Thread: What have you used for a motor?

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Hi everyone. I'm building several moving props this year (finally) and I'm wondering what people have used for motors in: FCG, grave-grabbers, crawlers, chair rockers, spinners, runners, shakers, etc.

Please let me know what you've used and how you've wired it, i.e. AC or DC, pneumatic, etc.

As a point of reference, I'm hoping to build a rocking chair that rocks, a FCG, and a marionette-style four blucky band.

I currently have some small fan motors, and one oscillating fan -- so I can take that apart and use the back-and-forth motor as well as the fan motor itself (I think).

Originally Posted by TK421

Hi everyone. I'm building several moving props this year (finally) and I'm wondering what people have used for motors in: FCG, grave-grabbers, crawlers, chair rockers, spinners, runners, shakers, etc.

Please let me know what you've used and how you've wired it, i.e. AC or DC, pneumatic, etc.

As a point of reference, I'm hoping to build a rocking chair that rocks, a FCG, and a marionette-style four blucky band.

Last year I built a grave grabber using a wiper motor from Monsterguts, and a head turning reaper using a misc small AC gear motor . I've used rotisserie motors in the past which work fine, but IMO, the wiper motor was a much better choice. Has enough power to do just about anything, runs nice and cool, and is whisper silent. Some of the rotisserie motors get so noisy it sounds like you're running a can opener behind the scenes.

Originally Posted by Diabolik

Last year I built a grave grabber using a wiper motor from Monsterguts, and a head turning reaper using a misc small AC gear motor . I've used rotisserie motors in the past which work fine, but IMO, the wiper motor was a much better choice. Has enough power to do just about anything, runs nice and cool, and is whisper silent. Some of the rotisserie motors get so noisy it sounds like you're running a can opener behind the scenes.

How do you wire the wiper motor? Do you run it off a battery, or do you wire for AC with a converter "wall wart"?

I really like the idea of quiet motors, so that's a real plus for a wiper motor.

Just to clarify, is this the wiper motor you use from Monster Guts?

I was thinking of that motor from Guts but it seems a bit large for my witch's head. Anyone got measurements?

Monster guts has the whole set up just bolt it up and plug it in.
I have a fanamiation but do nothing more than put a mask over the fan. Keeps the motor cool and is a very simple and effective animation. you just may need to bend the cage a little bit depending on the model of fan. Works great with a Micheal Myers mask.

Originally Posted by TK421

Just to clarify, is this the wiper motor you use from Monster Guts?

Yep, that's it. I used the 5 volt power supply for my grave grabber. Depends on what you are doing and how fast you want it to go.

Originally Posted by Yubney

I was thinking of that motor from Guts but it seems a bit large for my witch's head. Anyone got measurements?

You could use a wiper motor to make a head movement, but it might be a bit of overkill. It is a pretty decent size, so you might have to mount it inside the chest cavity.

Here is my Grabber if you'd like to see how I used my wiper motor.
My Self Contained Grave Grabber Chassis

Originally Posted by Diabolik

Yep, that's it. I used the 5 volt power supply for my grave grabber. Depends on what you are doing and how fast you want it to go.



You could use a wiper motor to make a head movement, but it might be a bit of overkill. It is a pretty decent size, so you might have to mount it inside the chest cavity.

Here is my Grabber if you'd like to see how I used my wiper motor.
My Self Contained Grave Grabber Chassis

That was the idea to mount it just below the shoulders. Not sure if it's overkill because the head with all the latex has substantial weight, and the motor will be supporting the head. I have a "high torque" eletric motor at 12v DC about 12 RPM coming but it might not do it so I need a back-up plan.

Originally Posted by Yubney

That was the idea to mount it just below the shoulders. Not sure if it's overkill because the head with all the latex has substantial weight, and the motor will be supporting the head. I have a "high torque" eletric motor at 12v DC about 12 RPM coming but it might not do it so I need a back-up plan.

Last year was the first time I built a prop using a wiper motor and I am sold on them. I ran that Grabber nonstop the weeks before Halloween in the garage when I was in there working and it barely even got warm. I used a much smaller AC gear motor to turn my reaper's head. Worked like a charm all night, but did get quite hot.