Boomeranging
- Thread starter GopherM
- Start date
Lugnut
I'm Rick James #####!
I used to make my own seeral years ago. Great fun, even more so with kids! I can't tell you how many times I would take a dozen or so to a large park and end up giving most of them away to the kids. I still have a book on boomerangs around here somewhere.
Do you make your own or buy them? If you buy them contact the company and specificaly ASK if they are returning boomerangs before you purchase. A lot of places sell sticks.
Do you make your own or buy them? If you buy them contact the company and specificaly ASK if they are returning boomerangs before you purchase. A lot of places sell sticks.
Lugnut
I'm Rick James #####!
Hey found the book. It's called "Boomerangs how to make and throw them" by Bernard S. Mason. Good book. Price on the back is $3.95 and it has about 100 pages.
I've made and flown several of the designs in the book but the fastest method I've come across for making a boomerang is to use two 12" wood rulers from walmart or kmart. They carry a wood ruler with a concave top (symmetyrical profile when viewed on end) and brass insert on one edge. Pull the brass insert out with a pair of pliers and fasten the rulers together with tape, rubber bands, or glue, and go fly it.
Most of them return on the very first flight with no tweaking necessary.
I've made and flown several of the designs in the book but the fastest method I've come across for making a boomerang is to use two 12" wood rulers from walmart or kmart. They carry a wood ruler with a concave top (symmetyrical profile when viewed on end) and brass insert on one edge. Pull the brass insert out with a pair of pliers and fasten the rulers together with tape, rubber bands, or glue, and go fly it.
Most of them return on the very first flight with no tweaking necessary.
tirdun
staring into the abyss
The simplest (although not traditional) boomerang I make for my kids / nephews / nieces / etc is really simple.
Materials:
Cardboard (pizza box, broken down packing box, whatever)
Lots of making tape
3 pennies (or 6 if you want to splurge)
Tools:
Pencil/Pen
A protractor
A Cup
A Ruler
- Take a good sized (18" or more) square of cardboard and find a center point. Doesn't have to be perfect, just find something close.
- Measure and draw a line straight down from the centerpoint to the bottom edge of the cardboard.
- Use the protractor to create a 120 degree angle to either side from the center point (who said geometry would never come in handy), and draw equal length lines outward. You should have a "Y" with a line pointing south, NE and NW. Make sure you mark an end point that's the same length on each arm.
- Measure and draw lines a half inch or so on either side of these 3 lines, as if you were making the Y into a block letter. Check again that your lines are both equally long and that each arm is equally thick.
- Take a cup (mug, glass, round whatever) that's slightly bigger than your block Y's arms and use it to draw a circle at the end of every arm, centered on the outside end of the middle line.
- Cut out the block Y + circle ends. Don't worry about perfectly smooth lines, it's not going to matter shortly. Straight and close enough.
- In the center of each circle, tape the penny. If you're going for the high-dollar option , tape a penny on the other side as well, Mr Gates.
- Tape the heck out of every inch of cardboard. Around each arm, around the middle, all around the circle+penny, etc.
- You should end up with a 3 armed boomerang. The tape and penny creates the airfoil. Throw it overhand at a tilt and even if it doesn't come back every time (you have to work a little at this) you'll still get a cheapazz toy that'll keep you and the kids entertained. Plus you'll recycle all those pizza boxes.
Materials:
Cardboard (pizza box, broken down packing box, whatever)
Lots of making tape
3 pennies (or 6 if you want to splurge)
Tools:
Pencil/Pen
A protractor
A Cup
A Ruler
- Take a good sized (18" or more) square of cardboard and find a center point. Doesn't have to be perfect, just find something close.
- Measure and draw a line straight down from the centerpoint to the bottom edge of the cardboard.
- Use the protractor to create a 120 degree angle to either side from the center point (who said geometry would never come in handy), and draw equal length lines outward. You should have a "Y" with a line pointing south, NE and NW. Make sure you mark an end point that's the same length on each arm.
- Measure and draw lines a half inch or so on either side of these 3 lines, as if you were making the Y into a block letter. Check again that your lines are both equally long and that each arm is equally thick.
- Take a cup (mug, glass, round whatever) that's slightly bigger than your block Y's arms and use it to draw a circle at the end of every arm, centered on the outside end of the middle line.
- Cut out the block Y + circle ends. Don't worry about perfectly smooth lines, it's not going to matter shortly. Straight and close enough.
- In the center of each circle, tape the penny. If you're going for the high-dollar option , tape a penny on the other side as well, Mr Gates.
- Tape the heck out of every inch of cardboard. Around each arm, around the middle, all around the circle+penny, etc.
- You should end up with a 3 armed boomerang. The tape and penny creates the airfoil. Throw it overhand at a tilt and even if it doesn't come back every time (you have to work a little at this) you'll still get a cheapazz toy that'll keep you and the kids entertained. Plus you'll recycle all those pizza boxes.
MY BOOMERANG WON'T COME BACK
Charlie Drake - 1961
(Oom-yacka-wurka, oom-yacka-wurka, oom-yacka-wurka)
In the bad backlands of Australia
Many years ago,
The aborigine tribes were meeting,
Having a big pow-wow.
(Oom-yacka-wurka, oom-yacka-wurka)
"We got a lot of trouble, Chief,
On account of your son Mack."
"My boy Mack? Why, what's wrong with him?"
DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back.
"Your boomerang won't come back?"
DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back,
My boomerang won't come back,
I've waved the thing all over the place,
Practised till I was black in the face,
I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race,
My boomerang won't come back.
DRAKE: I can ride a kangaroo (yeah yeah)
Make kinkajou stew (yeah yeah)
But I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race,
My boomerang won't come back.
