Illusionist Heart Locket

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 :) )

Remove these ads by Signing Up

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.

aledt says: Feb 25, 2013. 9:11 AM

Liked this so much I made my own version of this locket inspired by this instructable, here - http://www.instructables.com/id/Illusionists-Heart/

aisenheim says: Dec 16, 2012. 4:22 AM

The locket in the movie is actually two lockets which they replace, each rotating around one axis. If it wasn't How would the picture inside be able to stay in middle

Greasetattoo in reply to aisenheimJan 27, 2013. 7:49 AM

Sorry, your wrong.
It is only one locket!
You can buy them here:
http://illusionistlocket.com/

I plan on building one!

izy25 says: Dec 14, 2012. 10:26 AM

i don't understand how the central axis works, where does the refill get glued and how does the nail allow it to spin?

108

Penolopy Bulnick says: Dec 10, 2012. 1:29 PM

That is crazy! I didn't think that locket would work!

mpanayiotis says: Nov 30, 2012. 9:31 AM

Im attempting this project as my first ever woodworking project. It took me a few times to read over your plans and understand them but they look like they are going to work just fine. I have acquired four 2mm magnets which I am going to use to secure the locket in place as ones I have seen look slightly 'shaky', hopefully they should secure it. Unfortunately I have no real tools to work with, just a hacksaw and a drill as-well as a clamp so allot of it is going to take a long time sanding etc. Do you have any tips for the creation of the side ward rotation pins using only these tools? I'm thinking of making them from wood and perhaps even using the drill as a make-shift lathe? Many thanks!

carpfluff says: Jan 8, 2012. 7:01 AM

i really want to make this, but i'd probably ruin it. Why is this so difficult? :(

ealisha says: Dec 30, 2011. 9:57 AM

hi..
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..

ealisha in reply to ealishaJan 1, 2012. 8:21 PM

could you please reply quickly ..?? i really needed help on tht particular part..! so..please reply fast..

kenjiMP says: Dec 25, 2011. 1:03 PM

Hi Pushan! You seems to be the ONLY one on ALL internet that have done a detailed tutorial for the creation of this wonderful locket! I searched everywhere, so really thank you very much! I finished to read all your instructions and seems to be not extremely hard to do, so i'll definitely try to do it for my girlfriend very 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)

Pushan Panda (author) in reply to kenjiMPDec 26, 2011. 4:25 PM

Hi kenji! yeah thats why i decided to do a detailed tutorial! :)
These holes are slots for the images, so that the image fits in flush.

1melza1 says: Jun 14, 2011. 8:25 AM

your idea helped me and i will finsh one soon now

Pushan Panda (author) in reply to 1melza1May 26, 2008. 5:20 AM

thats great would love to see some pictures !

migx333 says: Aug 6, 2011. 8:55 AM

do you have any for sale that arent too pricey?

please contact me on migx333@yahoo.com
i am willing to purchase one. thank you!

Pushan Panda (author) in reply to migx333Dec 8, 2011. 8:43 PM

I'm sorry it takes way too long to build one, making it pricey is the only way :(

jmantelli says: Oct 7, 2011. 3:45 AM

Where in plans are magnets that hold together???

Pushan Panda (author) in reply to jmantelliDec 8, 2011. 8:41 PM

yup my plans do not have any magnets in them.

FetterChiller in reply to jmantelliOct 18, 2011. 10:52 AM

I don't need any. May work better, but works fine as it is.

FetterChiller says: Oct 18, 2011. 10:51 AM

I did it :D
Thanx for the great tut! I hav mor pixs if any1 wanna c!

Pushan Panda (author) in reply to FetterChillerDec 8, 2011. 8:40 PM

wow that is awesome ! and your most welcome ! :)

trekman says: Nov 8, 2011. 3:06 AM

In step 3 you say use cheep glue... Here is a hint; use Elmer's white glue and glue the locker halves down with a piece of blank paper in between. Use plenty of glue. Apply glue the wood scrap first and place the paper on the glue. Apply a layer of glue onto the paper then place the locket half onto that glue. Place another piece of wood on top of all of this and place some weight onto this sandwich and let dry. When you are all done it will just tale a good tap with a hammer and wood chisel to separate it. The piece of paper will spilt in half and just a little sanding will clean it up and you are move on th the next step.

Ms. Understood says: Dec 22, 2010. 9:24 PM

I can't seem to find a half-hinge here in the Philippines. Do you have an alternative for it? I found pic that placed the hinge at the left side and used only 4 half-hearts..here's the photo:

FetterChiller in reply to Ms. UnderstoodOct 18, 2011. 2:32 PM

But how does the right side of the heart hold to the left side if in heart-shape???

jr.tuckluck13 in reply to Ms. UnderstoodDec 24, 2010. 9:45 AM

where did you find this?

Ms. Understood in reply to jr.tuckluck13Dec 26, 2010. 5:57 AM

I forgot..I just googled it and I found it :D

Pushan Panda (author) in reply to Ms. UnderstoodDec 22, 2010. 11:27 PM

This is a wonderful alternative for the half hinge, it does the job and it also looks cool, i can't think of any others

Rentam says: Sep 9, 2011. 12:02 PM

Awesome.

Pablo8 says: Jun 4, 2011. 7:03 AM

About the wax, is it possible to have any problem in the future? I mean, will the heart twist ever wihtout problem? I don't know how long the wax is useful... Thanks

ffsman says: Apr 22, 2011. 6:32 PM

can you make one for me please? email me at pakistaniking92@yahoo.com

Kralya says: Apr 1, 2011. 6:11 PM

How can you twist the the 2nd layer if you super glue the refill and push it into both sides of the heart???

Pushan Panda (author) in reply to KralyaApr 1, 2011. 11:27 PM

Hi Kralya
You only stick the pen refill , the nail inside it is free to rotate

Kralya in reply to Pushan PandaApr 2, 2011. 12:53 PM

OOOOHHH!!! :-) thanks!!

psemmler says: Mar 15, 2011. 12:05 PM

Sorry I`m not common with the word "pen refill" what do you mean with it and where can i buy it? It would be awesome if you guys had a german word for it ;)

Best regars

Pushan Panda (author) in reply to psemmlerMar 15, 2011. 11:57 PM

Just about any plastic pipe that has an inner diameter that will fit your nail will work.