Hot Construction Toys How-Tos

How To: Make a matchbox more user friendly

First, take a matchbox; cut a striker off the matchbox; attach a spring to a cut off match stick and shove that through a hole in the striker you just cut off. Then, you take the matchbox drawer, cut a hole in the corner, and stick the striker with the spring stick into the matchbox drawer so when you pull a match out of the box, the match will light.

How To: Build Rocket Racer's car out of Legos

Rocket Racer was the lead bad guy in "Lego Racers", a 1999 video game where players could race Lego go-karts. You faced off against him in the game's final race, and he was surprisingly tough to beat. But no matter how many times he beat you, you had to admire his cool car. This short video uses stop-motion to teach you how you can use Lego bricks to make Rocket Racer's go-kart.

How To: Build King Kahuka's car out of Legos

King Kahuka was a popular character in the 1999 game "Lego Racers", and he has appeared in several games since then. With his strange mask and fast moves on the track, the chief of Kahuka island is hard to forget. This short video uses stop-motion animation to show you how you can use Lego to make a toy go-kart for King Kahuka.

How To: Build Gypsy Moth's car out of Legos

If you grew up playing the video game "Lego Racers" you probably wished you had some of those Lego go-karts for real. This short video uses stop-motion animation to show you how you can use some of those old Lego pieces under your bed to make a toy go-kart for Gypsy Moth, one of the game's characters.

How To: Build a rubber band powered mini car launcher

What is it about boys and toy cars? Speed, motors, and lots of fun! In this video, Kipkay shows us how to make a mini toy car launcher that is powered by rubber bands. Make sure an adult supervises this project, as power drills are required. Once it's completed, your kid will have a blast with his or her Hot Wheels and some rubber bands. Don't forget to download the PDF of the project before you start.

How To: Make an air vortex cannon

You've seen what a vortex cannon can do, so now it's time to build your own! Okay, this air vortex cannon is not huge, but it's definitely a fun thing to construct if you have some junk plastic laying around, and it works really well for its size. Grab a cheap plastic container and follow along to the video instructions and build yourself a homemade vortex cannon!

How To: Create a ship in a bottle

The ship in a bottle is an age old puzzle. The key to its mystery is pre-assembly, attention to detail and patience. Learn from a master craftsman and bottle ship builder the ins & outs of this art. Follow these step by step instructions on how to put a ship inside of a bottle.

How To: Make a Go Kart

What's more fun than a Go Kart? Here is a complete tutorial on how to make a nice Go Kart. Easy and fun. Its a good, solid Go Kart & it should take you 2 to 4 hours to make it. Go to Storm The Castle for a list of all the parts, more instructions and plans.

How To: Make a nut and bolt keychain

Project 4 of the Popular Science 5 Minute Projects with Craftsmen Tools is a Nut-and-Bolt Keychain. Downsize your pocket cargo with a custom-fit keychain. Editor Sean Captain ditches the ring and uses more tool than necessary to trim a small bolt to just the right size for his set of keys. (For a slightly different take on the project, see the site that inspired us: carlitoscontraptions.blogspot.com).

How To: Make a paper crossbow

Learn how to make a paper crossbow with this instructional video. All you need is a couple sheets of paper, tape, large paper clip, scissors and a rubber band. Follow this simple visual demonstration to learn how to make your own. Basically you start off with paper tubes and construct them into your crossbow.

How To: Replace the blade of a utility knife

This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. This is an instructional on utility knives that are used to cut foam board and cardboard. The blade replacement is integral to this craft or hobby tool's maintenance.

How To: Hold your part with pliers

This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. This is a craft or hobby video that shows the technique of using pliers as a tool to stabilize a part or project while you work on it.

How To: Use a hot glue gun

This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Learn the basics of using this craft tool. A glue gun is a great tool to have in a hobby or arts and crafts workshop.

How To: Cut with a utility knife safely

This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. A utility or razor blade knife is good to cut soft and thin material like cardboard or styrofoam. Cover work surface with scrap. Stand when cutting to be safe. Don't cut like an exacto knife. Be gentle and don't go through the first time.

How To: Build your K'NEX Starburst Spinner Thrill Ride

K'NEX is one of the most popular construction toys on the market, right next to Lincoln Logs and LEGOs, but what makes K'NEX stand out is the fact that children can build mechanically derived toys. Instead of blocks or little logs, kids use interconnecting plastic rods and connectors, which give them tons of contraptions to build and play with. Today, K NEX has even more possibilities with wheels, pulleys, panels and flexi-rods to make amusement park roller coasters, airplanes, animals, bikes...

How To: Build your K'NEX Pirate Ship Park

K'NEX is one of the most popular construction toys on the market, right next to Lincoln Logs and LEGOs, but what makes K'NEX stand out is the fact that children can build mechanically derived toys. Instead of blocks or little logs, kids use interconnecting plastic rods and connectors, which give them tons of contraptions to build and play with. Today, K NEX has even more possibilities with wheels, pulleys, panels and flexi-rods to make amusement park roller coasters, airplanes, animals, bikes...

How To: Build your K'NEX Shark Run Roller Coaster

K'NEX is one of the most popular construction toys on the market, right next to Lincoln Logs and LEGOs, but what makes K'NEX stand out is the fact that children can build mechanically derived toys. Instead of blocks or little logs, kids use interconnecting plastic rods and connectors, which give them tons of contraptions to build and play with. Today, K NEX has even more possibilities with wheels, pulleys, panels and flexi-rods to make amusement park roller coasters, airplanes, animals, bikes...

How To: Make a homemade spin toy with a button and string

If you've ever found yourself bored and not knowing what to do, this video tutorial might help you out. See how to make a homemade spin toy with a button. Just get out a pair of scissors, a large button, a glue stick, string and a small piece of paper and you can begin building this time consuming button spinner toy, time consuming as in not hard to make, but fun to play with.

How To: Build your K'NEX Vertical Vengeance Roller Coaster

K'NEX is one of the most popular construction toys on the market, right next to Lincoln Logs and LEGOs, but what makes K'NEX stand out is the fact that children can build mechanically derived toys. Instead of blocks or little logs, kids use interconnecting plastic rods and connectors, which give them tons of contraptions to build and play with. Today, K NEX has even more possibilities with wheels, pulleys, panels and flexi-rods to make amusement park roller coasters, airplanes, animals, bikes...