They banished him from the tribe then
And sent him on his way,
He had a backless boomerang
So here he could not stay.
(Animal noises)
DRAKE: [Spoken] This is nice, innit? Getting banished at my time of life.
What a way to spend an evening: sitting on a rock in the middle of the
desert with me boomerang in me hand. I shall very likely get bushwhacked.
(An animal roars; Drake shrieks back.)
DRAKE: Get out of it! You nasty bushwhacking animal. Think I'll make a nice
cup of tea. (Doing, doing, doing...) Good gracious! There goes a kangaroo. I
must have a practice with me boomerang: hit him right behind the left
earhole. Now then, slowly back.
Gruff voice: If you throw that thing at me, I'll jump right on your head. (It chuckles and bounces away.)
DRAKE: Innit marvellous? Got a land full of kangaroos and I had to pick that one.
For three long months he sat there
Or maybe it was four,
Then an old old man in a kangaroo skin
Came a-knocking at his door.
"Well, I'm the local witch doctor, son,
They call me George Alfred Black.
Now tell me, what's your trouble, boy?"
DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back.
"Your boomerang won't come back?"
DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back,
My boomerang won't come back,
I've waved the thing all over the place,
Practised till I was black in the face,
I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race,
My boomerang won't come back.
"Don't worry, boy, I know the trick,
And to you I'm gonna show it.
If you want your boomerang to come back,
Well first you've got to... throw it."
DRAKE: Ooh, yes! Never thought of that. Daddy will be pleased. Must have a go, nyuh-huh! Excuse me. Now then, slowly back... and throw.
(Boomerang whizzes away; Sounds of a plane approaching and then falling from the sky.)
DRAKE: Ooh my God! I've hit the flying doctor. Eee-hee-hee!
Can you do first aid?
Witch Doctor: Don't talk to me about first aid, boy, you owe me fourteen chickens,
you know, when I learned you to throw the boomerang, you know, first things first.
DRAKE: Yes, I know that, but I mean, I think on this occasion, you know, you could be a bit more perspective...........
<!-------PASTE SONG LYRICS AND ALL INFO BETWEEN THESE TWO LINES--->
Charlie Drake - 1961
(Oom-yacka-wurka, oom-yacka-wurka, oom-yacka-wurka)
In the bad backlands of Australia
Many years ago,
The aborigine tribes were meeting,
Having a big pow-wow.
(Oom-yacka-wurka, oom-yacka-wurka)
"We got a lot of trouble, Chief,
On account of your son Mack."
"My boy Mack? Why, what's wrong with him?"
DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back.
"Your boomerang won't come back?"
DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back,
My boomerang won't come back,
I've waved the thing all over the place,
Practised till I was black in the face,
I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race,
My boomerang won't come back.
DRAKE: I can ride a kangaroo (yeah yeah)
Make kinkajou stew (yeah yeah)
But I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race,
My boomerang won't come back.
They banished him from the tribe then
And sent him on his way,
He had a backless boomerang
So here he could not stay.
(Animal noises)
DRAKE: [Spoken] This is nice, innit? Getting banished at my time of life.
What a way to spend an evening: sitting on a rock in the middle of the
desert with me boomerang in me hand. I shall very likely get bushwhacked.
(An animal roars; Drake shrieks back.)
DRAKE: Get out of it! You nasty bushwhacking animal. Think I'll make a nice
cup of tea. (Doing, doing, doing...) Good gracious! There goes a kangaroo. I
must have a practice with me boomerang: hit him right behind the left
earhole. Now then, slowly back.
Gruff voice: If you throw that thing at me, I'll jump right on your head. (It chuckles and bounces away.)
DRAKE: Innit marvellous? Got a land full of kangaroos and I had to pick that one.
For three long months he sat there
Or maybe it was four,
Then an old old man in a kangaroo skin
Came a-knocking at his door.
"Well, I'm the local witch doctor, son,
They call me George Alfred Black.
Now tell me, what's your trouble, boy?"
DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back.
"Your boomerang won't come back?"
DRAKE: My boomerang won't come back,
My boomerang won't come back,
I've waved the thing all over the place,
Practised till I was black in the face,
I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race,
My boomerang won't come back.
"Don't worry, boy, I know the trick,
And to you I'm gonna show it.
If you want your boomerang to come back,
Well first you've got to... throw it."
DRAKE: Ooh, yes! Never thought of that. Daddy will be pleased. Must have a go, nyuh-huh! Excuse me. Now then, slowly back... and throw.
(Boomerang whizzes away; Sounds of a plane approaching and then falling from the sky.)
DRAKE: Ooh my God! I've hit the flying doctor. Eee-hee-hee!
Can you do first aid?
Witch Doctor: Don't talk to me about first aid, boy, you owe me fourteen chickens,
you know, when I learned you to throw the boomerang, you know, first things first.
DRAKE: Yes, I know that, but I mean, I think on this occasion, you know, you could be a bit more perspective...........
<!-------PASTE SONG LYRICS AND ALL INFO BETWEEN THESE TWO LINES--->
GopherM
Darwin was right
Lugnut said:I used to make my own seeral years ago. Great fun, even more so with kids! I can't tell you how many times I would take a dozen or so to a large park and end up giving most of them away to the kids. I still have a book on boomerangs around here somewhere.
Do you make your own or buy them? If you buy them contact the company and specificaly ASK if they are returning boomerangs before you purchase. A lot of places sell sticks.
I buy them and have found several great sites on the internet for the purchases with lots of good book learnin' information. I have a fair amount of success with returns on the two that I own. Just looking for someone who can coach me on getting a little more consistency.
Amazed I got two serious replies and a lot of other fodder. Maybe this is more of a bull shooting site and an opportunity for open mike night than a true forum.