Flapping Birds
Category:
Project creation
Class Length:
3 Hours
Build a wooden bird that comes to life in this playful introduction to woodworking and simple mechanics. In this hands-on class, students will design and build a hanging wooden bird whose wings flap up and down with the pull of a cord.
Participants will use the bandsaw to cut and shape the body and wings of their bird before assembling the simple mechanism that allows it to move. Along the way, students will practice layout, drilling, shaping, sanding, and assembly while exploring how balance, pivot points, and small adjustments affect the movement of the finished piece.
Students will choose among several bird species templates which all work within the same simple mechanical framework. By the end of the class, you’ll leave with a finished flapping bird ready to hang at home and a better understanding of how woodworking and simple mechanisms can come together to make an object move.
Upcoming class dates:
Class topics and tools:
- Bandsaw safety and use
- Measuring and
- Cutting and shaping wood
- Drilling with handheld drills
- Sanding and finishing
- Simple mechanical movement
- Pivot points and balance
- Assembly and fine-tuning
Open to:
Adults ages 18 years and above and youth
ages 16-17 registered by a parent/guardian
Skill level beginner, intermediate, or advanced:
Beginner
Prerequisites (if required):
None!
Safety notes:
- Plan to arrive a few minutes before class starts. For safety and instructional reasons, we are not able to allow participants to join the class more than 10 minutes after the class has begun.
- Safety glasses are provided for all participants, though you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.
- Hearing protection is strongly encouraged for classes that involve the use of saws and other equipment. Hearing protection is provided for all participants, though you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.
- For all classes that involve the use of tools and other equipment:
- Please do not wear dangling jewelry or baggy clothing.
- Closed-toed shoes are required. Sandals are not permitted.
- Long hair must be tied back.
Not yet available!
Cost:
$125
participation. Learn more about our scholarship options below.
Financial support
All of the programming at MAC is supported by donations, which enables us to offer classes at a lower cost to all participants. We also understand that our class fees may still be a barrier to participation for individuals with limited expendable income.
To ensure that our courses are accessible to as many community members as possible, we currently offer three levels of financial support: 25%, 50%, and 75%. If one of these discounts would make your participation possible, please select the option that best aligns with your personal needs and circumstances.
Individual participants may enroll in up to three discounted classes per calendar year.
To receive a financial support discount of 25%, enter “community25” in the Promo Code field of the registration checkout page. To receive a financial support discount of 50%, enter “community50” in the Promo Code field. To receive a financial support discount of 75%, enter “community75” in the Promo Code field.
More classes
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