Materials and Tools

Step 2: Materials and Tools

These are the things I used to make the cryptex. If you don't have some things, there may be another way to do it, just look where I used the material or tool, and look if you can think of a surrogate.

The choice of the four tubes is really important. They have to fit in eachother, with not too much space between them, and also not too little(they still need to be able to move in eachother.) The two outer tubes are an exception to this, they may fit real tight. I have the outer tubes as PVC tubes, I think that's the best choice, and the inner two tubes I have in metal. The second smallest tube doesn't need to be in metal, but the smallest is better in metal, I think. That is because we will hammer 6 nails through it, which need to stay in that place. That's why we solder it from the inside, to that the nails stay in place. you could use a PVC tube for the smallest tube, but then it better have a thick frame, for the nails. These nails are so important because they are the tabs that go through the notches on the rings. They may not break.

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maddiemanahan says: Jun 4, 2010. 11:42 PM

Where would you recomend buying the four tubes ?

tech dawg in reply to maddiemanahanJan 8, 2012. 9:42 AM

I have made a lot of different things with tubes and I always go to LOWES.

kooldoode in reply to maddiemanahanAug 27, 2010. 12:04 AM

i would say home hardware in the plumbing section, or any hardware store,if you cant find any ask a clerk or someone

themonorail says: Jul 24, 2009. 11:08 AM

does it destroy the message inside if you break it like in the book?

AlternateLives in reply to themonorailJul 24, 2009. 11:44 AM

Not exactly. however, read the whole intro of this insructable to get the whole story on the ink.

cdousley in reply to AlternateLivesJul 29, 2009. 8:25 AM

replace the ink with viniger and cover the message in baking soda

Somnicule in reply to cdousleySep 24, 2009. 7:41 PM

Or you could put ink in the vial.

cdousley in reply to SomniculeJan 16, 2010. 8:42 PM

inky vineger?

King Julien in reply to cdousleyMar 22, 2010. 11:29 AM

just ink

cdousley in reply to King JulienMar 26, 2010. 10:51 AM

just inky vineger.

Nick692 says: Nov 30, 2009. 7:05 AM

Can anyone give me any tips on where to buy the 4 tubes that fit into each other? Are they readily available at hardware stores, or are they hard to find?

Iridium7 in reply to Nick692Dec 1, 2009. 6:15 AM

try home depot. should have plenty of tubes.

Nick692 in reply to Iridium7Dec 2, 2009. 2:14 AM

I live in the UK so I don't think they have home depot's here. Can I order from their website even though I live internationally?

myckro in reply to Nick692Dec 2, 2009. 11:44 AM

Hi, just go to any hardware store and see what you can find... I didn't find the exact fit for the plastic ones (Two outer tubes) so I had to fill them but it worked okay! Good luck. Ohh I also had to go to 2 hardware store, i bought 2 from one place 1 I found in a construction site and the other from another store!!! Take care! (If you want to see mine http://www.instructables.com/id/My-very-own-Cryptex/)

Just go for it!

Iridium7 in reply to Nick692Dec 2, 2009. 5:09 AM

ah... well I don't know that sorry. strange they have them there.