Cardboard and Paper Thumb Spring Toy
by Fikjast Scott in Craft > Cardboard
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Cardboard and Paper Thumb Spring Toy
Making a cardboard and paper spring thumb toy has been on my list of projects for a while. I have a few wooden ones that I have enjoyed for many years.
The toy works by pushing up the inner piece in the base to compress the spring - which makes the figure drop down.
when releasing the compression of the spring, the figure returns to the original position.
Therefore, I designed one and away I made. I have to say that working with paper and cardboard for certain parts was a challenge. I made several sample test parts from various materials and using different glues. I also practiced on drilling and sanding these samples. I was not sure of calculating the strength of the spring in relation to the weight and size of the toy. Well, please see the following steps of my process.
Supplies
Supplies
Cardboard
Solid Cereal box 1 mm thick - cut to size as needed
Corrugated Shipping box 1/8 inch thick - cut to size as needed
Paper
20 pound 8.5 X 11 inch - cut to size as needed
80 pound 8.5 X 11 inch - cut to size as needed
Paint
Acrylic craft pain, various colors
Glue
Wood glue
Super glue - gel
Fast dry paper glue
Modge podge - craft glue
Spring
I used a spring from a power weed wiping machine.
Wire and string
Fine stainless steel wire - .020 inch diameter
fishing line * 8 pound test
Craft water
Used for:
- wetting cardboard
- Thinning wood glue
- Cleaning brushes
Tape - blue easy peel off type
3/4 inch diameters PVC pipe joint connectors
TOOLS
Paint brush
Glue Brush
Paint cup to hold paint
Cup to hold glue
Cooking sheet = tin - to contain spills and drips'
Craft saw - fine tooth for cutting paper
Back saw - coarse saw used to cut cardboard
Small miter box
Paper cutter Optional
Self healing cutting mat
Spring clips
- Small - I used approximately -10X
- Medium 4X
- Sliding clamp small 2X
Scissors
Wire cutters
pliers
Hole punch
Plastic glue block 6X
1/8 inch diameter drill bit and holder
small dremel for drilling
Files and sandpaper
Medium flat file
1/8 inch diameter round file
Med and course board files = aka nail files
220 and 180 sandpaper
Razor knife
1/8 inch diameter brass rod - I used 36 inch length
Plastic ear swaps - cut one end off to use for wrapping
Design items
Steel 12 inch ruler
micrometer
mechanical pencil
fine and med black markers
Circle templates
small angle square
Make the Base Out Case
Base or stand
Using 1 mm cardboard - cut three layers
I used the 20 pound paper to wrap and make a template for cardboard
Wet cardboard to ease the bending
Wrap first layer around pvc pipe as shape fixture and hold in place using spring clamp
using wood glue for bonding agent
Wrap second layer after apply glue to the first layer to bond to second layer then do the same for the third layer.
After drying - I waited over night to remove from pvc fixture
Bottom embellishment
I measured the out dimension of the base
cut 1mm cardboard
Marked out a straight line
using hole punch i cut holes along the line.
I marked my punch with a black marker to keep the holes straight
used scissors and cut the middle of the holes
using wood glue and spring clamps attaching it to the base.
Make and Install Inner and Outer Caps and Push Plate
Outer and inner caps
I wanted to make sure the top or cap of base will be strong enough and not push out.
So, I designed it to avoid a butt joint. I did one cap to go inside with rolled over edge to be glued inside the base.
the out side cap also had a rolled over edge to glue on the outside of the base.
I needed to cut the the edge to ease the roll over to meet the rounded edge.
Wetting the cardboard helps in the fit.
Using wood glue
the inner cap the edge was glued and push up into place to the top of the base.
I made a special clamp for the outside from a plastic binding strap. Using blue tape made a nice clamp around or 360 degrees of the outer cap.
Make sure to put wood glue on the surface between the inner and outer cap.
The push plate
I used the pvc pipe to draw out 2 round pieces of 1 mm cardboard
Paper glue
spring clamps
Drill two holes thru top caps and push plates
Making Tube Components
The goal of wrapping is to create an opening for the string to freely pass thru the components.
(i tried drilling the holes and it did not work for me)
I use the drill for cleaning out the holes and drilling the solid components - later.
Using
- 1/8 inch
- brass rod
- plastic swap
Wood glue
I cut approximately 3/4 to 1 inch wide strips of paper
The cardboard I cut oversized to the needs of the different components need
MAKE extra components
Paper wrap components
(might need several wraps to build up to the needed diameter)
first wet the wrap
attach the paper
Apply wood glue on one side of paper
For the paper I wrapped down in a spiral manner
Holding the start and end with either a spring clamp or tape.
Cardboard wrap components
wet the wrap
with the over size widths I do a straight wrap around the 1/8 form.
apply wood glue to one side of the cardboard
roll the carboard on top of itself
My drying rack was to stick the rods in between the wall studs.
Cut to length
marking the dried wraps to the needed dimension
cut the paper with fine saw
cut the cardboard with the coarse saw
smooth the edges with files and sand paper
Make sure the holes are clean and clear so the string can pass thru.
Make the Bodys Hands and Feet
Hands and feet
I stacked the 1 mm card board to build up to the needed dimentsions
I used wood glue and let dry with plastic blocks and small spring clamps
once dried I drilled 1/8 holes for string
shape and clean up edges with file and sand paper
upper and lower body components
I used packing box cardboard - it is lighter and allows to build up to the thickness quicker.
using wood glue and I used just a small slide clamp to hold together for drying.
once dry, I drilled the string holes.
shape and clean up edges with file and sand paper
I had two components spilt apart
I used super glue gel to repair
worked great
Test Assembly
Using the fishing line (string)
I used various tools and wires to push the string thru the base
upper body
- I used a looped wire
- put the loop in the arm holes and threaded the string up
- pulled the loop out the arm to draw the string out
lower body
- used a hook wire
- pull the string up thru the leg holes
- to the center body hole
I used spring clamps to hold the spring and push plate in compression
put thru push plate and knot below
I cut three strings a little over 12 inches each. will need extra for knots
1 for each arm
1 to go thru the to the head.
2 strings will run together and split at the upper body
one out the arm
one out the head
spring clamp the three to strings
Test by taking off the compression clamps
push up and let go to test
.
Paint
Disassemble the testing of the figure
Using craft paints
colors I choose was random
I put the components on the brass rod to hold while painting
Once I had painted the components I put on a rack to dry
It was hot today, so I put them outside to dry
Final Assembly
After the paint was dry
I used various tools and wires to push the string thru the
base
upper body
- I used a looped wire
- put the loop in the arm holes and threaded the string up
- pulled the loop out the arm to draw the string out
lower body
- used a hook wire
- pull the string up thru the leg holes
- to the center body hole
I used spring clamps to hold the spring and push plate in compression
1 for each arm
1 to go thru the to the head.
2 strings will run together and split at the upper body
one out the arm
one out the head
spring clamp the three to strings
Make a knot in each string
I added braided twine in the knot and then used super glue gel to hold
Let glue dry
release compressed spring in base
Enjoy