Thread: Toe Pincher - Pallet Wood

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I'm looking to have the lid open & corpse pop up - Is there a how to anywhere?

I'm planning on the same thing, but making a Bucky Torso pop up. What is key is matching the cylinders you are going to use to the weight of the lid and the prop. Obviously two (2) cylinders are needed. I know there is a chart somewhere which covers cylinder diameter, throw length and double acting VS single acting cylinders. I was going to use a simple controller that lets you program by routine on the spot......holding the buttons down to program various actions. There are many cards out there that will do the trick as well. I haven't had the time to get at this yet (bought a new house this summer) and may have to leave it till next Halloween.

I never shot enough pictures to show how I did this, but the corpse is screwed to board that is hinged at his waste and is lifted up when the lid opens simply by a one foot length of black 550 para cord. The lid opens with one homemade screen door closer turned pneumatic cylinder. Air exhaust is regulated to close the lid briskly but not slamming and is muffled through a home made suppressor. I red flood light inside is wired to the activation switch to come on when it opens. I know there are better ways to build this, but it was one of my early projects. If I had it to do all over again, I'm lighten up the corpse by using less latex, cloth, and batting, I'd lighten up the lid by using thinner plywood, and I'd run it at lower pressure, but all in all it has been a crowd pleaser for four five years now.

This is very easy to make. You need at least a 1 1/2 bore cylinder stroke is your choice. I would go for at least a 12 inch stroke for the lid and a 6 inch for the pop out. Buy a double acting universal mount cylinder (threads on both sides). Next you need brackets to mount the cylinder. This option will make the lower or upper coffin raise and lower in a straight postion. Put hinges on your coffin side piano hinges work great. Just don't get the actions messed up when programming the routine you could damage the cylinders. I would work on one test it to no end then do the other.

When you attach the lid coffin go closer to the hinges. The 1 1/2 stroke can lift 170 pounds of force. The closer to the hinge the more power you are going to need. Also a 12 inch stroke could open the coffin 90 degrees if not more so your corpse can pop out.

CYLINDERS DOUBLE ACTING(THIS IS A 3 INCH STROKE FOR REFERENCE)

X2

MOUNTING HARDWARE CYLINDER(SIDE OF COFFIN AND POP UP FRAMEWORK)

X4

X4

MOUNTING HARDWARD COFFIN LID THE CYLINDER AND POP UP

X2

X2

Quack - Awesome - It looks amazing!

Industen - Thanks so much - this is a huge help!

Yes! i agree Quack, fantastic job......remember K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple stupid) and you've provided another fine example oh how to keep things simple but effective.