View source for Stripwood Technology Materials

[[File:GluingCartons.png|350px|right]]
Plain, unpainted or unvarnished wood and card have a porous surface, which is easily coloured with water based paints or dyes and glued using safe, non-solvent based adhesives such as '''[[Glues and Pastes|PVA]]'''.


Used cartons can be turned inside out and resealed with '''[[Adhesive Tapes|double-side adhesive tape]]''' or a '''[[Hot Melt Glues|Glue Gun]]''' such that their plain card inner surface is revealed.


"Shiny" surfaces, such as plastics, foils and metals can be glued using '''[[Adhesive Types|solvent-based]]''' or '''[[Hot Melt Glues|hot-melt adhesives]]''' or joined mechanically ''(e.g. using '''[[Woodscrews and Self-Tappers|screws]]''' or '''cable ties''')''

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__TOC__


=====Wood Based=====
{|
|-
| '''Stripwood'''
| Thin strips of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwood '''Softwood'''] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyera_costulata '''Jelutong'''], most commonly 8mm square but also 10mm and 12mm square, provide an easy to cut  and glue  material for modelling ''(e.g. using a '''[[Hacksaw|Junior Hacksaw]]''' and '''[[Glues and Pastes|PVA]]''')''. 


An assortment of other small sections of  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwood '''Softwood'''] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyera_costulata '''Jelutong'''] should also be on hand ''(e.g. for packing or solving a particular structures application)'' 
| [[File:Stripwood.png|250px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard '''MDF'''] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plywood '''Ply'''] Discs.
| An assortment of discs, between 20mm and 80mm diameter, cut from 6mm thick [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard '''MDF'''] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plywood '''Ply'''], each pre-drilled with a 4.5mm hole, provides the basis of most wheels and '''[[:Category:Pulleys|pulleys]]''' used. They can be purchased ready-made or cut from sheet using a '''[[Hole Saw]]'''.
----
<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
This is most easily done if the sheet is first prepared into strips slightly wider than the required diameter.
</span>
----
| [[File:MDFwheels.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothespin '''Wooden Clothes Pegs''']
| Plain wooden spring type clothes pegs can be glued on to structures using '''[[Glues and Pastes|PVA]]''' to provide a good anchorage for bearings and axles
| [[File:ClothesPeg.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowel '''Dowel''']
| Plain wooden dowel, 4.5mm diameter, is used for axles but 6mm, 8mm and other larger sizes can also be useful. The end of dowel can be '''chamfered''' with a pencil sharpener to make it easier to fit wheels on, for example.
| [[File:WoodDowel.png|200px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Match '''Matchsticks''']
| Plain softwood matchsticks can be glued with '''[[Glues and Pastes|PVA]]''' around card discs to create simple '''[[:Category:Gears|Peg and Cage Gears]]''' for example.
| [[File:Matchsticks.png|100px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_pop '''Lolly Sticks''']
| Plain wooden sticks can be glued with '''[[Glues and Pastes|PVA]]''' for general construction detail and also larger '''[[:Category:Gears|Peg Gears]]'''
| [[File:LollySticks.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bead '''Wooden Beads''']
| Large wooden beads can, perhaps surprisingly, also be used as '''[[:Category:Pulleys|pulleys]]''' if using a wide elastic band. Nineteenth century factories powered their machines from a single engine driving a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_shaft '''Line Shaft'''] on which were arranged '''[[:Category:Pulleys|pulleys]]''' over each machine. The '''[[:Category:Pulleys|pulleys]]''' were slightly "barrel-shaped" such that the wide leather belts connecting them to the machines below, always ride to the high centre and stay on the '''[[:Category:Pulleys|pulleys]]'''. 
| [[File:Beads.png|100px|right]]
|}

