Thread: How to make a rattling cupboard?

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First post of 2011!

I'm generally more of a lurker here than a poster, but I've started planning earlier this year - my theme is 'A Hogwarts Halloween' and I can't wait!

One of my ideas is to make our wardrobe into a bogart cupboard. I'd like to make some sort of device that rattles the doors. Has anyone any ideas about how I'd go about that, or even where to start?

Of course my dream would be to make it motion-sensored so it only went off when someone walked by, but that might be a bit beyond me

Our wardrobe has only got thin, rattly mirrored sliding doors anyway so they're not big heavy wooden doors - they'd be fairly easy to make move, I just don't know how. Any help or advice would be very appreciated

Well the best way would be to add a small cylinder to the inside that would be connected to a wireless trigger, or motion sensor. If you want a routine you could add a prop controller to it. While this may not be the easiest.

Alot of people start off with wiper motors. While the movement is the same over and over and over...it may be to much of a routine. These are easier to work with and less expensive. Just attach a rod to the "arm" and attach to the thing you want to move.

Take a look at this thread: The Breathing Grave How To

Now picture that mechanism, standing up on end, with a much shorter rod and a faster motor. Rather than the cam pushing the cloth up it would be pushing the door out. You could attach a wek spring to the inside of the door to pull it closed after the cam moves back around every time.

Something like this would work