Halloween graveyard props tutorial
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2016
- A subscriber requested a "how to" video of the graveyard props.
I didn't go through the step-by-step of building the 2-bar prop but you should be able to easily find how to build a 2-bar prop either by another video on RUclips or just stop my video and look at the design. It's all very simple. You just build it to the size of whatever you want to move. I just used a length of 3/4" PVC for the up-and-down props that holds the stick of the "zombie" heads that go up and down. You can use whatever size you need that will can hold whatever you want to move up-and-down.
There is only 2 designs - one for up and down and one for side to side.
The motor mechanism is mounted in a simple wooden box. This box is 24" X 24" square. The size of the box is determined by how long the metal bar is off your motor which determines the length of movement on your props.
I use the same design for my other 3 props. Basically - 1 motor with a metal arm, a large washer attached with multiple holes drilled for attaching the strings. A speed controller for adjusting the speed of rotation. Pulleys mounted on the outer edge of the box - mount them at equal distances.
The main point here - you can attach 6 or 60 props - it doesn't matter - all it takes is more lines. You can just attach more at the washer. I'll be posting my spider prop later and you will see how I've attached 20 lines to the washer.
Finally - you can space your props out - 3 feet away or 100 feet away - just use more string. So this can work in a small graveyard or a huge graveyard - your choice.
Have fun and let me know if you have any questions. 
Хобби
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Well done Mr Rick. You basically inverted the flying crank ghost motor set up and made good use, like that it's simple and cheap, well done sir
Wonderful Idea My Friend! Great setup! Thanks for the How-To! Lots of utility here. I might have to build one for my 2024 Haunt!
--LJ
Fantastic concept and execution. and you made it so simple. Some people would have turned that into a $5,000 project that took weeks to build and extensive knowledge of Arduino and other controllers.
shawnc101 it’s still very expensive because of all the elbows and tees on the pvc pipe.
Can you please make a wooden honted house for holloween
@@molina1025 I have to disagree - it wasn't that expensive. I have 7 - 8 different props moving and overall I figure no more than $100 total. Definitely not in the thousands of dollars. Especially if you look at trying to buy something like this through a store - $100s of dollars easily. But, more importantly, it's about the creation of a design vs. just buying something.
Ok I'm going to start building them myself soon with a christmas theme in mind. Thank you for always getting back to me with my questions. I really appreciate it very few people ever do. Thank you and Blessed Be
Great props and info - thanks !
Genius! Thanks for sharing!
This is AMAZING! Cant wait to do this Halloween 2023!
Amazing!! Thank you! This is pure genius!!!
Thanks Rick. Your the best
You are the most amazing person I’ve ever seen.
Thanks so much for your informative video. What a timesaver when connecting multiple props. I'm going to attempt making this for my graveyard this year!
Good luck. Let me know if you run into any problems or have any questions.
You also don't need to place the prop motor assembly in the middle of the yard. It can be placed anywhere. I have mine mounted to the far end of my house on the ceiling of my porch. As long as the strings are long enough you can place it anywhere and just route the strings as needed. And my setup uses 12 small curtain blind pulleys.
that's a great idea. I did place it in the middle because that was an easier way to get the "balance" so that the motor has a balanced pull. But then it's all out open to the weather. Having it on the ceiling of your porch must keep it out of the weather and dry. I had to build a rain roof for mine. I'll have to google curtain blind pulleys. Thanks for the comment.
One word: ELEGANT.
I am only sorry I came across this so late in the Halloween season (after making individually powered props). Next year I’ll be doing just this and populate my yard with moving ghouls zombies and spiders!
One question:
I found by using the reindeer motors that torque is a limitation as far as how much I can get out of a motor. The motor you bought seems to be doing great with all those props. Have you tried adding more and have you noticed any limitations as far as to how much that motor you are using can do? If it’s strong enough for 10-15 props I’ll probably get the same one
Cool
Do you have tutorial building on of the 2 bar mechanisms. Trying to teach my son how follow directions for builds
Have you ever made a video on building a pvc prop? I'd love to know what your using between the pieces to stop friction from slowly making the holes from widening.
