BUILDING CIRCUS EQUIPMENT

Did you realise that you can make your own juggling balls, devilsticks or stilts? Here's a few ideas to help you start.

Juggling Balls

You will need: 3 old socks, some dry beans or rice, rubber bands, sewing kit
To make the juggling balls: Weigh out three piles of beans or rice using kitchen scales. The piles should each weigh the same, around 150-250 grammes or 6-8 ounces. Repair any small holes in the socks and fill them each with a pile of rice or beans. Making sure the sock is not too tightly filled, wrap the rubber bands tightly round the open end so you have a sealed bag containing the beans or rice. Cut off any spare sock with scissors and push the sealed end into the ball. Sew up the hole behind it using thread. Note: if you use beans or rice, the balls will not be waterproof and make sure you don't keep them where mice can get at them!!

Devilstick

You will need: 2 pieces of wooden dowel (1cm diameter) about 30cm long
1 piece of wooden dowel (2cm diameter) or broomhandle about 50-60cm long
Cycle handlebar tape (the type that feels like rubber) - several packs
Coloured insulation tape
To make the devilstick: Wrap the handlebar tape round the small sticks tightly in so they are completely covered in one layer of tape. Wrap a small piece of insulation tape around each end to stop the handlebar tape from unwrapping. These handsticks are now finished. To make the devilstick, mark the middle of the larger stick with a piece of insulation tape. Start wrapping the handlebar tape from the middle out to one end, but as you get further towards the end, wrap more and more layers on top of each other so that the ends are wider than the middle. Use the insulation tape at the very end to stop the handlebar tape from unwrapping. Repeat with the other end. The finished devilstick should look like this:

Note: you can also use an old tennis racket as a devilstick! Point the 'strings' end down.

Stilts

We have some patterns available for wooden strap-on stilts, please contact us for details. You will need to be reasonably competent at basic woodwork and kneepads will have to be purchased separately.