Customer Reviews

The Art and Craft of Whirligig Construction

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After browsing through bunch of books on Whirligigs at the local library we decided to get our own copy. This book is great with loads of useful information and pictures. The author is very skilled and creative. However, this might not be a good total beginner book. My boy friend and I have made quite a few whirli-birds (goose, duck, cardinal, etc.) but we have yet made any particular ones from this book as they are more detailed and time consuming... We look forward to try them when we get more free time.

I liked the projects and to me this book turns whirlgig projects into a art form. Since some of the projects use more complicated systems and combinations of operations to move different parts it is the book that can inspire the inventer in you. Of course, I mean this in a good way even if this is your first try at making whirlgigs or if you are experienced in and just need some inspiration.

I'm a part time woodworker and always wanted to make some Whirligigs. This book is packed with great plans and ideas.

Each time I look at this book I want to get started on a new project.

I've started building whirligigs as a new hobby. For the most part, I'm a beginner, but I do have a mechanical background. This book does a very good job with the details of how to build common parts as well as the individual whirligigs themselves. The drawings and color photos are very detailed and provide a lot of information that can be difficult to express in words. The author seems genuinely interested in sharing his craft with others who want to build, and not merely showcasing his own work. I think that this book is more or less geared toward the beginning to mid-range hobbyist- it does not have any of the simple arm-waving whirligigs found in many beginner books, but at the same time it doesn't offer much in the terms of more-complex mechanisms. That is not to say that all of these projects are easy to build- it just means that there is not much use of more complex mechanisms to make the whirligig puppets do more complex movements. I especially found that the author's listing sources for supplies is extremely helpful.

I really enjoyed this book for the concepts, techiques, and ideas that it has provided me with. One thing I found to be a little weak was the subject matter. The project it suggests to be built first will not hold the interest of most people; the author is a dentist, so a whirligig of a smiling tooth brushing itself makes for a great deal of enjoyment for himself and his patients. But it really wasn't anything I had any interest in building. I found that many of the projects in this book really weren't my 'cup of tea', as many were more modern, such as space-oriented themes and such. I would have preferred more traditional subject matter, such as a characters performing chores or doing something humorous.

Another thing I was a little disappointed with is that the author uses a variety of materials to build his whirligigs from. I had envisioned primarially working with wood, but the author uses a lot of sheet metal, and even some plaster. I also did not care for the author's painting techniques, although that is the easiest aspect to overcome, because painting alone does not require discovering different ways of building to work around.

This book was EXCELLENT for providing the basic concepts and construction techniques. And if you are someone who can carry the knowledge learned here into projects of your own, then I would definitely recommend this book. It is well worth the small investment. If you are looking for a set of plans for every project you intend to build, then this may not be the book for you, especially if you are looking to make more traditional folk-art pieces.

All though Mr. Zuckerman did some beautiful assembly work at times he lost touch with the average retiree's cash flow and tools that would be lying around.