Bendable Solder Guys

You know those over priced little joe bender guys,right? Well, these are super easy and cheap to build alternatives. Perfect as a present or stocking stuffer.









sorry about the pictures my camera doesn't have macro

Step 1: Get Materials

Here are the materials:
1 Roll of Solder
1 Soldering Iron
Optional:
Spray Paint
Hot Glue Gun
Cloth/Felt

Comments

[snowpenguin]

If that's a piece of paper as your workbase you're crazy! Funny little guys. 4*

[ItsTheHobbs]

'Cause kids love to play with toxic substances!

[zjharva]

thanks. i don't really play with it, just sits on my shelf

[Derin]

the small one looks like how my friend draws people:)

[randName]

I think a better alternative is to use capacitors as the body, diodes and resistors for the limbs, and a big LED as the head. I dunno if there is already an instructable about it?

[mettaurlover]

body: 9-volt battery holder w/ small switch for power. head: 2 LEDs and a disc-capacitor. arms: resistors wired to head LEDs and 9-volt holder, with small capacitors for hands. legs: innards of a 9-volt, with 10uf capacitors as feet. Impressive? it actually lights up.

[inertia18]

Yup there is search it with a keyword "resistor man" very neat and cool

[zjharva]

yeah in holiday gifts by chr

[mettaurlover]

you can, if you have it, use that liquid rubber stuff for the handles of tools to coat them. and, i agree with ultrauber's idea.

[ultrauber]

You should use paper clips, and only use solder to attach them together. That way, you don't have to waste your valuable solder.

[zjharva]

yeah i know....... i have'nt made these in a while, but if i did i was gong to do that

[troublemaker]

Gee,i would rather buy a REAL toy figurine.

[!Andrew_Modder!]

i made one of these, and i have to say dont use a mini 'Mega pocket scuba torch', for this :-P it was really hard to do it with a blow torch

[!Andrew_Modder!]

Cool!! BUT!! USE ACID FREE, LEAD FREE SOLDER!!!!!! (lead, and its burning fumes can cause cancer....eek!) I reccomend using the radio shack brand, or dutch boy :-)

[DELETED_Beanwaur]

(removed by author or community request)

[_soapy_]

In the EU (Europe) lead solder is now illegal, so we can play with all these toys without fear. I don't think the ban is that great an idea, as few come into contact with lead solder, but hey... If people start making these as toys and gifts, then perhaps it was prescient.

[mhswitch]

I second that.

[zjharva]

i know i'm even a kid so after i fool with them i wash my hands

[mever]

i love these little guys, great instructable! This would be a nice project for anyone wanting to practice their soldering skills to. Soldering is not hard to do but the more you do it the better you get.

[Jesus10555]

or like what has been said a bunch of times, get lead free solder

[impishsatyr]

You could always dip them into the tool-handle-coating-liquid and see what you get. If I get around to playin' with this idea in the shop I'll let you know how it goes...

[zachninme]

Plasti-dip?

[felonius]

No *all* solder contains lead. There's a fair portion of lead free solder, which may cost a *little* more, is still not significantly expensive, and is approximately as maleable. They have to have lead free solder, how else would they solder drinking water pipes together? ;-)

[randofo]

Yes. Lead is toxic. And solder contains lead. I would only give these to people you don't like. Have you considered using plain old wire? Armatures for claymation figures are usually made out of thick bendable silver wire. You will get the same look, and same response when you bend it, but wire will be much safer.

[FrenchCrawler]

I just finished (almost, still need to find a bottom to the base for the 9v) a small suit of armor made entirely out of wire, solder, and soda cans (turned inside out). I decided to place LEDs in the helmet (have the wires running through the inside of the armor) and attach a button to the base to light them up. I'll post up pictures of the finished product later, but no instructable. He's only 5.5 inches tall and was a total pain to figure out how to place the pieces together (I didn't want to use glue, so I didn't). Next time I'm going to figure out the dimensions of the pieces and have tabs/holes to hold them together beforehand :P

[zjharva]

to everyone who has given me reviews thank you. this is my only second instructable. i will be very happy if anybody has any tips.

[theRIAA]

these are only cool by the thousands

[zjharva]

what do you mean?

[jammis]

He means they are only cool if you had alot of them to play with. cool instuc. tho.

[zjharva]

well, they are so easy to make you could make a lot in a short time

[John Smith]

You could always use lead free solder, though.

[mikesty]

That's why you make it on a stand so they can't really play with them, and they must remain as figurines :) I think I might make a few for xmas. Here's an idea, how about nameplates?