Mechanical Search Results

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: Modify an ERTL pump action toy shotgun

In this Hobbies & Toys video tutorial you will learn how to modify an ERTL pump action toy shotgun. Unscrew the orange part of the barrel and cut it as shown in the video. Sand out the part that will be used, get a funnel piece and add electrical tape around the nozzle and glue on a half inch PVC cup. Now put electrical tape around one half of another tube that is of the same height as the funnel piece and glue it on to the funnel piece. You then put hot glue in to the open area. The next ste...

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: Make a basic rubber band car

To make a rubber band car you will need one sheet of card stock, four paper clips, two binder clips, one plastic straw, 8 inches of dowel that fits into the straw, two pencils and one rubber band. You will also need four CDs or round pies of cardboard, tape, a ruler and a marking pen. First, unfold the paper clips. Then fold the card stock and attach the paper clips. Cut squares out of the card stock. Then, cut the straw. Attach it to the card stock. Affix the pencils to the card stock with h...

How To: Make a Lego minigun

This is a Hobbies and Toys video tutorial where you will learn how to make a LEGO mini gun. For making this toy, you will need the LEGO mini gun kit. The mini gun consists of eight parts. Probably the pieces do not have names. So, the kid who is demonstrating in this video keeps referring all the parts as pieces. You first take the long grey piece and put a small light grey piece on top and push all the way down. Then you take another similar piece and fix it at the top and leave it aside. Th...

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: 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: 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: 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 mini parachute

Watch this instructional video to form the structure of a mini parachute using a loop of string. Pay close attention to the hand motions, and weave the string into a knot. Do no be shocked when this string formation looks very similar to a mini parachute. You can then attach a plastic bag or thin piece of fabric to give your mini parachute a more permanent structure.