MAKE pal David Prutchi writes:

This weekend we bring you a more artistic DIY project. We have three girls, so my trips to electronic surplus stores are well balanced by visits to knick-knack stores. On a recent trip to Israel, Abigail (10) saw a very pretty, large, and expensive sand pendulum. In it, the pendulum was able to swing, while at the same time, the sand pan was able to rotate freely. We applied our motto “Why buy it if we can MAKE it!”

The sand pan is a squirrel baffle with a copper pipe cap to plug the hole. The pointer is a brass plumb bob! [Thanks, David!]

Abigail’s Whimsical Sand Pendulum