Thread: Vortex Tunnel = DONE.

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Got it finished and ran it last night for the Fall Festival. Total cost = under $500. My dad (retired genius) built the thing from scratch in his backyard. I keep telling him he could sell them for a profit but he says it's too much like a job.

2 vids - one in daylight to see the mechanics, the other at night.

http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...Chapter3-2.mp4

http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...Chapter4-3.mp4

Now what can we build next year to top this????

Stacy

Hey how long did it take to build this prop wondering when i should start to build

is that whole thing welded steel?

It looks like PVC pipe.
Pete

It's electrical conduit secured with screws. There's a smaller tube welded on the inside of the conduit to slip inside the adjoining piece. Each hoop comes apart in 3 sections for easy storage. The ramps come off the walkway as well, but the walkway itself is one piece. We were able to roll it into the haunt barn using PVC as rollers.

As for time - about 7 months. But my dad scavenged EVERYTHING. All the wood came from a mobile home - a friend was looking to raze it, my dad offered to tear it down for the cost of keeping the parts. Wheels and pulleys were from garage sales. Washing machine motor was from a barter too. If you have a better budget and are able to order parts from online or Home Depot, then you could probably get it done in 3-4 months easily.

Thanx, just one more question, i live in NJ n our winters r harsh, do u think a structure like this will hold up during the winter, i do not have a garage to store it.
Thanx again for ur insight.

The frame - yes. No problem there, the hoops and the plastic come off. You can probably store the plastic inside (it doesn't take up much room when rolled) and the hoops can withstand any weather. The walkway could be tricky, tho. I think if you could park it up against the side of your house and secure it pretty good with a thick plastic sheeting to keep the snow off of it, you could probably do it. Just keep in mind it's untreated wood, so any amount of water sitting on it for any amount of time is not a Good Thing.

that is awesome.

We built a Spinning Tunnel this year. I was all set to have to store a 16' bridge afterwards, but my brother-in-law showed me how to actually build it in two 8' sections using Simpson Strong Tie straps to hold them together. It worked perfectly! Even with him out in the middle of the bridge, there was ZERO deflection!

Link to entire photo set: http://www.starkmadness.com/photos/t...s.php?album=90