halloween props using 1 wiper motor - full video
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ย. 2015
- how to video for showing how I use just one motor to move 7 Halloween graveyard props at the same time. Instead of having to use 7 separate motors which is expensive since each motor runs around $30 - I use just one - setting up a box with fishing line going out to each prop. Used it last Halloween and it worked perfectly - no problems at all. Very simple to design.
- แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
That is really brilliant and shows just how much work a wiper motor can do!
13 year haunter sold on your single motor design. My graveyard will have movement this year.
Posted a tutorial on the graveyard prop yesterday that should help out with your design. Good luck.
Genius.. I'm currently using your design to animate a 14ft tall Krampus I built (not using any prefabs or mask... sewed the gown, sculpted the hands and head, even weaved his giant basket. I was stumped with getting his arms and head to move as I wanted, your design will work spectacularly. Tha k you profusely
Awesome fantastic idea
This is pure Genius!!
Dam bro I no longer have to watch multiple videos thanks to you... .. thankd
Was just about to do the same as I hadn't seen anyone else do it, great minds think alike!
your a genius!!!! thank you
Great idea. Very imaginative!
RIP
Excellent Excellent Excellent
How to earn a subscriber in under 3 minutes! Well done!
Pure genius. You should get an award of some kind. It's a wonder we don't see any other haunters using this idea ( at least I haven't).
Thanks. Once I got the idea I've used it throughout my setup. For me the best use is for my "spider cocoon." I've had up to 14 lines running off the one motor attached above. Check out that video if you haven't yet. Thanks again.
great idea..
Great idea thank you very much
RIP
I am curious, where did you get the bracket that attaches to the rotating shaft? I ordered a wiper motor and mine did not come with one and I am struggling to find one.
how do you keep the tension on the strings while the wiper motor goes around? I keep getting slack when the blade gets to the bottom of its rotation (like at the 6 o'clock position relative to the prop it is connected to), and the string then falls off of the pulley at the box...
Can a 5rpm deer motor be able to support several animations?
Can you share the prop build dimensions? I haven’t found any double bar plans online. Thanks
Impressive. This didn't burn out the motor once you had all the props on?
No it didn't - I believe in another video of this set up with everything running I talk about how it naturally balances out the pull on the motor. As one prop is being lifted into the air, another one is being pulled to the side with the rubber band providing force against it. Even if you only did props that lifted in the air you will see as one is being pulled up, others are coming down so it all balanced out well. All the props I built have a balance to them. If you watch the spider prop - I've had up to 14 different things being run off the 1 motor. I learned that once I had everything running I could easily add one more item somewhere in the circle to help balance everything. It takes a bit of work but I haven't lost 1 motor yet and this is now year 7.
Good Luck
Yay! Now I don’t need to spend half of my life savings.
Wish this had been a tutorial for the moving apparatus at the end of each string......and how to hook up each so that they don't have slack in between the movement
He's using counter wieght to pull the slack...
this is great! can you list the motor and speed controller you used?
He passed away
@@Random_Moose76 How do you know that? what happened?
@@diyoregonnowtexas9202 I became friends with Rick on Facebook after discovering his videos years ago. Unfortunately he passed in 2020 due to complications from Covid.
RIP
just wanted to say that is a really good idea. Anyone that has a small front lawn that likes to do a display this is ideal for them. Thank for showing a new and inexpensive way for others to get into the spirit
Thanks for the comment. Just one note - it doesn't really have to be just for a small front yard. Since we are using line from the motor box to whatever props you use, it can be as big as you want. My front yard layout ended up being about 30' by 30', but it could have easily been 60' by 60' and had 10-12 props instead of the 8. The individual props all work at different positions so the mechanism naturally balances out the pull on the motor - - so you can just keep adding lines and props and it all keeps working. I plan on probably having 12 running this year versus the 8 last year. It all ends up being left to your imagination on how big and how many props run off the one motor. Good luck
Genius..I am a haunter on a budget and I will be using this idea in 2020 and beyond
I'll be posting videos of our 2019 Halloween and have 1 of the graveyard so you will see all this in action.
The "Verlinda mechanism".
I love it. Very creative.
thanks. It worked perfectly once again this Halloween. I have only 6 running off the motor but will probably add 2 more for a total of 8 next year.
Wow- awesome concept & execution! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Thanks. Check out the spider cocoon "final" for a good look at the finished concept.
So simple! So brilliant! Thanks for posting!
Your creativity is incredible. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
you are welcome. I'm on my 4th year of doing the graveyard this way. I've increased the size of the props that life up and down and it's still works well. 3 days to go!!!
absolutely AWESOME! Great Job
That's super neat!
