Simple & Economical Homemade Juggling Clubs
(I highly recommend these clubs as good for beginners. . . much better than most one-piece plastic juggling clubs. If you're not ready to pay $90 for a set of good clubs--and that's what it costs for those worth juggling--then try these out! These are only slightly heavier and more stick-like than professional clubs...but the balance and play is the same. Also, if you already have clubs, but have wanted to get a friend into juggling clubs without giving them your set...here's the answer. Make them some! Disclaimer: this is not my design or artwork...reprinted with permission.) Here's what you need:
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Or try the new X-treme duck tape in fluorescent colors! |
Instructions
1) Count the newspaper pages and add or subtract from each section so that all the sections used in all the clubs have exactly the same number of pages. I used 16 pages per section to make 9.5 ounce clubs. That's 0.6 ounces per page, so if you want a different weight, adjust the number of pages accordingly. Cut one section of newspaper down to 20 1/2" high by removing a strip from the top. This will be the core of the club. If you are cutting with scissors, stop every few inches and reflatten the paper to realign the pages. Otherwise the bottom pages tend to slip and your cut is not straight.
2. From the other section of newspaper, cut a 1" strip for the knob, a 9 1/2" strip for the head, and a 3 1/4" strip for what we'll call the "fat part" of the head.
4) Roll the 20 1/2" core as tight as you possibly can. It may help to "pre-curl" the edge you start with. Tape the roll around the middle with transparent tape, then around each end, then a couple of places in between.
5) Make a cross of transparent tape over one end of the core. Make it slightly snug, but not so snug as to pull the core out of round. At a 45 degree angle, apply another cross of tape, also slightly snug. Wrap around the end again. I'll call this style of taping the ends "asterisk taping." Do this to the other end as well.
6. Tape the knob strip to the core with a couple of pieces of tape and wrap it tightly around the core. Tape the other end of the strip to itself and asterisk tape the end.
7) Run a short piece of transparent tape from the knob down to the core, parallel to the club. Follow the contour without gapping, but don't pull it so tight that it flattens the side of the knob. Repeat around the perimeter of the knob. Now tightly wrap a piece of tape around the handle just above the knob, and wrap another piece tightly around the knob just below the handle. I'll call this style of taping "blend taping." It helps keep the knob from tearing off the handle, as well as defining the shape of the club.
8) Use several pieces of tape to attach the head strip even with the other end of the club, and wrap it tightly around the core. Tape it closed in several places, asterisk tape the top, and blend tape the bottom.
9) Center the "fat part" strip on the head and tape it down. Wind it tightly, tape it down, and blend tape both ends
10) Using colored plastic tape, asterisk tape the head end again. However, instead of wrapping a single turn around the end, continue wrapping until the entire head has been wound with tape. Try to wind evenly, overlapping perhaps halfway over each previous turn. If you keep the tape just slightly stretched, it will follow the contours better.
11) Using the handle tape, asterisk tape the knob end again, and just as with the head end, continue wrapping until the entire handle is covered. (as pictured at the top of the page.)
12) Now perform dazzling feats of juggling!
Club Design, Text, and Artwork by Eric Kollenberg. Published by the Mid-Hudson Juggling Club at http://www.mhv.net/~mrbruce/mhjc.html Inspired by a prior club design by Dave Bostock and instructions by Infinite Illusions
