Hot Construction Toys How-Tos
How To: Make your own mylar balloon
Mylar balloons are the best party favors. They are big and shiny and last longer than normal latex balloons. In this tutorial, learn how to make a mylar balloon at home, from scratch. Stop spending so much money at the party store, and next time you have a big event, make your own! Not only will you save money, but it will give your party a cool personal touch.
How To: Build a stabbing tip for your boffer LARP sword
Most boffer LARPs insist that you add a safe 'stabbing tip' at the end of your foam sword or dagger. This tutorial shows you how you can make a safe stabbing tip using kevlar and foam, which you add to the core of your sword.
How To: Turn a paper clip into a jumping toy
Forget school boredom again… a mere paper clip will keep you entertained in study hall, all the time! This video will show you how to make a cool little jumping toy with a paperclip of any size. It's shaped like a triangle and jumps pretty far!
How To: NASA Engineer Shows You How to Build a Mini Curiosity Mars Rover Out of LEGOs
You might have seen our post on this last week: It's a working reproduction of the Mars Curiosity Rover made with LEGOs, but it's a bit complicated for anyone without a decent amount of robotics knowledge. Plus, you need to have some Mindstorms NXT and TECHNIC parts lying around. If you want something a little simpler than programming a working LEGO rover, you could always build a scaled model of the MSL out of regular LEGOs. Not only is this easy to build and looks great, but the step-by-ste...
How To: Make an easy and eco-friendly spell packet for a larp mage
This tutorial shows you how to make spell packets. It's designed for NERO, but many larps use the same rules. All you need is a square of natural fiber cloth (like cotton), some birdseed (or rice or crushed walnut shells or any biodegradable matter) and a rubber band.
How To: Make a boffer mace out of foam, PVC pipe and latex
This tutorial shows you how to make a boffer larp safe mace. Get some PVC pipe, a foam noodle you can get at a drug store, and some soft foam for the head. Then cover your pipe with pipe insulation and sheath the weapon in latex.
How To: Build a looping rolling marble machine with magnetic elevator
Wow! No longer do you have to buy those huge marble machine roller coaster toys — you can DIY one! This video covers the materials, tools and techniques used to make a homemade rolling ball marble machine. If you haven't seen this rolling ball marble machine toy in action yet, WATCH IT. It's a looping rolling marble machine made with wood, rebar tie wire and polyurethane tubing, featuring a magnetic elevator.
How To: Build a LEGO arm chair
Learn how to make a LEGO Armchair with this video tutorial. You will need 4 1x2 flats, 1 2x2 flat, 1 2x2 flat smooth, 2 1x3 chunkies, 1 1x4 flat, 2 2x3 flats, 1 1x2 chunky, 2 curved 2x1 angle bricks, and 3 1x2 flat smooths. Take the four dots and take 1 1x2 flat and place it on top of one of the studs. Take the other flat and do the same. With the 1x4 flat, place it on top of the remaining two black studs. Take your 2 2x3 flats and take the 1x4 with the studs on the top and put them together ...
How To: Build a LEGO chicken
If you've ever wanted to learn how to build a LEGO chicken, today is your lucky day. First you'll need a 1x1 red LEGO stud, flat square with claw, smooth white, orange with a tooth, flat square, and a flat square with a circle coming out of the side. Starting with the claw, but the stud on top. Now take the piece with the claw and attach that to the opposite side of the claw. Put your flat square on top of that, then the flat with the tooth and another flat square goes on top. Now you're done...
How To: Make popsicle stick fences
If you've got a tiny farm, you're going to need some tiny fences. Don't shell out your whole allowance for a fancy store bought fence set. Instead make your own fences out of popsicle sticks. This video tutorial demonstrates how to create stalls and stables so your miniature farm animals won't escape.
How To: Build hot air balloon out of a garbage bag
This is a simple and easy tutorial, and anybody can build a hot air balloon out of a garbage bag by following the instructions in it. All one needs is a garbage bag, some stiff industrial wire and fire starter bars. The important thing, according to the author, is to judge how many fire starter bars will be required to make the balloon rise without melting its plastic body. First, two long wires are twisted together in the middle to make an 'X'. A smaller wire is twisted onto the middle of th...
