Introduction: The Poong Stick ("Whistling Stick")
This is a neat, and very quick little toy that I first came across on the "Happy Scientist" website.
A couple of minute's work, and you have a toy to keep the kids happy, a fun craft activity, a hook for a fascinating science lesson, and probably the cheapest and quickest at that.
Step 1: Materials and Tools
All you need is a flat, thin piece of wood and something to carve it with.
I have successfully used lollipop sticks, tongue depressors, coffee stirrers and chip forks.
I guess it doesn't have to be wood, but it does need to be fairly rigid.
Step 2: What to Do
The basic poong stick is simple - carve one end to about the thickness of a matchstick.
For your own comfort, carve, scrape or sand the narrow part to a more rounded cross-section. Corners and sharp edges will cut your thumbs or increase the chance of blisters.
You don't have to stick with the plain, er, stick. You can carve and shape to your heart's content.
The basic carving takes only a couple of minutes with a decent sharp knife. I haven't tried, but if you add a sanding bit to your rotary tool, you could probably churn them out in seconds.
Step 3: Safety
OK, I don't really have to warn you about safe use of blades, do I?
But, when you throw a poong stick, it can fly off in unpredictable directions, and it has a narrow, pointy end.
If there are several people using poong sticks at once, you should seriously consider issuing eye protection, especially if you are doing this as a group activity with children.
Step 4: Using the Poong Stick.
Hold the narrow section of the stick between whichever two digits you "click" with when you snap your fingers. That's probably your middle finger and your thumb.
Snap your fingers to make the stick spin as rapidly as possible, and make a gentle throwing action at the same time - after a little practice, the stick will shoot out of your fingers in an odd, spiralling trajectory, making an odd poong sound as it goes (why do you think I changed the name to "Poong Stick"?).
Step 5: The Science Bit
The Poong Stick generates sound as it spins - the air vibrates as it passes over the edges.
You can set your class the task of investigating how to vary the Poong Stick's sound - changing the length and width are obvious, but what about the thickness? Or how rounded the edges are?
Does a Poong Stick with a varying width give a mixture of notes? Does the material the stick is made of matter?
How would you measure the sound?
Could you make a set of Poong Sticks that will play a tune??
Step 6: A Year Later...
...and the school where I recorded that video doesn't exist any more, but the Poong sticks carry on.
I met Martin Raynsford at the Derby Mini Maker Faire 2012, and while I stood there, he drew up and cut a selection of Poong sticks (the middle one lives in my wallet now).

Participated in the
Toy Challenge
63 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
Poong Stick merchandise is now available from The Complete Kiteman.
7 years ago on Introduction
9 years ago
Awesome thnx man
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
9 years ago on Introduction
Someone handed out lollies at work today. Guess who had their Instructables leatherman out whittling within minutes.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Hehe, LOL!
10 years ago on Step 5
amazing instructable.
Reply 10 years ago on Step 5
Thank you.
11 years ago on Introduction
Is it sad that I'm so entertained by this?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Not at all!
11 years ago on Introduction
WOW! this is very fun! I used a popsicle stick and it worked! it has a range of noises, from medium high to very low. THANKS KITEMAN!!!!!!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
You're very welcome!
11 years ago on Introduction
Awesome! Making one right now. I have the materials in front of me. Could I use an X-acto knife?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Of course. Just remember to shave rather than hack.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Awesome! Thanks ;) made one..It's pretty simple but it still makes that awesome sound! Glad you could help me. Maybe a mass-produced version will pop up someday? –Thomas
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Should not be too hard to mass produce, just need to get a cutting die made and find someone with a clicker press.
http://www.clickerpress.co.uk/
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Ha, imagine a sweat-shop full of kids eating popsicles and then shaving the sticks...
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Lol =P Ice cream shops might be strangely crowded after this 'ible...and whats a sweat-shop? Haha...I was at an international Future Problem Solvers competition over the weekend. Met kids from all over the world..England, Singapore, Malaysia, etc. It was in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Way to represent America, FPS. Lol ;) I will tell you what place I get out of the world. I was inly competing against 23 other kids and I got 1st for the State Bowl. I will probably get something good..it will mean I'm the __ best FPSer in the whole world for my age group. Yay! Sorry for the long comment...you probably wouldn't normally listen to an American 12 year old for this long haha jk.
11 years ago on Introduction
These were used before the computer for sounds effects..
What happens if u attack a string to the end and just spin it around and around
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I guess it would be a bull-roarer?