=====Card Based=====

{|
|-
| '''Card Discs'''
| An assortment of '''[[Paper_and_Card#Paper_and_Card_Weight|medium card]]''' discs, between 20mm and 80mm diameter, provide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flange '''flanges'''] for '''[[:Category:Pulleys|pulleys]]''' and the basis for setting out any radial structure ''(e.g. for simple '''[[:Category:Gears|Peg Gears]]''')''
| [[File:CardDiscsPulley.png|200px|right]]
|-
| '''[[Paper_and_Card#Paper_and_Card_Weight|Thick Card]]'''
| '''[[Paper and Card|Thick card]]''' needs to be cut with a '''[[Craft Knife]]''' and so is best presented to very young children in the form of an assortment of pre-cut rectangles from which they make a choice. For older children pre-cut strips or varying widths can be offered for them to choose from and decide on the length to cut.
| [[File:ThickCard.png|300px|right]]
|-
| '''Card Triangles and Squares'''
| These are cut out from '''[[Paper_and_Card#Paper_and_Card_Weight|medium card]]''', Triangles can be used as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gusset_plate '''Gussets'''] to join together pieces of '''Stripwood''' by brushing on '''[[Glues and Pastes|PVA]]''' glue. Squares can be punched with a neat hole to make a '''''Knife Edge Bearing'''''. A useful size is 30mm x 30mm which can most easily be marked out using the width of a '''[[Rules and Straight Edges|wooden ruler]]''' as a guide. 
| [[File:CardTriangles.png|200px|right]]
|}

=====Plastics Based=====

{|
|-
| '''PVC Tubing'''
| Select two sizes: one which is a tight fit on dowel axles to make end caps to stop loose wheels falling off; and one which is loose fitting to make short spacers so that wheels do not rub against [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chassis '''chassis'''] members for example.
| [[File:PolytheneTubing.png|100px|right]]
|-
| '''Plastics Tubing'''
| Rigid plastics tube ''(e.g. made from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly%28methyl_methacrylate%29 '''Acrylic'''])'' can be purchased but old [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marker_pen '''Felt-Tip Pens'''] can be disassembled and the outer casing cut to length using a '''[[Hacksaw|Junior Hacksaw]]'''. Short pieces can be used as bearings or axle spacers.
----
<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
To avoid making a mess use only water based pens!
</span>
----
| [[File:FeltTipPens.png|200px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stott_Park_Bobbin_Mill '''Cotton Reels''']
| Traditional plain wooden cotton bobbins can be glued using '''[[Glues and Pastes|PVA]]''' but these are hard to find. Modern plastics cotton reels need to be fixed with '''[[Adhesive Types|solvent-based]]''' adhesives or a '''[[Hot Melt Glues|Glue Gun]]'''. They are a loose fit on 6mm diameter dowel and useful for spacers or '''[[:Category:Pulleys|pulleys]]''' in addition to general construction detail. 
| [[File:CottonReel.png|150px|right]]
|}


=====Components=====

{|
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_tie '''Cable Ties''']
| Also known as '''Tie Wraps''' these are available in several sizes and provide a good firm fixing ''(e.g. for electric motors)''.
| [[File:CableTieMotorMount.png |200px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_band '''Elastic Bands''']
| When used as drive belts, choose narrow ones for grooved '''[[:Category:Pulleys|Pulleys]]''' made from card and MDF dscs. Wide elastic bands can be used as drive belts in conjunction with rounded beads. '''Elastic Bands'''  provide also a quick assembly method for '''[[Bamboo Structures|Bamboo Cane Structures]]''' 
| [[File:ElasticBands.png|200px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velcro '''Velcro''']
| Self-adhesive '''''hook and loop''''' fastenings provide a quick and easy way to mount batteries or locate interchangeable parts of a model. 
| [[File:VelcroFasteners.png|200px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_clip '''Paper Clips''']
| Unpainted '''Paper Clips''' can be used to connect battery leads to copper tape circuits or the connecting link in simple switches made with '''Paper Fasteners''' or '''Drawing PIns'''.
| [[File:PaperClip.png|200px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_fastener '''Paper Fasteners''']
| These can be placed through punched holes and used to make switches and contact points when building copper tape circuits on card.
| [[File:PaperFasteners.png|200px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawing_pin '''Drawing PIns''']
| Also known as '''Thumb Tacks''' brass '''Drawing Pins''' can be used to make switches and contact points when building copper tape circuits on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwood softwood], insulation boards  or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrugated_plastic corrugated plastics] base.
| [[File:DrawingPin.png|200px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grommet '''Eyelets''']
| Brass '''Eyelets''' can provide bearings for card axle holders or join one side of a card-based copper tape circuit to the other. '''Eyelets''' can be inserted with '''[[Pliers and Cutters|Eyelet Pliers]]''' or use of a '''[[:Category:Punches|Eyelet Punch and Die]]'''.  
| [[File:Eyelets.png|200px|right]]
|}


