Tri-Wing Boomerang

The tri-wing boomerang is easy to make and it actually comes back. I chose this design because it is ideal for small yards like mine due to its shorter flight path as opposed to traditional styles of boomerangs. Other styles of boomerangs are made with the exact same steps, the only difference being the shape. I have found the tri-wing boomerang is this easiest to type of boomerang to make come back to your exact position because it has less distance to travel and thus less wind to contend with.

Step 1: Material & Tools

-1/4" thick birch plywood.
-Rotary tool w/ cutting bit and sanding bit(should be included with the tool).
-Sandpaper.
-Safety goggles.
-Drill with a small bit and a medium sized bit.
-Pencil for tracing.

Step 2: Trace & Cut Out Patern

There are plenty of boomerang designs on the Internet for printing, however I already had a boomerang so I just traced it onto the board. Then I used my dremel cutting tool to cut out the outline of the boomerang. It doesn't have to be exactly on the line because you will sand it to be the right shape in the next step.

Step 3: Smooth, Trace, Sand

Then I used the sanding bit in the dremel in order to smooth it out and get the boomerang to its intended shape. Next I used the pencil to trace the pattern in which I would sand it. Each wing is to be shaped like an airplane wing called an air foil. This means the wings are to be gradually angled down at the tip toward the left edge (2nd to last picture in this step show this best). Then use sandpaper to smooth the edges.
For lefties: trace and sand that same pattern on the right side of each wing edge.

Step 4: Sand Back Tips & Drill

Here I sanded the back of the boomerangs tips with a fade (deepest sanding at the bottom). You only need to sand until the wood sheds to a different color... so not too deep. A good way to test that you have sanded enough is to put the boomerang on a flat surface with the back side down and press on the edge, the rest of the boomerang should lift up very slightly. This gives it a little bit of a curve. The drilling is not necessary because the boomerang at this point will come back to you without the holes. However it does help with the flight. It only requires a small hole near each wing tip and a larger hole in the center.

Step 5: Throw & Catch

If you are going to paint your boomerang I recommend you paint it a color that will stand out against its background (not camo, tree leaf color, sky blue, or black). Though the tri-wing design comes down gently like a helicopter landing, if you don't see it coming it will still hurt if you get hit unaware.
That being said, there is a proper way to throw a boomerang. Grab it by the tip with the back side facing to the outside (to the right for righties) and throw it overhand between a 45 and 90 degree angle. This type of boomerang works best with little to no wind, but if there is wind, it should be thrown to the right of the wind so that the wind aids the boomerang on its way back.
For lefties: the boomerang should be thrown to the left of the wind so the boomerang is aided on its way back.

Now have fun with your new boomerang.

Comments

[enthusiastic_gardener]

the boomerang is awesome!

[dalegribble]

nicely done. No video of a catch and throw?

[HendoSlice]

Thanks, I'll put one up soon

[Logan Hanssen]

Awesome!

[HendoSlice]

Thank you! And thanks for the tip, I wasn't really thinking.

[seamster]

Nicely done! That boomerang looks pretty simple to make, and loads of fun.

Just a tip: When cutting something like this out of a fresh new board, I like to cut it from a corner area so I leave as much useful remaining material as possible.