THIS WOODEN TOY IS A SURE conversation piece. You can explain its mysterious movements as magnetic lines of force or a woodworker’s magic fingers — or just let your audience engage in speculation.
To make this classic whittling toy, sometimes referred to as the “gee-haw-whimmy-diddle,” I used scraps of birch for the sticks, about 5/16" square and 10"-11" long.
The notches are spaced ½" apart on center, and they are about ¼" wide and 1/8" deep. These measurements are not critical, as they just establish the vibration of the stick. What is critical is that the hole in the propeller be larger than the diameter of the axle on which it spins. I used cardboard for my propeller (3¼" by about ¾" ) which has the benefit of being easy to trim with scissors to get the correct balance. And I found a thumbtack worked great to hold it in place.
Some makers of this toy control the changes in the propeller’s direction by rubbing a dowel or pencil across the notches while changing finger positions. However, I found that by holding the stick as drawn, with the thumb on one face and the index finger on the adjacent (not opposite) side, you can change the direction of the propeller without ever moving your fingers (this makes the “mystery” that much more subtle). Applying pressure with your finger but not your thumb makes the propeller spin in one direction, and by pressing with your thumb but not your finger it spins in the opposite direction.
If the propeller will not change direction, you may have to adjust either the depth of the notches or the dimensions of the stick. Once you have your “magic propeller” working you’re ready to test it on your family and friends and maybe move on to other audiences such as fellow woodworkers.
