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	Segmented Snake

See the Moving Chapter for more instructions, hints, tips, and ideas.

This slide will get a lot of attention. As you walk towards a person the snake will weave back and forth. It is difficult to tell just what it is from straight ahead. When you get close enough, they will get a glimpse of it from the side and some will jump back!

The tubes are supposed to look like stems that the snake is crawling between. The tubes need to be large enough for the ends of the neckerchief to slide through, but small enough that the slide won't fall off.

The joints of the segments are hinged together with a small nail. The nail needs to have a large head. The tab portion of each joint holds the nail tightly. The notch part of the joint has a larger hole that allows the nail to turn freely.

• Using a knife, round the long edges of the wood and point one end to look like a snake's head.
• Cut into pieces in proportions as shown below. Note that the tabs are slightly less tall and slightly longer than the corresponding notches. This allows the extra room around the tabs to allow them to move.







• Sand all of the pieces smooth.
• Clamp two adjacent pieces into a vise in the way they are to be assembled. Leave a small gap between the segments.
• Using a drill slightly SMALLER than the nails, drill a hole straight down through the tab and notch.
• Remove the segment that contains the tab from the vise. Now using a drill slightly LARGER than the nail, drill a hole down through the first hole in both sides of the notch part of the segment. See drawing below.




• Repeat for remaining joints.
• Sand grooves on the last segment. Grooves need to be at a slight angle.




• Carefully assemble the snake with the nails. Check that the segments move freely back and forth about the same amount in both directions. You may have to disassemble and sand, or build up with plastic wood, the tag to get the motion right.
• Also, check that the angle of the tubes is correct (rubber band the tubes onto the last segment) and adjust as necessary.
• When the segments are completely adjusted and the snake is assembled, carefully put a small drop of superglue on the nail where it enters the tab. This will hold the tab in place and keep it from sliding down on the nail.
• Paint the tubes green to resemble stems.
• Hot glue the tubes to the sides of the last segment.
• Paint snake as desired.
• Hot glue a forked piece of craft foam for the tongue.