The tower of ice cream sticks is a common skill project assigned in schools. This task may have several criteria such as height, weight, and number of ice cream sticks used. This guide will give you an overview of how to make a sturdy tower out of ice cream sticks and wood glue. This project is quite fun and relatively easy to do. After completing the construction, add weight to the top to determine the capacity of the tower.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Creating a Basic Box
Step 1. Gather all the necessary materials
For the base box, use five ice cream sticks and wood glue. Each layer of the tower will be made of four basic squares so each layer will use 20 ice cream sticks. The number of layers desired determines the number of ice cream sticks needed.
- If you want to build a five-story tower, you'll need 100 ice cream sticks.
- To make your tower as strong as possible, it's better to use wood glue instead of regular white glue.
Step 2. Arrange four ice cream sticks so that they form a square
Place four ice cream sticks to form a square with a horizontal stick at the base and a vertical stick on top. Arrange them in such a way that they are neatly arranged and form a perfect square. Use one ice cream stick as a measure, making sure each stick is one “ice cream stick width” from the edge.
- Place two sticks vertically next to each other on two horizontal sticks to get the right distance.
- To straighten the stick, use a straight-edge object such as a block of wood or brick.
Step 3. Glue each stick with glue
Lift one end of the vertical stick and apply a little glue underneath. Press both sticks together. Repeat this step on the other side of the ice cream stick and two more times on the other vertical stick. At this point, you have a square base consisting of four ice cream sticks glued together.
- Take care to maintain square accuracy. This is something to keep in mind when gluing the tower “floors” together. Make each module (or layer) completely square and regular.
- Use a heavy object such as a brick or a textbook and place it over the glued joint to keep it flat while waiting for the glue to dry.
- If a certain square isn't perfectly aligned, just slide the stick around so it fits.
- If the glue on the stick dries first, carefully cut it off with a knife, then glue it back together. You can also create a new rectangle.
Step 4. Wait for the glue to dry
Before proceeding to the next step, wait for the glue to dry. Follow the instructions written on the bottle of glue used. Actually, you don't have to wait for it to dry completely. All you have to do is make sure you've arranged it so that the stick doesn't move when the square is held.
Place the square under a heavy object for at least 15 minutes before moving on to the next step
Step 5. Glue the supports diagonally over the previously made square
Place the ice cream sticks diagonally in the "inside" of the square. In "inside" means that the support is placed between two vertical sticks and glued to the horizontal stick. Place a small piece of glue on each end of the stick and glue the supports in place. These supports are needed to stabilize the tower structure and make it able to withstand more loads.
- Place the weight on the top of the support square and wait about 15 minutes for the backing glue to dry.
- Try to glue the supports in the same position for each square.
Step 6. Repeat this whole process to create enough supported squares to make the tower
Start with four new sticks, make a square shape, then glue them together. Once the glue is dry, add a buffer to complete the shape. Make sure your square is enough to make the whole tower.
- If you want to build a five-story tower, you will need 20 squares.
- Your ability to make square shapes out of ice cream sticks will get better as you practice. Some pre-built squares may be "lacking precision". If your stock of ice cream sticks is not limited, consider creating a new box and getting rid of the less-than-perfect results in the first place.
Part 2 of 3: Merging Multiple Squares Into One Floor
Step 1. Combine the three squares to form a three-quarters cube
Place one side of the support on the table with the stand on the outside. Slide the second square on the outside of the first square so that it sticks. Push the third square on the other side of the first square.
- It will be easier if you place the first square on a higher base so that the side that stands up can easily slide under it.
- The position of the side support that stands opposite will cross in different directions.
Step 2. Glue these parts together
Apply glue to each corner to attach the sides. Let the glue sit for at least 15 minutes before you try to glue the last side. Place a book or heavy object on each side to hold the square side in place while the glue dries.
- When the glue is dry, you can start assembling another square or cube.
- Maybe you want to hold the two sides together so that they stick together firmly before being held in place with books or other heavy objects.
Step 3. Glue the fourth side of the cube
Once glued tightly, attach the last side of the ice cream stick cube. Slide this side against the edge of the stick, and make sure that the stand crosses in a different direction from the side opposite it. Apply enough glue to ensure a firm adhesion to the joint.
- Wait until it is completely dry. Continue assembling the rest of the components while waiting for the glue to set perfectly.
- Again, you may have to hold the fourth wall in position until the glue is perfect for the cube to form properly.
Step 4. Repeat forming the cube from the remaining squares
Repeat the whole process of assembling four squares into cubes until you have enough cubes to build the tower as tall as you want. Create multiple work points so you can make more than one cube at a time.
- Each cube has four sides. If you want to build a five-story tower, you will need 20 squares for the sides.
- While making the cubes, try to stack each one and make sure that the cubes are straight. If it's not straight and neat, disassemble the cube and reshape it. Or, start with a new number of squares and create a new cube.
Part 3 of 3: Turning Floors Into Towers
Step 1. Stack two cubes
Stack the second cube on top of the first so that the center support crosses the top of the cube below. The tip of the ice cream stick can be superimposed to provide a better gluing position.
- The vertical stick must be placed directly on top of the horizontal stick.
- Your cubes will match each other. If you have to adjust the fit of these cubes a bit, the tower might still be able to stand even though it's not very sturdy. However, if you try to match the cubes, your tower will lose its solid structure.
Step 2. Glue the joints of the cubes with glue
Use glue to glue the joints between the cubes with the same wood glue for the rest. Don't be too stingy in using glue to make the tower stronger. If you make the squares well, the arrangement will match each other.
If the cube doesn't fit well on top of the other cubes, consider building a new one that fits better. A stack of ill-fitting cubes will be very brittle
Step 3. Clamp the cube joints in place
Use clothes pins or table clamps and attach them to hold the two cubes together. Pinch in such a way that the joints stick together, but do not touch the glue.
Wait for everything to dry before taking the tongs and adding another cube to the tower
Step 4. Repeat the process on the other cubes
Add another cube on top of the spire while making sure to distinguish the direction of the intersection of the supports for each level. Differentiating the direction of the cross struts will add structural strength to your tower. Glue and staple each tier to ensure a strong bond between the tiers of the tower.
