How to make a Spiral Wind-Spinner Template

How to make a Spiral Wind-Spinner Template

Introduction

Spinning Spiral With Ball

This article explains how to make a template for a spiral Wind-Spinner. To see how to make a spiral Wind-Spinner using this template click here

Spiral Winf Spinner Template

This template is made out of a piece of 4″ x 4″ (100mm x 100mm) wood 40″ (1m) long.
In short, the template is a piece of 4″ x 4″ (100mm x 100mm) wood with a cone shape at one end and a notch at the top of the cone.
Rod can be inserted in the notch, held in place by a plug (bolt or piece of round steel) and wrapped around the cone to form a conical spiral (cone shaped), hence the spiral wind-spinner.
Hang the spiral wind-spinner in the garden, drop a ball in the spiral, and you have a mesmerizing garden ornament that gives the illusion of the ball moving up and down the spiral when the breeze spins it.

The template can be shaped using just a circular saw and a disk sander, although just sandpaper with a sanding pad will do in place of a disk sander if you don’t mind a bit of work.

Once you have made the template, it takes less than a minute to make a spiral Wind-Spinner and you can use the template over and over again.

Step-by-step instructions and drawings are on successive pages, along with explanatory photos.  

Shaping the cone

Step 1.

Spiral Wind-Spinner : Mark the Template
  • Use a piece of 4″ x 4″ (100mm x 100mm) wood 40″ (1m) long to make the spiral Wind-Spinner.
  • Pencil-mark the top side according to the dimensions given below (also see the photo on the right).
Spiral Wind-Spinner : Template Plan
  •      Then cut along the point-shaped pencil lines, creating a wedge.  

Step 2.

Spiral Wind-Spinner : Step 2
  • Turn the wood on its side. Pencil-mark another point-shape on the face of the wedge, as shown on the drawing below and in the picture on the right.
  • Then cut that point also.
Spiral Wind-Spinner : Step 2 Plan

Step 3.

Spiral Wind-Spinner : Step 3
  • Measure along line (a) 1 3/16″ (29mm) in from one edge and pencil a line from there to the point, as shown in the drawing below.
  • In order to cut along the pencil-line using a circular saw with the blade set on a 45° angle, ensure the pencil-line is on the same edge of the wood, as is shown in the drawing and photo.
template plan step 4

Step 4.

Spiral Wind-Spinner : Step 4
  • Set the blade at 45° on your circular saw and cut along the pencil-line beginning from the point.
  • Then cut along line (a) with a handsaw to get rid of the off-cut piece .
  • Do the same to all four sides.
Spiral Wind-Spinner : Step 4 Plan

The notch and plugs

Step 5.

Spiral Wind-Spinner : Step 5
  • Sand all the edges, making a cone.
  • A disk sander would be ideal although just sandpaper with a sanding pad will suffice if you don’t mind using a bit of elbow grease.
Spiral Wind-Spinner : Step 5 Plan

Step 6.

Spiral Wind-Spinner : Step 6
  • Set the blade in your circular saw to a depth of 2 1/4″ (56mm) and make multiple saw-cuts across the notch area, cutting as close to the curved line as possible.
  • Then clean the notch out with a sharp chisel and round the top of the cone head with sandpaper.
Spiral Wind-Spinner : Step 6 Plan

Step 7.

Spiral Wind-Spinner : Step 7
  • Drill two 3/8″ (10mm) holes into the template, one in the notch area and the other in the side of the cone head.
  • Position the holes approximately as shown in the drawing below.
Spiral Wind-Spinner : Step 7 Plan
  • The holes are to accommodate a couple of bolts, or 3/8″ (10mm) steel rod that can be put into the holes to hold the top of the spiral rod in place.
  • Once the spiral is formed, the bolts can be pulled out to allow the spiral to slip off the template with relative ease.
  • To see how to make the spiral Wind-Spinner click here. You will also find information regarding the types, thickness and lengths of rod required.
  • This is my version of the spiral Wind-Spinner template and it works very well. It takes less than a minute to make a spiral Wind-Spinner using the template.
  • If you can improve on the template or have a different type that works well and is easy to make, let us know.

Les Kenny

Buildeazy.com started as a hobby for Les Kenny over eight years ago when he decided he would share his successful DIY projects with the wider world, putting them up online for anyone to access.

4 Comments
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  1. Where do you find the balls? And what material are they made from?

  2. But where can I find the 3″crystal ball at ?

  3. I would check either amazon or a craft store like hobby lobby, and if you still can’t find them check on “Etsey” online. One of these options will have them, Amazon I know for sure.

  4. can you make the spiral cone from a baseball bat

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