Just like in the Da Vinci Code. It works much like a bicycle combination lock and if one arranges the rings to spell out the correct password, the rings align to unlock it, and the entire cylinder slides apart. In the inner compartment of the cryptex, this is where secret information can be hidden.

This was sorta a school project. For an engineering project we had to invent something.
 
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Step 1: Materials

IMG_4744.JPG
-(2) 2" PVC end caps
-(1) 1.5" PVC coupler
-(1) 1.5" PVC tubing (about 7")
-(1) 2" PVC tubing (about 7")
-(3) .5" x 5" x .125" clear acrylic strips
-Dremel Tool
-Superglue
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Ouranos says: Apr 2, 2013. 1:16 PM
why is there a dictionary in the picture??????
h.bogart says: Jul 9, 2011. 9:02 PM
The coupler is holding the rings in place, right? idk : /
paperairplanecreator says: Jun 18, 2011. 4:50 PM
i bought all the materials. Tried to make this for weeks. what do i get? 20$ gone out of my pocket, and wasting 2 weeks of my life. T_T
Quintonio says: Jan 11, 2011. 2:33 PM
what does it mean by notch like it starts at one end and goes to the other
NicOmbra says: Dec 16, 2010. 12:52 PM
Because of the length pvc pipe is sold in, maybe you could make lots of these, then have the riddles to one cryptex inside another cyptex.
MITisNOTHINGtoME says: Nov 14, 2010. 10:28 AM
You didn't mention that little piece of white paper or plastic of some sort. It seems like, reading through your instructable that that is the mechanism. Please go more in depth.
Luxordo5 says: Jun 18, 2010. 10:42 AM
It took me awhile to realize what you meant by "get your mind out of the gutter" I probably wouldnt have realized if you didnt mention it, should I be embarrassed?
akinich in reply to Luxordo5Jun 18, 2010. 1:24 PM
WHAT DOES IT MEAN ?????
paperairplanecreator in reply to akinichNov 7, 2010. 5:29 PM
I DONT Know!!!!!
SterLuMan in reply to akinichAug 15, 2010. 9:34 AM
well dude look at the pic and think... what does it remind you of?
akinich in reply to SterLuManAug 22, 2010. 1:22 AM
pipe???
kooldoode in reply to akinichAug 31, 2010. 5:07 PM
no, close its another p word,
SterLuMan in reply to akinichAug 23, 2010. 8:40 AM
Dude how old r u?! 5?!
akinich in reply to SterLuManAug 31, 2010. 11:54 PM
pvc? will somebody just tell me what it means
SterLuMan in reply to akinichSep 30, 2010. 4:51 AM
have you got it yet?!
josh1324 in reply to akinichSep 29, 2010. 12:01 PM
lol seriously?
SterLuMan in reply to akinichSep 2, 2010. 9:44 AM
it starts with p, has 5 letters, boys have it, girls dont...
Dumchicken in reply to SterLuManMar 8, 2011. 7:37 PM
i know
paperairplanecreator in reply to SterLuManNov 15, 2010. 12:36 PM
just shuttup please!
SterLuMan in reply to paperairplanecreatorNov 16, 2010. 8:35 AM
Oh jeez... Are you really that superficial? And it's 'shut up', not 'shuttup'...
paperairplanecreator in reply to SterLuManDec 24, 2010. 7:40 AM
I don't care! Just please, shut up!
starfox384 says: Aug 29, 2010. 2:23 PM
love the riddle
Kaelessin says: Jul 28, 2010. 1:02 PM
Hey! I liked your idea so much that I ported it over to an all copper design. Had to do some tweaking to make it work properly but enjoyed what I feel great results! I changed the design somewhat so that all letters need to be lined up to crack it (as opposed to a "brute force method" possible design)

Here is mine.

Thanks for this ible!
jediking14 says: May 20, 2010. 1:42 PM
What you gave us your password... Nooooooooooo.
rennboyz says: Sep 18, 2009. 1:32 PM
nice riddle!!!
greymatter21 in reply to rennboyzApr 26, 2010. 5:38 PM
dido dat!(i suc at riddles>.<)
jeroenenmarloes says: Jan 3, 2010. 12:18 AM
Great project. I used rivets to make the cryptex thougher to crack. In stead of one small stripe of plastic at the end, use rivets under every letter. See the pictures attached.

! the sanding of the tube is done best with an electric grinding wheel.

IMAG0115.jpgIMAG0018.jpg
LiMiT-L3sS in reply to jeroenenmarloesApr 20, 2010. 9:43 PM
dude do u hav a instuctabl fr dis its so sick
jeroenenmarloes in reply to LiMiT-L3sSApr 21, 2010. 10:14 AM
hey death kid,

unusual nick by the way.... if you follow this instructable then you will end up like mine. All you have to do extra
is use rivets.
hornbadoing in reply to jeroenenmarloesFeb 22, 2010. 6:50 AM
 pleas make a video on youtube on how to make a cryptex the way u did
jeroenenmarloes in reply to hornbadoingFeb 22, 2010. 9:26 AM
 Dear hornbadoing,

I already made the crypto. So a video is only possible if I rebuild it. I don't have the time right now. Perhaps in the future.

 
sulis96 in reply to jeroenenmarloesJan 26, 2010. 10:28 PM
 do you have an instuctables on this of your own ?????? if you do could you E-mail me how to make one your way 

E-mail: TightJoker@gmail.com


jeroenenmarloes in reply to sulis96Jan 27, 2010. 2:10 AM
Dear sulis96,

If you follow exactly the instructions in the instructable you have 80% of the result. You need to be alert in step 4: Glue and Cut.

Instead of :"Cut a 2 1/4" x 1/2" piece of PVC, then glue it onto the 1 1/2" PVC tube."
Each "ring" consists of an outer and inner ring. The inner ring is smaller +/- 1/4". This space is enough for the rivet. If you place ring for ring on the cryptex and sign it, draw a line as seen in the firt photo, its jhust a matter of drilling and nailing. 

I hope with this information you have enough for building the cryptex.
sulis96 in reply to jeroenenmarloesJan 18, 2011. 3:41 PM
it has thanks again bra ;)
boston09 (author) in reply to jeroenenmarloesJan 3, 2010. 9:31 AM
i like it! thanks for the advice
LiMiT-L3sS says: Mar 5, 2010. 9:56 PM
Ill make one to have my sister and others figure out to come in my room
YuriTS says: Jan 22, 2010. 3:53 PM
excuse me, you can repeat the measures of the material for Criptex. thank's :)
Kaelessin says: Nov 4, 2009. 12:57 PM
Just stumbled onto this today and i have to commend you! that much sanding takes dedication! I am curious what prevents a brute force approach to cracking this thing? From what i can see based on your pictures the person would only need 26X5 tries max to open the cryptex since they can just go sequentially trying each letter on each ring until the cryptex opens a little further.

A video of this thing opening and closing would probably help those confused as to how it gets put together.
teamcoltra in reply to KaelessinDec 28, 2009. 3:22 AM
 its not 26X5 its 26^5

its 26 X 26 X 26 X 26 X 26

It would take a long time to just go through each letter.
Kaelessin in reply to teamcoltraDec 28, 2009. 9:02 AM
That would be true if the cracker needed all the letters at once to open it. As this is constructed you could get the first letter and slide it open a bit then work on the second letter and so on. This one could be cracked in minutes because of that.
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