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How to convert an old swingset into a guillotine prop for Halloween

How to convert an old swingset into a guillotine prop for Halloween

This project stemmed from the need to move a pile of lumber that used to be a wooden swing set and the desire to have a nice prop for Halloween festivities.

A friend had recently made me aware of this site, so I decided that this would be a good project to post as my first instructable.

Here's a link to this year's DIY Halloween Contest page: DIY Halloween Contest

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Step 1Tools and sullpies

Supplies:
Old swing set or landscape timbers and 2x4s
1/2" x 12" x ? lumber (for stocks - depends on width of guillotine)
1/4" plywood (for blade)
Various lengths of 3/8" hex bolts and carriage bolts
A good supply of 3/8" fender washers and nuts
Wood screws

Tools
Reciprocating saw
Drill with 1/2' bit
Jigsaw (not shown)
A selection of smaller drill bits for pilot holes

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26 comments

Oct 21, 2009. 4:27 AMpyrocop1 says:

Thanks for the info, I did not have the old swing set but used old wood. Built the whole thing for about 13 bucks.

Jun 24, 2008. 11:14 PMHamatoKameko says:

...Is it weird that I want one for my garden?

Oct 3, 2008. 5:15 AMHellchild says:

yes...

Nov 6, 2008. 4:34 PMballerboi says:

(removed by author or community request)

Nov 7, 2008. 5:15 PMHellchild says:

yeah...

Oct 14, 2007. 7:35 AMSlug says:

Great first instructable! Id love to do this at my house, but our swing is still in use... :P

Oct 13, 2008. 6:48 PMiBurn says:

darn kids...

Oct 24, 2008. 4:35 PMred-king says:

heeheehee... good job.

Oct 19, 2008. 6:01 PMRikasu says:

I might just do this and put it in my bedroom all year round.

Oct 3, 2008. 5:47 AMstevie1 says:

it would be even better if the blade actually dropped and there was a fake head there, and a fake body (disconnected) so wen the blade drops the head falls off from the movement.

Oct 7, 2008. 1:35 PMcowscankill says:

:O Good idea !

Oct 10, 2008. 3:59 PMstevie1 says:

thanks

Oct 7, 2008. 2:27 PMIW5 Industries says:

awsome instructable! :D

Oct 29, 2007. 8:32 AMjunisponds says:

cool! you win the front page Halloween post -link at www.toologics.com for that one!

Oct 27, 2007. 3:55 AMdamasta says:

a little extra thing to do is make it so the blade can completely fall through the stocks (the thing that holds it must be a bit thinner), make the stocks a bit larger so if you hold your hand in the neck hole when (slowly) letting it down it can hide the whole blade, ad a bit of foam or something else in the stocking so the blade stops a few millimeters above your neck (but totally concealed in the stocking), then add another blade with the same size and push it in the bottom of the stocking, so (if timed right) it can look like the blade falls completely trough the neck (make the stocking a bith tighter right under the head to hold it, and push down with your neck to drop it)

Oct 14, 2007. 4:47 PMPatrick Pending says:

Best Halloween instructable is posthumously awarded to Strapped-4-Cache

Oct 21, 2007. 6:38 PMSpinWard says:

Oh my gosh! How creepy. Even has his head on the ground! Ugh! That'll be the next Ghost story, Once, a man was trying to make a guillotine when really chops his head off. Boo Y'all!!