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For a raffle-style wheel of fortune, you can make a 16-inch spinner from two glued cardboard circles, a straw bearing and a wooden-dowel axle. The phrase “cardboard box spinning wheel” can also mean a cardboard charkha for spinning fiber; that is a different project, and the brief Make: reference does not give enough detail for a full charkha build.
First, choose which kind of spinning wheel you mean
This guide covers a raffle or wheel-of-fortune spinner: a numbered wheel that turns to select an outcome. It is not a fiber-spinning charkha. Make: used “cardboard box spinning wheel” for a cardboard charkha in a July 12, 2009 article, which links to a separate “Spinning on the Cardboard Charka” page: Make:’s cardboard box spinning wheel reference.
Materials and tools
The build below follows the dimensions and materials in StormTheCastle’s raffle-spinner tutorial. Gather:
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#1 Best Overall
Cat Scratcher Toy, Natural Sisal Cat Scratching Cardboard Pad and Scratcher Ball, 2-in-1Pet Enrichment Interactive Toy, Spinning Cat Ball Toy for Indoor Bunnies Ferrets Chinchillas (Type-A_13.78In)
- 🐱【Engaging Cat Entertainment】This innovative scratcher combines a spinning sisal ball with a Ferris wheel cardboard design to stimulate your cat's natural instincts. The hollow structure satisfies curiosity while providing hours of scratching and play.
- 🐱【Furniture Protector】Crafted from durable solid wood and natural sisal, this scratching ball effectively redirects your cat's clawing instincts away from sofas and furniture. Perfect for placement in high-traffic areas like living rooms and bedrooms to safeguard your home decor while satisfying your cat's scratching needs.
- 🐱【Durable & Low-Maintenance】Featuring a woven natural jute surface, this scratcher outlasts standard cardboard pads with superior scratch resistance. Enjoy long-term use without messy paper scraps - just durable performance that keeps both cats and homes tidy.
- 🐱【Engaging Cat Toy】This innovative scratching ball features a hollow design that taps into cats' natural instinct to explore tight spaces, while the spinning sisal ball provides endless entertainment to keep your feline engaged.
- 🐱【Convenient Flat-Pack Delivery】To ensure optimal product protection during shipping, this item arrives in easy-to-assemble components with all necessary hardware included. Simple tools and clear instructions make home setup effortless within minutes.
- A large cardboard box with a usable panel at least 21 inches across, excluding the flaps; the tutorial describes a box about 30 inches across including flaps.
- A cardboard-cutting knife and hot glue for the cardboard components.
- A plastic straw and a wooden dowel that slides snugly inside it.
- Toothpicks for the wheel’s pegs.
- A protractor, optional, for marking equal sections.
- Paint, optional, for decorating the wheel and pegs.
- Two small disposable plastic cups, optional, to make the peg mechanism louder.
The tutorial names a particular glue gun and knife as the maker’s examples, not as tested or comparative recommendations. Use a cutting tool carefully and protect your work surface.
Make the wheel and axle
- Cut two circles. Draw two 16-inch-diameter circles on the cardboard and cut them out. The large box size gives room for the circles and their perimeter features.
- Laminate the circles. Glue the two cardboard circles together to make a stiffer wheel. Align their edges before the adhesive sets.
- Mark the divisions. Choose how many sections the wheel needs. For the tutorial’s 16-section layout, mark intervals of 22.5 degrees around the circle with a protractor. Fewer or more sections are possible; the tutorial also says the divisions can be estimated without a protractor.
- Add the pegs. Make small holes near the wheel’s perimeter and glue toothpicks through both cardboard layers. Trim the toothpicks to the different lengths shown in the tutorial’s design. The pegs contribute to the clicking sound as the wheel turns.
- Fit the bearing. Pass a plastic straw through the center of the wheel and attach it with an adhesive that will not melt the straw. Do not use hot glue for this step: the tutorial warns that it can melt the straw.
- Insert the axle. Slide a wooden dowel through the straw. Choose a dowel that fits snugly while still allowing the wheel to rotate.
Mount and finish the spinner
The tutorial includes a separate stand or base section, so the wheel needs a support to hold the axle before use. Follow the base construction instructions in that project and check that the wheel can turn without the support shifting. The available instructions do not establish a tested stability rating or load capacity, so treat the stand as a craft construction rather than a proven design specification.
Rank #2
Pionites Prize Wheel 8 INCH Tabletop Roulette Wheel of Fortune Spin with Dry Erase Marker for Engaging Home Parties, Trade Show, Carnival Events,Party Birthday Wedding Housewarming
- Versatile for Any Event – Our Prize Wheel is perfect for a wide range of occasions including parties, corporate events, school functions, raffles, and promotional giveaways. Whether you're hosting a Spin the Wheel game at a party or using it for a lottery wheel draw at a trade show, it’s sure to engage and excite your audience.
- Durable & Sturdy Design – Made from high-quality materials, this Spinning Prize Wheel is built to withstand frequent use. Its durable construction ensures it performs smoothly over time, whether used for game prize wheel activities or event prize wheel setups.
- Easy to Assemble – Quickly and easily set up your Spin and Win Wheel without any hassle. This tabletop prize wheel comes with simple assembly instructions, so you’ll be ready to use your Prize Wheel with Stand in no time, no tools required.
- Customizable for Your Needs – Personalize your Wheel of Fortune experience! This custom prize wheel allows you to adjust the sections, making it ideal for various events and prize types. Perfect for promotional prize wheels where you need to showcase different prizes or discounts.
