How to Make Cool Things Out of Matches
- 1). Place a CD case on your table to act as a small work space. Building on this surface will allow you to turn your creation around in front of you, without any need to move the matches.
- 2). Lay eight wooden matches on this surface, parallel to each other and with the heads in the same direction.
- 3). Spread a thin line of glue on top of each matchstick. Use a toothpick to help you apply the glue.
- 4). Arrange eight more matches perpendicular to the first layer and on top of the glued matches. This square shape becomes a basic building block for matchstick construction.
- 5). Cut a notch in the flat end of two matchsticks by cutting a small slice halfway through the stick.
- 6). Slit up two millimeters from this same end to remove the small piece of wood and form a notch.
- 7). Squeeze one dab of glue on this indented area and place the two sticks together to form a ship-lap joint. Make a square using this method of joinery.
- 8). Adjust three matchsticks to form a triangle using this ship-lapped technique.
- 9). Combine these elements to create many shapes; connect them to realize the varied potential in this simple construction process.
