Throwing darts is both
interesting and entertaining. A suitable target may be made of sheet
cork or softwood. Skill in throwing darts is acquired only with
practice.
To make such a dart requires only
a few bits of a large turkey feather, an ordinary clothespin, a
nail, and a bit of cord.
Shaping the clothespin
The two prongs of the clothespin should
be thinned. The first cut should begin about 1 1/2 in. from the
end of the clothespin. Next, the length should be shortened about
1/2 in. and a saw cut made lengthwise of the clothespin and at right
angles to the original slot.
Painting
If a bright coloured finish is desired,
the wood should be lacquered or stained before the feathers are
fastened in place. Two coats of a bright red or a yellow lacquer
are suggested for the finish.
Cutting the feathers
Each of the four sections of feathers
should be about 2 in. long. Glue them in place, with approximately
one half of their length extending past the wood. Much of the action
and accuracy of the finished dart depends on the position of the
feathers, because they serve as rudders in guiding the dart on its
course. Usually the feathers need to be trimmed and shaped a bit
after they are glued and wrapped in place with the cord. This may
be done with a pair of shears.
Wrapping the cord
After the feathers have been glued
in place, the body of the dart should be held firmly with the fingers
and the prongs pressed together and wrapped tightly with a piece
of small but strong cord.
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