Build a razor clock kinematic spider

I'll admit it; I shave. Usually I shave with mass-produced, low-cost Bic razors which I'll throw in a separate container that eventually gets recycled. They are made of quite sturdy plastic, lightweight hollow square handles that makes one think they could be good for something else than the trash-can. And you know what happens when those ideas gets into your head, right? Another Instructable DIY-project!
Warning : This is my first project here at instructables, so I'll apologize if there might be mistakes, typos or other faults. In the end this is a FREE, good for nothing, fun project that intoduces you to basic kinematics with stuff that can be found in any place where there is a shaving guy, some cd/rack with old CD:s and time to burn.

( If the above video doesn't show you can watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTUqKATp2eM )



 

 

Step 1 Parts.

Parts and tool for this project:

What you need for this project if you would like to follow my lead is:

4 BIC razors (minimum)
A scavanged watch. Naturally you'll need some kind of body, and a blastic housing for a watch is the choise for this project.
A small saw. I actually used a lazer-cut bred-knife without problems.
Drills or a hot needle . All the joints are wire-connected which makes it essential with holes roughly the size of the wire. A hot needle (keep it over a flame) will do, but it's messy as the plastic evaporates with ridges and the needle easily gets stucked as it cools. Use a drill if you have one.
Metal wires. A myst for joints. You can actually use tooth-pics or similar as alternatives as long as there are no serious friction or too loose joints (this is the main job; finding that right looseness of joints and yet keep them sturdy). I also used brass-wire (quite flexible) for the connection of the arm-to-leg movement.
A good glue-gun. If you want all the parts to stick this is a must. Super-glue or similar will also do it, but plastic has a tendency to flex and crack the glue-points over time.
A CD, a big CD-case and a felt-pen hat or similar as an axle . The spider is attached to the central column of a CD-spindle (one of those where you have like 50 CD-R records from the store. Through the column I used a wooden flower-pin as an axle. The axle is then attached to the CD which is locked to wheels from a toy-car . The wheels are connected to a lever that you turn to move the whole thing. I also attached an axle under the cd which have two toy-wheels attached to secure the position of the CD-record.

I also used square pearl that I found in my daughers playpen which elimitaded the need for some drilling in the casing, but I don't think they are needed. Yet you'll need some kind of extension between the upper and lower case to created enough space for the mechanics.