I got the idea to make this from the movie The Illusionist, I was very intrigued as to how something like this could be made. As i count really find a set of easy instructions to make one of these, i decided to make my own. I took a lot of pics , but towards the end i kinda forgot to, but im sure it'll easy enough to make.
This is quite a difficult project, but thats only because everything is so small . I myself have very little experience and thats why the finished product isn't exactly what i expected.
Just follow the pictures and you'll be fine.
For those of of you who havent watched the Illusionist, here is the clip showing the locket in action:
Ok, let's get started !
A couple of things you'll need:
-Tools and machinery
-A drill press
-A grinder
-Drill bits
-Foster bits
-Lathe
-Fret saw
-Files
-
-Materials
-Super glue
-Scissors
-M-seal
-Wood ( duh )
-And finally Patience (you're going to need a lot of it , if you're a beginner like me :) )
This is quite a difficult project, but thats only because everything is so small . I myself have very little experience and thats why the finished product isn't exactly what i expected.
Just follow the pictures and you'll be fine.
For those of of you who havent watched the Illusionist, here is the clip showing the locket in action:
Ok, let's get started !
A couple of things you'll need:
-Tools and machinery
-A drill press
-A grinder
-Drill bits
-Foster bits
-Lathe
-Fret saw
-Files
-
-Materials
-Super glue
-Scissors
-M-seal
-Wood ( duh )
-And finally Patience (you're going to need a lot of it , if you're a beginner like me :) )
Step 1: The plan
My plans for the locket do not involve any magnets.
I made a 3d model so that its easier for all of you.
Take a good look at this picture it shows the left half of the heart, then proceed to the next step.
I made a 3d model so that its easier for all of you.
Take a good look at this picture it shows the left half of the heart, then proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Cutting the main shapes
In this step we'll cut out 6 half hearts.
First cut out the template on paper, you can scale my design up if you want a bigger one.
Then draw an outline on a peice of wood
After that cut it it out, i used a fret saw but if you dont have one you can use a hack saw.
When you're done grind the extra out , remember we need 6 of these half- hearts.
Just follow the pics.
OK step one done!
First cut out the template on paper, you can scale my design up if you want a bigger one.
Then draw an outline on a peice of wood
After that cut it it out, i used a fret saw but if you dont have one you can use a hack saw.
When you're done grind the extra out , remember we need 6 of these half- hearts.
Just follow the pics.
OK step one done!
Step 3: Thinning the two top pieces
Now were're going to thin the upper 2 half hearts and the lower 2 half hearts.
If you have a 1.5mm thick piece of wood lying around you can skip this step and just cut four half hearts out of it, but as i dint i had to do this:
Just glue the halves with some weak glue.
Then using a sander bit grind it down to about 1.5 mm thick.
Then with a chisel pry them out.
Voila, the top and bottom pieces are ready.
If you have a 1.5mm thick piece of wood lying around you can skip this step and just cut four half hearts out of it, but as i dint i had to do this:
Just glue the halves with some weak glue.
Then using a sander bit grind it down to about 1.5 mm thick.
Then with a chisel pry them out.
Voila, the top and bottom pieces are ready.
Step 4: Making the center rotating pin
Ok in this step we'll give our heart a one axis rotation.
Take the two thicker half hearts and in one drill a hole( dia: Equal to the diameter of your pen refill ) in the center like in the picture.
And for the other half cut a pen's refill to about 1cm long
Then take a nail, put it into the refill , then hammer it into the half heart until the level of the refill.
This Pair is the 2nd layer of our heart, this is where the photos will go, and it should now be able to change from an oval to a heart !
Take the two thicker half hearts and in one drill a hole( dia: Equal to the diameter of your pen refill ) in the center like in the picture.
And for the other half cut a pen's refill to about 1cm long
Then take a nail, put it into the refill , then hammer it into the half heart until the level of the refill.
This Pair is the 2nd layer of our heart, this is where the photos will go, and it should now be able to change from an oval to a heart !
Step 5: Making the side-ward rotating pin
In this step we'll make the side-ward rotating pin, i made it out of platic but you can use wood.
You will need 2 of these pieces.
Just follow the pictorial walk through.
As for the lenght of the pin it should be equal to the total thickness of you locket.
You will need 2 of these pieces.
Just follow the pictorial walk through.
As for the lenght of the pin it should be equal to the total thickness of you locket.
Step 6: Giving it it's 2nd axis of rotation.
Ok now comes the difficult part.
In this step , first take layer 2 and drill a 4mm hole at the center of the tip and the mid point, be sure to clamp the two halves together.
Then using a 5mm cutter bit ( a cutter bit drills flat holes see the picture ) widen the hole you just made from one side about the depth of the length of the head of your side-ward rotating pin.
Now you should be able fit the side-ward rotating pin in and only a small bit should be jutting out of the first hole.
In this step , first take layer 2 and drill a 4mm hole at the center of the tip and the mid point, be sure to clamp the two halves together.
Then using a 5mm cutter bit ( a cutter bit drills flat holes see the picture ) widen the hole you just made from one side about the depth of the length of the head of your side-ward rotating pin.
Now you should be able fit the side-ward rotating pin in and only a small bit should be jutting out of the first hole.
Step 7: Making the grooves for the photos.
This is pretty straightforward get a fosner bit of your preference and drill two holes like in the picture and then cover the two hole with some M-seal.
Step 8: Assembly.
Ok! your locket is almost ready you have all the parts ready all thats left is assembly and some polishing.
First put a few drops of super glue on the surface of the refill and then gently push the both halves of the 2nd layer together, like in the 1st picture, only there should be the refill piece around the nail.
Then just follow the instructions on the pictures.
And finally install the pictures, add some polish and you're finally done !
First put a few drops of super glue on the surface of the refill and then gently push the both halves of the 2nd layer together, like in the 1st picture, only there should be the refill piece around the nail.
Then just follow the instructions on the pictures.
And finally install the pictures, add some polish and you're finally done !
Step 9: The Finished Locket
This took me about 3 hours to figure out the plans and another 10 to build it .
I'm not quite satisfied with the final product as i was kinda in a hurry to finish it , but i'm sure you guys will do better.
I'm not quite satisfied with the final product as i was kinda in a hurry to finish it , but i'm sure you guys will do better.
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It is only one locket!
You can buy them here:
http://illusionistlocket.com/
I plan on building one!
i really liked this of urs..its a really nice idea.. :) yeah, im planning to make one this too.. but what i dont understand is the concept of the pen refill and the nail..and you hvnt put up enough pics of the nail n pen refill for me to understand.. i mean i wanted to see a pic of the nail being insertd in the refill and attached to the hearts..
so, could you please show some picture of this .. ??
hpe u reply soon..
I'll probably have more questions for you, but for the moment there is one thing i can't understand: why you do these 2 holes with the fostner bit, and then why you cover them?? I just can't understand the meaning of these two holes.. :/
Thank you very much! hope to receive a reply from you! :)
And happy christmas!
Marco (from London)
These holes are slots for the images, so that the image fits in flush.
please contact me on migx333@yahoo.com
i am willing to purchase one. thank you!
Thanx for the great tut! I hav mor pixs if any1 wanna c!
You only stick the pen refill , the nail inside it is free to rotate
Best regars