Great idea, thanks for the demo!
This is fantastic and clever!
great idea
Very cool!
Genius.
Brilliant.
Nice
That's a great idea!
Thanks - I'm just starting to set it up once again. I'm planning on adding a few more props to the motor. Probably run 10-12 off the motor since it all balances out. The only negative - you have to watch where you are walking - there are lots of lines to trip on!!!!!
i like you idea
Nice, subscribed.
Need to support the smaller channels like ours.
Just made my first Monster in a box this past Halloween, not without it's issues.
Looking at these motors now.
Great!
Can you recommend a site or directions for the two bar props?
Great idea! That will definitely save money on electric motors.
The person who made this video sadly passed away
Holy Crap!
This is impressive. What an elegant and simple solution! I am just getting started on animated props and was wondering if you could give the dimensions of the pvc two bar lifts you built? How long are each of the pvc pieces, what kind of screws did you use as connectors, etc? How do you store this stuff in the "offseason?" Thanks for the excellent channel!
First - all the PVC pipe is 1 inch. I typically use 1" since it seems to be the right size for taking the stresses of pulling, lifting, etc.. without bending or twisting. 3/4" is too small and the 1 1/4" seems to big for this.The dimensions - the long pipe is 32" the shorter one is 20". They are both somewhat random- it's not that critical how long you make them - mainly you have to decide how high you want them to move up. Mine rise up right around 32" based on where I attached them for the pivot point. I use 1/4" bolts and lock washers - again somewhat random - seemed big enough to handle all the connections but not to big to drill through the PVC and leave enough material. The bolts are just long enough to go through both PVC pipes, have 3 washers - on both ends and one in-between the 2 pipes - and a lock nut. Plus long enough that you can tighten the lock nut and still have the two pipes lose enough to easily move.Regarding drilling - I drill one connection point at a time. Again - I haven't found it to be that critical - I use lock washers specifically because you want to have the connections somewhat lose so that everything moves easily and nothing binds.Finally - storing - I keep everything in my basement. These are pretty easy to store since you can just place the bases up over each other so the stack pretty close together on the floor. I've got 8 total.
Thanks for the very helpful reply...I had 30 ft of 1/2" PVC and immediately knew it wasn't strong enough so I'll use that for some non-moving stands and get some 1" for the two bar lifts. I'd guessed washers and lock nuts would be appropriatel but using washers on all sides is a good idea. I'm going to be using the wiper motor (and moving props) inside a long carpeted corridor at a point where it intersects another corridor; trying to figure out how I'll anchor the motor and props to the carpet without damaging the carpet and also how I can place the moving figures at one end so that nobody trips over a wire! There is a heavy bookshelf at a spot where I could conceivably position the motor so perhaps I'll somehow attach the box with the motor to the front of bookshelf but I just want to be sure it's securely anchored because I sense there is a fair amount of force pulling on that box as the arm spins, particularly over the course of three or four hours of continuous use. Fortunately I have 11 months to dope this stuff out. Thanks again!
Awesome thinking. I like the idea, especially buying one wiper motor, but have you considered if the rig fails or the motor fails then 8 props stop working. Also, do you have video of all the props setup and working? I would think adding weight and clothing and props to 8 two-bar mechanisms might change the way the motor functions.
+Primal Panic Quite a post - let's see if I can answer all your points. First - you are right - everything stops if the one motor stops working. But I decided to go in the direction of how many things could I make move with just one motor versus buying 7-8 motors at $29 each which adds up to a lot of money. Plus I've done this for 3 years in a row now and haven't had one failure yet.Second - there are a couple of videos I posted which show the props moving.Finally - regarding adding weight and clothing - this is the best part I think of having multiple props - as long as you have the props at different points in the rotation, they balance each other out. What I mean is as the motor is lifting one prop up, another prop is coming down so the weights naturally balance each other out. I've found that the cycles are really smooth and balanced which you can hear by the motor not struggling at all. So the only consequence I see by setting things up this way is as you said before - you could have one motor failure and lose multiple props. Everything else is a plus.
+Rick Verlinda thanks. you sold me. very clever idea. I think I will use it if that's ok.
+Primal Panic Go for it.Check out this site - johnnysghost.blogspot.com/2013/09/i-have-phantom-shadow-armature-done-as.html This is the ULTIMATE prop using just one motor. I believe the guy's background is in engineering. It is the most amazing thing I've ever seen using just one motor for all the movements. Way beyond my capabilities.
+Rick Verlinda that's awesome. I can't believe his props. I'm good at copying but not so much at designing. I appreciate folks like you helping. thanks
do you know where to find a resource on the different motion you can get from your pvc frames? I'm looking for something that shows me how to build something that goes up and down, side to side, rise up, etc? Does that make sense?
