Here is a great little project sent in by Michael Hamilton-Clark. Give it a go! [Ed.]
Barrel Jack-In-The-Box
“The March 2020 President’s Challenge was for something fanciful, designed to be exotically ornamental rather than practical… and I have to say, nothing came to mind.
Then, whilst doing a bit of a tidy-up, I came across a 4-in length of 1-in x 1-in torrified Maple, left over from making a pen some time ago, and a bit later, a small spring. Then, quite unbidden, the idea of making a barrel jack-in-a-box came to mind.
I made a sketch and with the finger jaws on the chuck, turned the barrel and bored it out for the Jack and the spring. Then it was the Jack’s turn to be brought to life, the spring inserted in his base and the toothpick bung inserted to hold him down in the barrel.
My grandson had the first go… and, on pulling out the bung, the Jack leaped out in an arc to land several feet away, causing surprise and laughter. He has done his act quite a few times since, having been recovered from under chairs and on the bookshelf and other places. For just 20 minutes in the making he’s been the source of many more minutes of fun.”
Michael Hamilton-Clark
