poked, and secure by twisting the rubber band tightly over the front end of the wire. Place it close enough to keep the asterisk in place, but not so tight that it won't spin.
- 4
  Put Super Glue along the last few inches of the other end of the straightened hanger, and stick it to the center of the flattened can. This should orient the flattened can perpendicular in relation to the asterisk-shaped can.
- 5
  Poke two holes about 1 inch apart in the top of the main body can. Feed a string in one hole and back out the other. Tie off this end. Tie the other end to a tree branch or hook on a porch. Let it turn and spin in the wind.

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