Here's a link to a TH-cam video I found a few years ago. It's not very long but it shows multiple moving props. I just start - and - stopped it a few times to see the specific movement over again. Good luckth-cam.com/video/tnNw8krabDM/w-d-xo.html
thanks for this great tutorial!!!Will you please tell me which pulley wheels you purchased on amazon.
they were 3" plastic black pulleys. I bought them back in 2015 and I see the page is no longer available. The main thing is to get pulleys big enough that the cord stays in the groove of the pulley. The small metal ones sold at Lowes or Home Depot have too much play in them and the cord will fall off the pulley. Main thing is to shop to find inexpensive ones. Plastic is best since it's cheaper and you don't need the metal ones. Good Luck
That is very helpful, I am using this to make floating lanterns around my cemetery and to move a couple props. The idea is masterful and I’m grateful you took the time to do your videos and for the reply! 🎃
If you don't mind waiting about 2-3 weeks, I got about 12 of them off Ebay (China) for about $2.25 each. I received them yesterday and they're are pretty good quality and run very smooth!
I had posted before - these are 3" plastic pulleys I got off Amazon back in 2015. They are 3" plastic clothesline pulleys. Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't sell them anymore. But I'm sure you can find something like them somewhere. The main thing - is they need to be 3" and deep. I tried the small metal pulleys you can get at Lowes or Home Depot and they don't work. The problem is the line slips off the wheel and gets caught between the wheel and the housing. The larger ones are deep enough and don't have to pivot as much so they work well. Good luck
Great idea Rick! Thanks for the tutorial! I'm working on our Christmas yard props now...haha
Can you tell me how you connect the arm to the wiper motor so it doesnt move? I used and aluminum arm and it spins on the grooved piece of the wiper motor. Thank you
I know exactly what you are talking about. Here's what I do - - you have to make sure and drill the hole in the aluminum bar slightly smaller than the diameter of the bottom of the motor shaft.. You should be able to see that the shaft is conical - slightly narrower at the top vs. the bottom. It's also grooved to be able to bite into the aluminum bar. So, what you should end up with is the hole in the aluminum bar just barely fitting over the very top of the grooved section of the shaft. One other tip - I use a socket - close in size to just outside the diameter of the hole and lightly hammer the bar down over the shaft - this should start it wedging into the grooves. I use a washer in addition to the lock washer to drive down the bar. Tighten down - BUT DON"T OVERTIGHTEN _ the nut is brass and can strip out easily. One other tip - I did strip out one of the motor shafts and I used liquid metal epoxy to lock in the bar - but it's a one-time thing - I don't plan on taking that bar off again. I've done this with all 10 of my motors and all of them have held - none slipped or spun. Hope this helps.
Any tips on drilling multiple holes in the same pipe? I’ve set up a V block on my drill press to keep the pipe in the center of the bit and keep it from rolling on me but I’m fighting with getting the second hole aligned the same. I’ve drawn lines but still seem to get just a hair off and then have to round out the offending hole to get the bolts to go in.
I have typically drilled the holes slightly larger than the 1/4" bolts I use. I haven't found that they have to align that exact plus I purposefully leave the connection a bit lose so it doesn't bind. Even with a bit of play at the connection point mine seem to work just fine. I do put the PVC pipes in a vise as I drill each one so I at least have the holes in each pipe lined up. Make sure to make all your connections first before you make any attachments ( couplings, 90s, etc...) - that way you don't have to worry about the pipes lining up. Hope this helps.
Rick Verlinda I upped my bit size and found that works MUCH better with the elbows, never thought they would be so tough to drill a straight hole through lol I managed to make a V jig for my drill press where I can drop a bolt down through at set intervals to get the holes in a nice straight line
good for you. Sounds like you are doing a much better job at it than I do.
How are all of the strings tied to the arm on the wiper motor? Isi it a washer? What did you use to allow the arm to rotate but the washer to rotate and not spin and get tangled? Thanks!
Hello - I just posted a video that shows one of my mechanisms for moving the props. It should answer your questions on how to build it. As I noted in the video, I only used the pulleys on the side of this one since the lines are going vertical up into a tree. For the graveyard props, I just screwed in "eye" hooks - spaced out evenly around the box - based on how many props you have moving so that they are all moving differently. There is a previous video that shows that prop. Plus I will post the spider prop video later next month that will have 18-20 lines coming off the one motor to move all the spider legs. I'm trying to move as many props as possible using just the one motor.