How To: Take apart a laser pointer
Have you ever had a combination of extreme boredom and an unrelenting curiosity? If so one thing you may have attempted to do is to take apart or "de-engineer" a common office laser pointer. In this online video we are shown how to take apart a cheap laser pointer. It should be noted if you are going to attempt to do this you should only try it on a laser pointer that is inexpensive so your loss will not be great if you should make an error.
How To: The Dark Knight's Bat and Tumbler Vehicles Come to Life with LEGOs
If you've finished building your Curiosity rover and are wondering, now what? Perhaps it's time to move onto something a bit more... mobile?
How To: Convert 2D Photos Into 3D Models
The video below demonstrates how you can convert you 2D Photos into 3D Models using 3Defy. You will need to follow these steps:
How To: Make a catapult out of office supplies
Looking for something fun to do with all those office supplies you've been stealing from work? Or maybe you just want to goof around in your cubicle? It's possible that you are an honest, dedicated, hard worker, but whatever the case may be- no judgement, just a video guide to making an office supply catapult.
How To: Make your own slingshot from easy to find materials
Can you feel your inner Dennis the Menace trying to get out? Trying to recreate the early 90s bad boy Bart Simpson look? Watch these videos to learn how to make yourself a slingshot. This slingshot is made from materials that are probably laying around your house, but you will need some power tools.
How To: Make a homemade stirling engine
Are you looking to build a cool home science experiement? Why not try out a Stirling engine? Wait, what IS a stirling engine? Well... a Stirling engine is a heat engine operating by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas, the working fluid, at different temperature levels such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work. This project was made from parts around the house and you should be able to do the same. This is a great project to explain how gears work,...
How To: Make a Fun, Kid-Friendly Toy Gun from a Hot Glue Gun
Here's a fun little hack you can try at home with your kids. The purpose of this tutorial is to teach you how to make this fun toy gun. It's a very simple and economical project. Tools and Materials:
How To: Turn 2 Disposable Lighters into a Lightercycle (English Instructions)
Here's the English language How-To for constructing a Lightercycle using 2 cigarette lighters. Original article courtesy of WonderHowTo user rmansur.
How To: Create a simple mold to cast a toy duplication
If you have a toy you love SO much, this video will show you how to create a simple mold so you can duplicate it! This simple how-to tells you what you'll need to get cloning today. This video will also tell you what can and can't be cloned.
How To: Make a basic hotwire cutter for cutting foam
Hobbyists from many different hobbies, from model aircraft to tabletop wargaming, all need to cut foam, and that means a hotwire cutter. If you have the DIY bent that goes along with most of these hobbies anyway, check out this video for a guide to making your own simple hotwire cutter for basic foam cutting.
How To: Make a replica Yukki Cross Artemis scythe from Vampire Knight for cosplay
Watch this video for instructions on making the Yukki Cross Artemis scythe from the anime / manga Vampire Knight.
How To: Create a working paper magazine for a Colt pistol
This tutorial shows you how to make a working magazine out of paper for use with a Colt M1911 .45 pistol. You will need many sheets of plain white paper, glue them together and then add some aluminim for reinforcements.
How To: Build a motorized gyrocar with a gyroscope and everyday household objects
Build your own miniature gryocar from a toy gyroscope in this fun little project with Kipkay and make it ride on skinny tracks! All you need is a toy gyroscope, a spraypaint canister top to fit the gyroscope assembly, and some assorted parts that you could probably find around the house (or at your local hardware store). Ask your parents for permission first!
How To: Make a fast and easy tennis ball trebuchet
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a fast and easy tennis ball trebuchet. This tool will throw tennis balls easily so you can hit them without having a partner around. This only needs a few pieces of wood and 2x4's along with dumbbells. There isn't a whole lot to this, it's very simple to build. Use two 10 lb dumbbells clamped with a hose clamp onto the top of a 2x4. Use a dowel to go through this, so it will help it rotate. Down at the bottom is the release mechanism and on the sides wil...
How To: Make a small, easy, functional telescope
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a small, easy, functional telescope. First, glue a lens in place with glue underneath a piece of cardboard with a circle cut in it. Then, cut this into a circle and tape it to a paper towel holder. Then, you can wrap this in some paper mache around the cardboard. Then, wait for this to dry and spray paint it with gold and black paint. When finished, you will have a functional telescope ready to go and use! This is cheap and a fun project to make with chi...