- Portable & Compact – Lightweight and easy to store, this mini prize wheel can be transported to any event. It’s designed for easy setup and portability, making it ideal for businesses or anyone hosting multiple events and needing a reliable, spin wheel for events that won’t take up too much space.
Paint or label the sections after the wheel is assembled, allowing the paint and glue to dry fully before spinning. The two optional plastic cups are intended to increase the sound volume of the peg mechanism; omit them if you prefer a quieter wheel.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Cat Scratcher Toy, Natural Sisal Cat Scratching Cardboard Pad and Scratcher Ball, 2-in-1Pet Enrichment Interactive Toy, Spinning Cat Ball Toy for Indoor Bunnies Ferrets Chinchillas (Type-B_13.78In)
- 🐱【Engaging Cat Entertainment】This innovative scratcher combines a spinning sisal ball with a Ferris wheel cardboard design to stimulate your cat's natural instincts. The hollow structure satisfies curiosity while providing hours of scratching and play.
- 🐱【Furniture Protector】Crafted from durable solid wood and natural sisal, this scratching ball effectively redirects your cat's clawing instincts away from sofas and furniture. Perfect for placement in high-traffic areas like living rooms and bedrooms to safeguard your home decor while satisfying your cat's scratching needs.
- 🐱【Durable & Low-Maintenance】Featuring a woven natural jute surface, this scratcher outlasts standard cardboard pads with superior scratch resistance. Enjoy long-term use without messy paper scraps - just durable performance that keeps both cats and homes tidy.
- 🐱【Engaging Cat Toy】This innovative scratching ball features a hollow design that taps into cats' natural instinct to explore tight spaces, while the spinning sisal ball provides endless entertainment to keep your feline engaged.
- 🐱【Convenient Flat-Pack Delivery】To ensure optimal product protection during shipping, this item arrives in easy-to-assemble components with all necessary hardware included. Simple tools and clear instructions make home setup effortless within minutes.
Rank #4
T-SIGN 12 Inch Heavy Duty Spinning Prize Wheel - 10 Slots Color Tabletop Roulette Spinner Wheel of Fortune - Spin The Wheel with Dry Erase Marker and Eraser Win The Fortune Spin Game for Trade Show
- 10 Color Prize Slots: 12" Dry Erase Spin the Prize Wheel is easy to write and erase prize options on. The bright colors of the 10 color prize slots are sure to get you attraction at trade shows. It makes a great roulette wheel!
- Exciting Sounds: This spinning prize wheel has 2 clicker types - a wood clicker and a red rubber clicker that produces loud and exciting sounds to attract customers! Perfect for raffles, classrooms, home, wheel of fortune, holidays.
- Heavy Duty: Strong base, a sturdy support bar and firm rubber grips at the base, ensures balance and a smooth, free spin that will land randomly! Use this prize wheel spinner with stand for a long time!
- Fun and Fair Game: The spinning wheel has durable pegs, clickers between each slot for better speed control that ensures a random spot on each spin! Perfect for fundraisers, carnivals, retail stores, company events and trade shows.
- Superior Customer Support: In the process of receiving or using this game wheel or spinner wheel, if you encounter any problems, please feel free to contact us. T-SIGN always pays attention to the quality of products.
Rank #3
Facilife Prize Wheel, 12 Inch Spinning Wheel for Prizes, 10 Slots Color Prize Wheel Spinner with Stand, Table Spinning Wheel, Spin Wheel for Trade Shows, Carnivals, Spin the Wheel Game for Home Game
- Personalization and Versatility: This 12-inch interactive award prize wheel features 10 color dry-erase slots that can be tailored to fit a variety of events. The ability to easily update logos and text means you can customize the spin wheel to match your unique requirements
- Smooth and Durable Spinning Wheel: The spinning wheel for prizes high-quality bearings and a robust chassis to ensure a smooth and consistent spin. The duration and suspense of the game can be controlled by adjusting the tightness of the screws that fix the turntable, tighten for fewer—every spin lands randomly with exciting clicker sound.
- User-Friendly Setup and Portability: The prize wheel spinner with stand includes 1x 12-inch wheel, 1x metal stand, 1x dry erase marker, 1x eraser, 1x wrench. Tool-free assembly in about 3 minute with included wrench. Metal stand with non-slip feet keeps the 12-inch wheel steady. Sturdy base prevents sliding and wobbling on tabletops, built for frequent events and parties
- Eye-Catching Design: The spin wheel for prizes bright colors and 10 distinct award graphics make it a standout centerpiece at any gathering. It brings a carnival-like thrill and a playful vibe to the event, enhancing the overall experience for all attendees
- Broad Application: The spinning prize wheel is an excellent tool for boosting engagement and enjoyment at various public events, including trade shows, promotions, carnivals, and parties. Its captivating design and customization options draw crowds, boost participation, and help make your event a memorable one
Adjust the design to your use
- Number of outcomes: Use the number of sections your activity needs. Sixteen equal sections correspond to 22.5-degree intervals; a different count requires a different interval.
- Sound: The toothpick pegs make the clicking mechanism, and the optional cups can make it louder. Neither arrangement has documented sound measurements.
- Size: The documented example uses a 16-inch wheel. The source does not compare other diameters for turning time, durability or ease of use.
- Fairness and spin time: The tutorial describes a craft build, not a controlled or independently tested spinner. It does not establish that the wheel will spin for a particular duration or select outcomes with measured fairness.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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