Tibetan Prayer-wheel Made by Plywood

n the Tibetan Buddhism you will find prayer-wheels on stupas, monasteries and other special places. Believers rotate them for praying.

We build this for a friend of us, a Buddhism teacher.

Step 1: Construction

We construct the prayer-wheel with CorelDraw, The measure for the housetop and cylinder by the classic way with paper and hand calculator.

Step 2: Engrave and Cut the Plywood

The wooden parts by plywood can now be engraved and cut with an CO2 laser.
But if you like, you can do it also with an scroll saw.

Step 3: Paint the Parts

For a good finish we use a fine sandpaper and coat the parts with wood stain. So you can better see the wood structure.

For an easier an thin layer we use a sponge (and gloves). That is the easiest and fastest way we know to paint on wood.

The letters must be colorful, we used spray paint.

Step 4: Glue the Letters

Now the letters can be glued on the sides of the cylinder.

We also engraved the letters on the parts, so it is easier to find the right position.

Step 5: Paper Strip With Mantras

Inside the prayer-wheel must be a paper strip with mantras.

We just print it 1008 times on a paper and glue them together.

Step 6: Finish the Cylinder

Die side parts can glue on the round bottom plate.

The paper must be winded in clockwise direction, so the mantras later spin in the right direction.

Put it inside and glue the top of the cylinder.

Step 7: Baseplate and Axis

On the baseplate we glue some wooden washers for the axis.

On this axis later we will place the cylinder.

On the top we put some more washers.

Step 8: Finish the Box

The four sides and the top of the box can be places and glue together.

Step 9: Fix the Axis

To fix the axis we glue a washer and a circle on the top of the axis.

Step 10: Cork

On the bottom we glue some cork, so the prayer-wheel can’t slip away.

Step 11: Glue the Housetop

For fixing to glue the parts of the housetop we used a ducktape.
And removed it after drying.

Step 12: Finishing the Prayer-wheel

And now the last part gluing, the rooftop on the box.

The tibetan prayer-wheel is finished.

Hope you will enjoy our instruction.

Greetings from Germany
Ruth and Thomas

Comments

[dheersanjaybhola]

Nice Creation. I myself a freelance metal artist. Tried one Prayer Wheel. Here is the link, hope you like it. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=284342446645266&set=a.151529133259932

[cognito9]

thank you so much. i have done a lot of research since seeing your tibetan prayer wheel instructable.

i
am designing and building a series of 5 larger wheels. if i can come
up with a way for them to spin freely i will proceed with my plan.

i appreciate you're contacting me.

it is interesting how statues of Avalokitevara are also identified as Quan Yin. c

[latallerdemosaico]

Hello! Ddid you succed in the construction? I plan to make one in clay

[shootr]

Now if there was a way of making one without the laser cutter,,,and still be beautiful like yours...

[Kiteman]

That's really good - I love the crossover of ancient traditions and modern methods.