I haven't had any problems with the holes in the PVC widening. I use 1/4" nuts and bolts with 3 -1" wide 1/4" washers - 1 washer on the outside of the pipes and 1 in-between. Plus they really aren't moving that much when you figure 3-4 hours per year. I've used them 5 years now and no problems yet.
what are the specs on the PVC pipes you used .. lengths?
good idea to turn everything on one motor. what kind of speed controller did you use for the windscreen wiper motor? greetings from the Netherlands
The type of speed controller you want for the wiper motors is something like this - DC 9-60V 20A PWM Pulse Width Modulation Motor Speed Controller - I bought it on Ebay. My one suggestion - make sure to buy one that is enclosed. One of the first ones I bought had the speed knob out and just attached to the circuit board. It broke off in no time at all. The enclosed ones are much more durable. You can also buy them directly through Monster Guts.com if you want. They work great. I put one on all of my props just to have the option of slowing down or speeding up the movement. Great to hear from you from so far away!!!!!!!
Great idea! I assume you run all sorts of crime scene tape of something to keep the kids off the lawn so they don't trip on the wire?
I made a fence using the same technique a found where you melt the PVC pipe and then cover it with the spray insulation foam. Paint it black and it looks like the "Nightmare before Christmas" type fence. Keeps everyone out of the graveyard. I did only make it about 30" so the smaller children could see over it.
Also - The box for the motor is in the middle of the cemetery so it's a bit away from the front.
How did u make the two bar props
How do you keep from making the line from tangling up
Tried making off of all your videos and it's not working for me
Stop the video at 1:40 and you get a good look at the prop. It's all made out of 1" PVC pipe that I painted black. I built the base in a rectangle - mainly to have it big enough to not fall over - I also use those "U" shaped metal staple shaped stakes that you get for holding down landscape fabric over the pipe on all four sides - driving the stakes into the grass to hold the props in place. You will see I use "T"s come across the base into a "X" fitting that then builds up the vertical support. The most important part of the two-bar prop is you have two connection points at both ends - this allows you to move the arm up and down but it keeps the end pipe vertical for up and down. There's no exact place you have to attach. It works no matter where or how long you make the arms - as long as you have 2 connections each end with the end vertical connected at one end. Watch at minute 4 of the video and you can see the movement. Finally - you need to use the lines off the pulleys along the top of the box - stretch them out to each prop - keep the lines fairly tight - and they shouldn't tangle. If it's tangling off the arm at the motor - that means the washer or however you've attached the line to the arm is not swiveling loosely like it should.Best would be if you could send a video of it working so I could take a look - that might help.
can you post a measurement (in inches) how long your parallel PVC pipes are for the main frame on the riser prop? is that 16 and 20 in? also, what is the size nut and bolts you use as your connection? And lastly, did you pre drill? thanks for your time.
would it be possible to build these out of wood or could that make it too heavy?
Sure - you could make them out of wood - it doesn't matter how heavy they are. One thing that's great about PVC pipe is that it pivots so well at the connection points.(where you put through a bolt) since there is so little amount of material due to the pipes being round. Using wood could cause a lot of friction where you connect them due to them being flat. You may be able to come up with a slightly different design that would work. Also I use PVC pipe since its very inexpensive, lightweight, and super strong for the size. Good luck
Like your design. Any videos on how to make the framework for the props?
If you look at the 7 minute tutorial it shows each prop and a good look at each one. The ones that lift up and down are based on a 2 arm mechanism that you find lots of videos on. Its just the way of having something lift up and down and stay vertical.
Is it weatherproof enough to be ran in the rain or in the cold of winter. Thanks
It actually rained a year ago and I built a small rain cover out of PVC pipe and visqueen. It was just 2 vertical 1/2" PVC pipes with a pitched roof made out of Ts and 90s then covered in visqueen. I just screwed the vertical PVC pipes into the sides of the box.
I'll post a quick video of it.
Great I look forward to watching it. Thank you
What type of Pulley's are you using? could you provide a link?
they are 4" plastic pulleys. I purchased them through Amazon - they were $1 a piece. But I just tried "reorder" and the page doesn't come up anymore so I don't see them being sold on Amazon anymore. The main point is they are plastic pulleys made for clotheslines.
Thank you for the inspiration! I ordered my Motor and am very excited thank you for showing me what one motor can do!
Remember too that there really is no limit to the amount of props you can hook up to the one motor. As long as they are spread out in somewhat of a circle, the load on the motor is balanced. Just be careful if you have to walk through it after you have set up all the props. I keep catching at least one of the lines each time I have to walk through.
Fantastic concept and execution. and you made it so simple. Some people would have turned that into a $5,000 project that took weeks to build and extensive knowledge of Arduino and other controllers.
Thanks for the comment. Just looked up what "Arduino"" is. Wow - that is definitely way beyond my scope. Although I can imagine how cool you could make all this using one of those boards as a controller. So yes I agree with you - my concept is very simple compared to that.