Hot Construction Toys How-Tos — Page 4 of 7 « Construction Toys

How To: Make a sword out of cardboard

Learn how to make a sword out of cardboard with this video. Materials:

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: Make a steamboat with copper, a candle, & a bottle

First, cut a plastic bottle down the middle the long way. Next, put a little candle in one of the halves.

How To: Build a howitzer out of Legos

Howitzers are a type of artillery first employed in World War 1. In this video you will learn how to make a toy howitzer out of Legos. It's easy to assemble, and it fires rubber bands!

How To: Disassemble a can for its parts

Aluminum cans are useful for various DIY projects, but they can be tricky to take apart. In this video you'll learn how to easily disassemble cans.

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 Johnny Thunder's car out of Legos

"Lego Racers" was a 1999 video game where players could assemble their own go-karts using virtual Lego pieces and then race them. This short video employs stop-motion animation to show you how you can use Legos to make a toy go-kart for Johnny Thunder, one of the game's characters.

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 a clock with a recylced watch and old CDs

Recycle old CDs into a cool clock. This needs a recycled watch as well. You can salvage the parts to create a working and quite interesting looking clock.

How To: Build a Lego rocket launcher from Halo

What could be better than combing your favorite video game and your favorite construction toys, Halo and Legos? Check out this video tutorial to learn how to build a Lego rocket launcher from Halo, also referred to as M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher.

How To: Build Halo 3 grenades with Legos

If you're into Halo 3 and you're into Legos, why not combine the two? Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build Halo 3 grenades with Legos (human and covenant), like the frag grenade, the plasma grenade, the firebomb grenade, and the spike grenade.

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: Build a simple K'Nex quad

This is a video tutorial on how to assemble K'Nex quad or ATV vehicle. He gives you the list of different Knex parts you need with quantities. This is a simple assembly, with a time lapse of how to put each piece together.

How To: Load the net gun

Net gun loading demonstration shows you how to handle the net loading stage of using a net gun. He shows you how to pull the tractors and what order you should procede to load the gun for a fun discharge!

How To: Build a starship enterprise out of a floppy disk

If you’ve got an old floppy disk, you can create a tiny replica of the Starship Enterprise. You will need an old floppy disk, sturdy scissors or a wire cutter, and invisible thread.

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: Make a paper bullet that explodes cotton buds

Title says it all you have to make the cotton buds more loose on the paper to make it explode. This is a how-to on making ammo for your paper launchers and projectile guns. This ammo explodes into cotton buds when it hits its target. Very cool effect.

How To: Make an easy switch blade knife

This is an easy to follow step by step video explaining how to make a switch blade out of easy to find objects. This is not a real knife but still has the function of a switchblade.

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: Make a paperclip bow

Want to make bows and arrows with paperclips, tape, a rubber band, and some Q-Tips?

How To: Make a motorcycle from old wrist watches

Learn how to make a motorcycle from old watches. Recycle those old watches that you no longer want into a cool motorcycle. This is a creative hack video. Impress your friends with a recycled mini motorcycle.

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...