CHAPTER V

A CRANE

=A Crane.= _Foundation_, _Arm_, _Pulley_. Cut a piece of wood about 5-1/2 inches by 4-1/2 inches (H in Fig. 304). Cut a second piece a square, A, side 2-1/2 inches. Cut off the corners. This forms a stand on which the crane, etc., is fastened.

Cut a piece of stripwood, 1/4" x 1/2" x 8". This is the arm of the crane, C, and is usually inclined at an angle of 45° to 60°. To support this arm cut B with sides about 3/4 inch, angles 45° or 60° and 30°.

Cut two pieces of stripwood 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch, each 2 inches in length; shape like E and F in Fig. 305. These can now be glued and nailed to the arm C, projecting an inch beyond.

A wheel for the pulley is cut from a round rod about 3/4 inch in diameter.

If a groove is to be made round the circumference, the wheel should be about 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick. The groove is made with a file. A simple way to make the groove is to cut two cardboard discs a little larger in diameter than the wheel and glue them to each side of the wheel, in which case the latter need not be quite so thick. A hole is drilled through the wheel and enlarged by a round file to 1/4 inch in diameter.

A piece of wood is now rounded for an axle, so that the wheel turns on it easily. This must fit tightly between E and F. Pass it through the wheel and glue it in position (G in Fig. 305).

_Winding Gear._ Cut two pieces of stripwood, 1/4" x 1/2" x 2", J and K in Fig. 304. Round their tops, drill and enlarge holes in them.

A hole must now be made through the centre of A, to enable this part to rotate on the foundation H, so that the crane may swing round in any direction. One of the simplest ways of doing this is to use a rivet, but if such is not procurable a screw may be used; the hole in A is made large enough for A to turn easily on the pivot which can be screwed into H. Before this is done, pieces J and K are fastened to A about one inch apart. To do this, drive nails right through A in correct positions, glue the ends of J and K and hammer them on to the nails. The head of the nail should rest on a piece of metal when the wood is being hammered down on its point.

The support B should now be glued and nailed to A. When B is firmly fixed the arm C is fastened to it. The hole in the centre of A must be left clear.

A is now riveted or screwed to H. A wooden axle, P, is made to pass through holes in J and K, and to the ends of this axle wheels are glued. (The figure shows one only.) The wheels can be made from reels, or several discs of cardboard gummed together. Before glueing on the wheels, wooden handles, L, are fastened to them. A wooden handle O is fastened to A. This is used for turning the crane. A piece of stout thread is tied to and wound round P and passed over the pulley. To the end of this a hook is fastened, made from wire or a bent pin. Bags can be made and filled with sawdust, etc.