Thread: Help! No idea about anything!

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Hi haunters,

Hope you had a great halloween! If I'm like the rest of you then you are already thinking of next year. I want to take a huge leap next year up to pneumatics. The problem is I have no clue about them . So this might be hard for you to do but without using fancy terms what will I need for my first pneumatic prop and where should I get it?

Thanks a lot,
the halloweenie

Here's a pretty good tutorial - Beginner's Guide to Props and Pneumatics

After that it's how big do you want to go and how far into debt?

Basically you need an Armature, a Cylinder, and a Solenoid (with Power). That and airlines, and you are SET.

=)

Your biggest decision is what kind of armature do you want? (What kind of motion?)

You might want to check out FrightProps. They explain a lot. Also, sometimes you can get kits on ebay. That is where I got my first one and it was a trash can trauma. Easy to assemble, easy to read instructions and came with everything except the trash can and air compressor. I now have three pneumatic props and love them.

Thank you thisain'tmayberry, that is an amazing tutorial! nfmmalice, running a charity haunt I would probably have to say the cheapest one possible. Growler, how much did you pay for the trash can trauma kit? If thats where you started then maybe I should do the same.

If I remember correctly it was $150. It came with the solinoid, frame to put the "body" on, hoses, cylinder, remote, and wires. I paid for a metal trash can which prob. ran me about $15.00. I already had a laytex body to put on it. It was super simple to set up which I really needed since it was my first one also. I know they can be made cheaper but, I wanted something to see and be able to make myself for the first one.

That sounds like it's in my kinda price range . I checked on frigtprops and their kit started at I think like $329. Any idea where I could get one within more of your price range?

Thanks,
the halloweenie

Halloweenie,

With the tutorials, prop examples and support you can find on this forum, I think you should strongly consider the DIY (Do It Yourself) option over the expensive kits. If you get stuck, research the forum threads or post your questions. I think you'll get a greater degree of personal satisfaction and pride when you can say, "Look what I made!" Go for it!

Trash can trauma is the perfect first build. It was my first pneumatic prop. Most people work on these first because the movement is simple and you can just use the cylinder rather then building armature for it. I would suggest a bracing system if using just the cylinder up the middle of the can. Also a "prop pipe" will fill in the cylinder rod to make it more "fuller" to attach the prop to it. It makes a 1/4 inch rod into a 6 inch pipe.

You are looking at the following parts for a TCT.

1 inch bore 12 inch stroke cylinder double acting or single with spring return threaded both ends(universal)
rod clevis with mounting brackets and pin or threaded nut extension (attach to lid)
rear pivot brackets with pin or flange(attach to base)
solenoid 4 way or 3 way depending on cylinder(open and close air flow)
1/4 or 1/8 hose fittings depending on solenoid and cylinder (3-5 of them depending on combination)
1/4 hose

You could squeeze out this kit for around $85 if you do some looking around.

Then you have:

controller I like the picoboo105 or nerve center for beginners
sensor
prop

http://monsterguts.com/index.php?act...&productId=123

Monster Guts has a few different types of prop kits. The owner is real friendly. It doesn't have the armature that I got with mine. I also got mine about 3-4 years ago so was cheaper and on ebay. The link I gave you was for like a trash can one or putting it behind a solid object that can hold the weight and be mounted to. There is also the monster in a box kit.