How to Build Your Own Pogo Stick

The pogo stick has been around playgrounds and homes for over a century. Originally patented as a stick with separate stilt springs, it evolved into a monospring assembly mounted to a single pole. With the constant improvement in high-carbon steel springs and pneumatic tubes, the pogo stick has re-emerged as a fun and creative toy as well as a balance-improving piece of exercise equipment. PVC models have been attempted, but what seems to last longest is a steel-spring design on a welded frame.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • T-square
  • Permanent marker
  • 10 feet of square 1-inch steel tubing
  • Steel vise
  • Power hacksaw
  • Steel file
  • String
  • Cardboard
  • Scissors
  • Power drill
  • Reciprocating saw
  • 1/4-inch steel plate
  • Small auto-suspension spring
  • 140-amp stick welder
  • 1-inch-square rubber crutch tip
  • 2 bicycle handlebar grips, 1 1/2-inch diameter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure and mark a piece of 1-inch steel tubing at a length of 5 feet. Place it in a steel vise and cut it with a power hacksaw. Use a steel file to clean up the edges.

    • 2

      Tie a piece of string around a marker and measure off and mark a spot 3 inches out on the string. Hold the string at that point and draw a circle on cardboard. Use scissors to cut the round disk template. Trace the template outline twice on a 1/4-inch steel plate with a permanent marker. Cut the steel disk with a power hacksaw. Repeat the process for an a second, identical 6-inch disk of steel.

    • 3

      Drill a 1/2-inch hole in the center of both of the disks. Measure and use a reciprocating saw to expand the holes to a square, 1 1/2-inch width.

    • 4

      Measure and cut the auto-suspension spring to a length of 18 inches.

    • 5

      Weld one of the disks to the bottom end of the auto-suspension spring and the other to its top. When completed and standing vertically, the spring's upper and lower ends should be flat against the disks and perpendicular to a plumb line to the ground.

    • 6

      Slide the piece of steel tubing through both plates connected to the spring, forming an assembly that allows the spring to move up and down.

    • 7

      Weld the upper and lower surfaces of the bottom plate to the steel tubing at a point 6 inches above the end of the steel tubing.

    • 8

      Measure and cut two additional pieces of the 1-inch steel tubing, 12 inches in length. Lay the two 12-inch pieces on top of the upper surface of the top steel disk and against the sides of the steel tubing. Weld them in a parallel assembly attached to and touching the steel disk but not the steel tubing. When completed, the spring assembly will be compressed by the weight of a jumping rider.

    • 9

      Measure and cut a final piece of the steel tubing 12 inches in length. Weld it across the top end of the 5-foot piece of steel tubing.

    • 10

      Slide a 1-inch-square rubber crutch tip on the bottom end of the steel tube. Slide 1 1/2-inch-diameter bicycle handlebar grips onto the ends of the top-mounted piece of steel tubing.