How To: Construct a mousetrap car
In this tutorial, we learn how to construct a mouse trap car. You will need: wood, string, wood glue, duct tape, scissors, markers, a mousetrap, wheels, and a drill to do this. To start, you will lift the mousetrap up and tape duct tape around it along with a long stick. Then, tape this to a piece of wood. From here, you will glue together two sticks and then put wheels on the top and bottom of it. Next, you will lay the mousetrap on top of this and then push it. Then it will roll away! You c...
How To: Build a simple mouse trap car
In this tutorial, we learn how to build a simple mouse trap car. To do this, you will need: a ruler, two records, a thin metal rod, and a mousetrap. First, you will lay the ruler down to measure out where you are going to place the records. Next, you will hold these into place by using the metal rod in between the two of them. If it's not secure, use washers and glue to keep it in the proper place. Then, attach the mousetrap to the middle of the rod in between the records. This is it! Now you...
How To: Build a coreless punch shield for boffer combat
Construct your own shield for use in boffer combat! This tutorial shows you how to construct your own large punch shield out of several layers of blue camp foam, a length of PVC for the handle, a measuring tape and some DAP adhesive.
How To: Construct your own set of plastic armor for medieval reenactment
Medieval knights did not have access to plastic, but modern reenactors certainly do! This tutorial shows you how to take a food-grade plastic barrel (at least a quarter inch thick) and turn it into a set of medieval style armor!
How To: Make a short sword with a safe stabbing tip for boffer larping
This tutorial shows you how to make a very safe short sword with a stabbing tip that will pass safety inspection for most games. You'll need filament tape, cloth tape, glues and adhesives, a fiberglass or graphite core and foam coating.
How To: Make a safe boffer arrow out of foam
Add to your boffer larp arsenal with these foam arrows! This tutorial shows you how to make a modular boffer arrow out of three different kinds of foam, a cloth cover, arrowhead shafts, scissors, duct tape and your favorite kind of spray adhesive.
How To: Construct your own replica of a keyblade out of craft foam
If you're looking for how to make the perfect cosplay prop, this tutorial is for you! You can construct your own replica keyblade! You'll need some heavy craft foam to sketch out the keyblade design, and then a sharp craft knife to cut it out. Then cover it and paint!
How To: Make Lal Mirch's goggles from Katekyo Hitman Reborn for cosplay
It's not a real Lal Mirch cosplay costume without the goggles! This tutorial shows you how to make the goggles from one of Katekyo Hitman Reborn characters from cardboard, posterboard and some craft foam. You'll also need some glue, a marking tool, scissors, a utility knife, goggles, headphones, tape and some paint.
How To: Make a thin core boffer sword out of latex
An online class on how to build your own boffer sword! Every combat group is different, so make sure this sword is safe by the rules of your boffer larp. This method goes beyond the simple foam and PVC method and teaches you how to use latex to make an awesome looking sword.
How To: Make a sword for use when fighting in the Society for Creative Anachronism
This tutorial shows you how to make a sword according to the rules of the Society for Creative Anachronism. You'll need to choose the right kind of stick, two different colors of duct tape, camp foam for the thrusting tip and some leather to accessorize.
How To: Build your own Japanese katana out of foam
If you're looking to play a samurai or other Japanese inspired character at your next boffer larp, this tutorial is for you. You're shown how to build a foam katana using duct tape, a razor blade, measuring tape, cloth athletic tape, DAP contact cement, liquid craft latex, fabric to cover your blade, rope, fiberglass core, and of course, foam!
How To: Make a prop sword out of an aluminum bar
This will still hurt if you swing too hard! If you need a realistic looking prop sword, you can follow along with this tutorial to make the prop out of an aluminum bar. You'll need a couple power tools as well, so be careful around them!
How To: Make a quiver full of larp safe foam tipped arrows
This tutorial is a great guide on how you can make a set of safe, foam-tipped arrows. You'll need to start with some hobby arrows, metal washers, wall anchors, a small NERF football, a hot glue gun, glue sticks, measuring tape and a foam golf ball or blue camping foam.
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