Just posted another more in-depth video of the motor mechanism. It should answer your questions on the design. Let me know if you have any other questions on how to build it. Good luck
So you find you have to keep the props every spaced 360 degrees around the motor to counter balance one another? I tried to test two and it was a fail. Motor bogged down and couldn’t do a full revolution.
Are you using a wiper motor? Because I haven't been able to actually stop one of them without applying a lot of force. The props I made weigh so little the motor can pick up any of them all by itself. In fact, I set up just one at a time as I test the movement and the motor easily lifts it. I only do the 360 degrees since it does balance out and lets me set up as many as I wish.
Maybe send me a picture? I can try to figure out why it wouldn't work for you.
One other thing. I'll be posting my moving "bride and groom" which has only 2 moving pieces. Each weighs probably around 8 -10 pounds which is a lot of weight to pull up but I have them at opposite sides of the box - having one going down as the other goes up and it works great.
My graveyard props weigh no more than probably 2-3 pounds so no problem pulling those up or to the side.
Check one thing - make sure the movement of each prop is enough for the motor to make the full rotation. I've run into that a couple times before where the throw of the prop isn't far enough and that's what stops the motor.
Ingenious! I think I would turn the box upside down so the lines would be at ground level. I was thinking of a tripping hazard with the lines. I guess you could run the lines through small diameter conduit also. Excellent idea!
Smart idea about having the lines at ground level. They are definitely a tripping hazard and we try to stay out of there once I have everything hooked up and running. The only thing to figure out is how to run the lines through the pulleys and keep tension on the lines as the motor turns. I've run it this way now for enough years that I've kind of moved on to another project. Maybe it's time to see if I can improve the design. Thanks
How are you able to prevent it from getting tangled up? I created one of these, and it runs great for a hour. Then for some reason it gets tangled up.
It's kind of hard to answer your question - you didn't say where it gets tangled up. But I'll try to answer your question starting at the motor. First the washer at the end of the arm needs to be free to rotate. This prevents the lines from wrapping up. Then you need eye hooks positioned around the edge of the box - this is really important because it keeps the lines straight off the washer. You should see the lines staying in exactly the same place as the arm goes around - the washer rotates and the lines go in and out of the eye hooks. Next you need to make sure there is some tension on the lines throughout the rotation. I can imagine the lines possibly wrapping around the arm if a line got really loose although I've had some slack in the lines and that hasn't happened. I haven't had any of the set-ups do what you are saying - I've found once they start working they keep going. Finally - this set-up is one of the more challenging ones. If you look at my spider prop - it keeps the lines under tension basically by gravity. My other prop which is a floating corpse bride and groom works the same way so the lines are always under tension. Again I haven't seen your set-up but I imagine it could be whatever you are using at the end of the arm off the motor is not rotating freely. If the washer doesn't rotate it will start winding up the lines for sure. If this doesn't answer your question let me know.
Rick Verlinda it's gets tangled around the washer at the end of the arm.
One thing that could be happening - you need to make sure the lines are going out HIGHER than the height of the washer. The sides of the box need to be an inch or so higher - then attached the eye hooks for the lines to pass through - that way the line comes off the washer and is always above so the line can't drop below the height of the washer and tangle around the washer at the end of the arm.I think that should solve your problem. Good luck
I was wondering what the rpm is set at?
I use a speed controller for all my motors. I know Monsterguts sells them - you can also purchase one on Ebay -there are lots for sale for around $5-10. Regarding RPMs - I believe it's around 6-8 RPM for the tombstones. For the spiders I figure it's around 15 RPM. For the Pumpkin heads it's around 20 RPM.
What is the motor you are using called? Thank you!
I use the wiper motors sold on Monsterguts.com . They seem to have the best prices plus they also sell all the necessary controllers if you want to adjust the speed. The best thing about the motors is they have lots of torque. so they easily handle moving multiple props at the same time. As I show in the video - it really helps if you can balance one prop pulling back to balance out the force as the motor is pulling another.
+Rick Verlinda Ok. Thank you for fast response!
They are all wiper motors I purchased at Monsterguts.com They seem to have the best prices I've found so here's a plug for them!! They also sell the speed controllers, plus the power cord you need. Check out the website - they have lots of great stuff and have multiple sales.
How many wiper motors?
Sorry if the video is clear - but there is only 1 wiper motor. The whole idea is to have all the props moving off just 1 motor. You should be able to see the black twine I use to connect each prop back to the box with the 1 motor. As the motor turns, each prop is moving up and down or side to side. Any other questions let me know
I just watched this video and realize this one doesn't show the complete set up. Look at the other videos on my cemetery - there is one that shows the exact box with the motor inside.