=====Electrics=====

{|
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_holder '''Battery Holders and Clips''']
| A single battery '''''cell''''' is 1.5 volts so, in some cases, batteries need to be linked together in a '''Battery Holder''' to achieve a suitable voltage for working models ''(e.g.  4.5 or 6 volts)''.  Some batteries link cells together internally to provide a higher voltage output ''(e.g PP3 batteries produce 9 volts)'' and for these, '''Battery Clips''' can be used to connect them to circuits. 
| [[File:BatteryHolderClip.png|200px|right]]
|-
| '''Jumper Leads'''
| Also known as '''Test Leads''', these short leads have a '''Crocodile Clip''' at each end making them useful for quickly connecting together electrical components to complete a circuit.
| [[File:JumperLeads.png|200px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodile_clip '''Crocodile Clips''']
| These spring loaded clips can be used to make test leads or to connect batteries to circuits.
| [[File:CrocClips.png|200px|right]]
|-
| '''Wire'''
| Insulated copper wire is needed to join components together. Stranded wire is the more flexible but single core wire may be easier to use in some instances.
| [[File:BatteryWire.png|200px|right]]
|-
| rowspan=2|[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_tape '''Copper Tape''']
| rowspan=2|Self-adhesive '''Copper Tape''' provides a good way to create a circuit on paper of card - print off the circuit diagram, tape over the lines then staple components in place.
----
<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
If '''Copper Tape''' tracks cross over each other, the adhesive may prevent an electrical connection between them - which may be a good or a bad thing!
</span>
----
Circuits can be completed using '''Paper Clips''' and '''Paper Fasteners''' or '''Drawing Pins''' to make switches and connections
| [[File:CopperTape.png|200px|right]]
|-
| [[File:BulbCircuit.png|200px|right]]
|-
| '''[[Light Bulb|Bulbs and Bulb Holders]]'''
| Low voltage bulbs in holders provide the simplest way to see if a circuit is working and can provide lighting effects for model fairgrounds and houses for example. The more common plastic holders will need connecting wires to the circuit but others are available which can be connected directly on to the circuit tracks ''(e.g. by paper fasteners, staples, conductive glue or solder)''
| [[File:BulbHolders.png|200px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushed_DC_electric_motor '''Model Electric Motors''']
| Small model [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_current '''D.C.'''] motors can be used to power model vehicles and fairground rides for example. Depending on their size, it may be possible to mount them using plumbers' pipe clips or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_clip '''Terry Clips'''] but more usually, they can be arranged to straddle two '''Stripwood''' bearers, then fixed with a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_tie '''Cable Tie'''] or glued using a '''[[Hot Melt Glues|Glue Gun]]'''
| [[File:DCElectricMotor.jpg|200px|right]]
|-
| '''[[Light_Emitting_Diode|LEDs]]'''
| '''[[Light_Emitting_Diode|Light Emitting Diodes ''(LEDs)'']]''' use very little electricity and are available in a range of colours making them extremely useful for modelling. A disadvantage is that they are not as easy to use as '''[[Light Bulb|Bulbs]]''' because:
# they need to placed the right way round in a circuit ''(i.e. there is a positive and a negative side to them)''
# they need to have the amount of electricity they receive controlled otherwise they burn out - this is done by placing a '''[[Resistor]]''' in the circuit.
| [[File:LEDpolarity.png|150px|right]]
|-
| '''[[Resistor|Resistors]]'''
| '''[[Resistor|Resistors]]''' can be thought of a little like a tap and they can be used to limit the amount of electricity ''(i.e. '''Current'''))'' flowing through a circuit. '''Resistance''' is measured in '''[[Ohm's Law|Ohms]]''' and a suitable size '''[[Resistor]]''' for '''Stripwood Technology''' is 470 ohms ''(i.e. 470Ω)''. The size of a '''[[Resistor]]''' is shown by its '''[[Resistor#Resistor_Colour_Code|Colour Code]]''' - a  470Ω '''[[Resistor]]''' has Yellow, Violet and Brown stripes as shown ''(click on images to enlarge)''. For more advanced work, '''[[Ohm's Law]]''' can be used to calculate an appropriate size 
| [[File:LEDcircuit.png|200px|right]]
|}

=====Materials=====
{{Stripwood Materials Buyers Guide (1)}}
{{Stripwood Materials Buyers Guide (2)}}
=====Components=====
{{Stripwood Components Buyers Guide (1)}}

[[Category:Materials and Components]]
[[Category:Stripwood Technology]]