Building a Japanese Fan?

Question

Hi people! I'm doing a project in school, and I'm building a japanese fan (those kinds that are made of paper and wood). Does anyone know how to, or know a website that tells you how to make it? I want to make the kind that can fold and unfold, and I don't want it like a simple thing that a kindergarten person made. Can you provide me a website? Best answer goes to the one who is the most reliable! =D

Answer 1

Did you really have to post this 4 times?

Japanese fans are carefully folded high quality paper pasted to thin bamboo sticks which pivot at one end, so the folds have to be at an angle to each other.   On the design paper use a compass to draw two arcs from the common center, the first about 3-4" out and the second 7-10 inches.  Span about 120 degrees (1/3 circle)

  Set the compass to the width of a fold (about 1/2-3/4") and on the outer arc mark repeatedly with the compass pointing from one mark to the next until done around the arc.  

  Draw lines from the center to each of the marks.  Cut out the fan portion and use a steel ruler on a hard surface to fold every other line one way, then fold the lines in between the other way.  Use your finger nail or a plastic or hardwood tool to sharpen the creases.  Then open the paper and reverse the folds to loosen them.

  Now make a dozen or more until you can make ones that bunch up into a totally even stack and pull out flat.

  Now either paint on the surface and stick flat sticks to the other side or paint on very thin paper and glue it to both sides after applying the sticks.