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Spider box

A nice box with a scary surprise!

Age
7+ yrs
Time
30–45 min

Lasercut template (laser-template.dxf): scan the QR code

Lasercut template PDF
Scan for the online version

What do you need?

Materials

  • 3 mm plywood
  • Woodglue
  • 13 cm of 2 mm wire
  • 15 cm of thin rope
  • Small plastic spider
  • 48 mm dowel (diameter 10 mm)
  • 2 small nails
  • Candlewax(optional)

Tools

  • Laser cutter
  • Wire cutters
  • Pliers
  • Glue gun
  • Scissors
  • Small clamp
  • Sand paper

Steps

Step 1, photo 1
1

Cut the wood

  • Use the provided template and the lasercutter to cut the plywood.
Step 2, photo 1
2

Glue the sliders

  • Glue the two sliders on the sides. The area where to glue them is marked on the wood.
Step 3, photo 1
3

Build the box

  • While the glue dries, you can use some clamps to keep the sliders in place.
  • Build the box, except for the front panel with the little cut-out. Use glue.
Step 4, photo 1
4

Drill the dowel

  • Drill a hole slightly smaller than the nail in the ends of the dowel.
  • Drill a hole the size of the metal wire trough the side of the dowel.
Step 5, photo 1
5

Assemble the axle

  • Cut down the nails.
  • Place the dowel inside the box. Push the nails trough the holes in the side into the holes in the dowel.
Step 6, photo 1
6

The steel wire

  • Cut the steel wire to about 13 cm.
  • Bend a curve and place it trough the hole of the axle. Beware of the orientation.
  • Tie the string onto the metal wire.
  • Add a bit of hot-gue to where the rod goes into the dowel. This should keep the wire in place and keep the knot from coming undone as well.
Step 7, photo 1
7

Add the spider

  • Test if your wire can move in and out of the box properly.
  • Glue the spider to the wire, and adjust if needed.
  • You may need to cut the wire down a bit.
Step 8, photo 1
8

Finish the box

  • Assemble the lid.
  • Glue the front of the box in place.
Step 9, photo 1
9

Install the lid

  • Slide the lid into the box.
  • If it doesnt go smooth: sand the lid, or lubricate the lid with some candlewax.
Step 10, photo 1
10

Attach the string

  • Feed the string trough the hole in the lid.
  • Test to see how far the string needs to be pulled trough.
  • Tie a knot and cut off the rest of the string.
Step 11, photo 1
11

Finished

  • Go and find a victim to test your box on.