How to Make a Water Wiggler

Cut a hole out of the center of the butter container's lid with a hobby knife for the DC motor. Make sure the hole is roughly the same diameter as the DC motor. Cut a hole for the rocker switch that's of the same diameter, and then cut another hole to the left of the DC motor's hole for the rheostat.

Place a small DC motor (about the same size found in small remote-controlled cars), rocker switch and rheostat in their respective holes. The container will eventually be faced upside-down, so glue the devices to the inside of the lid, with the devices partially exposed through the outside of the lid. The DC motor's spinning end, the rocker switch and the rheostat dial should all be facing outwards through the container when the lid is closed.

Place the battery holder on the inside of the lid, next to the three devices and glue it into place. The wires from the battery holder may break upon dis-assembly if it's glued in any other location. Connect the black negative wire and the red positive wire from the battery holder to the rocker switch. Connect another negative wire from the negative terminal on the rocker switch to the #1 pin on the rheostat. Connect another negative wire from the #2 pin on the rheostat to the negative terminal on the DC motor. Connect the red wire from the battery holder to the positive terminal on the DC motor. Use a soldering iron to connect the wires to their respective terminals.

Take apart two wire hangers by untwisting the hooks. Cut off the once-twisted portions of the wire hanger. Cut through the middle of the bottom end of the hanger so the hanger is cut in half. Trim off 1 inch from each end of the wire hanger, and then trim off any excess left in order to make the two ends of the wire hanger half equal in length. Bend the existing elbows into a complete "U" shape. Keep the spiraled hook end for use as an agitator for the water.

Divide the lid into thirds and mark off each third with a marker. Within each third, create two marks that are straight and evenly spaced out, well within the inside of the lid's lip. You will use these locations when you push the coat hanger halves through the container. Make sure to avoid hitting the motors and switch. Cut two small slits in the areas you marked. Push the "U"-shaped coat hanger wire through the slits and bend back a small portion of the wire. Apply glue to the ends of the wire to keep them stable. Afterward, you should have three "legs" that are used to keep the water wiggler standing.

Trim the spiraled hook end of the wire hanger until it is slightly shorter than the wire legs. Solder the hook onto the metal end of the DC motor, on the outside of the lid. Carefully insert the batteries into the battery holder and flip the rocker switch on the outside of the lid to the "ON" position. The motor should start turning the spiraled hook. Use the rheostat to control the speed of the motor.

Turn the device off and fit the lid over the rest of the plastic container. Stand the water wiggler on its legs in the center of the bird bath and turn it on. Depending on the battery size used, the water wiggler will continue operating for up to a month or more.