Thread: I want knocking under my stairs.

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The stairs that lead to the front deck of my house is 90 degrees with a landing. This year I want a knocking under the landing when the TOTs walk across it. But I don't want to have to sit under there all night.

There is 2 ft of space from the ground under the landing.

I'm thinking of whether just getting a machine that I can switch on and it will knock intermittently, or have it set up with a sensor or remote to activate it when the TOTs are on the landing.

I don't see a machine like this anywhere on the market, so it looks like it's going to be something that will have to be custom made.

I am not, by any definition, a mechanic or egineer. As much as I would enjoy tinkering and trying to build this machine myself, I think this project would be beyond my capability. Unless there is a step by step instruction somewhere.

Would this be a project that I could hire out? What do you suggest?

pneumatics maybe??

Thank you Mr. Halloween. So, pneumatics is my category. I went on another website and I found sensor triggers, and all sorts or prop building material.

Now its just.. I don't know where to start.

Are you looking for a random or a regular-paced knock? You can build a 555 timer circuit (easy) that can control a 12VDC solenoid to give you a steady knocking.

Have you considered building a crank and piston system, using a power drill as your motor? The piston can be as simple as a wooden dowel being pushed by a flat rod attached to a crank wheel, powered by the drill. The piston head hits against the staris, creating the knock. The drill can be connected to an on/off switch. If you want the knocking to be more "random", you could resort to a cam wheel instead of a crank wheel.

Steady knocking would probably be better. You don't want to startle someone coming up or going down the stairs.

Go to Halloween Costumes and Halloween Masks from Halloween Only.com and check out their CREEPY PEEPERS to see if it can work for you.
There is a video you can watch but I know that the box vibrates hard enough to knock on wood and the growl is an added bonus. This thing cracks us up every time we use it. I bought mine back in june and it was only $2.87...not sure what it is now. By the way...I hear they have one already in a plant at Menards this year.

Thanks Deadna. I think that I will definitely check out the creepy peepers. If not for rattling the landing, but it would go great in the bushes anyway. Cool.

Death Dealer, I think you're right. Perhaps a loud random knocking would be too dangerous. Maybe a continuous rattle and growling would be better and no one will jump.