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Knex Ping Pong Ball Retriever Claw

I built this in my spare time to help my dad who has a bad back. We would play ping pong together and the ball would come off the table, and he would always have to bend down and pick it up. So I invented the ping pong ball retrieval claw.

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Step 1Create the pole part

First you need to create the pole part. It is made from 4 grays and 4 purple connectors and 8 white pecies.
How many of these you make will depend on the hight of the person using it.

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33 comments

Mar 4, 2009. 5:15 PMguitargod1417 says:

awesome nice thinking i moded the handel a bit

Dec 13, 2008. 8:14 PMmastertres says:

that was a very cool and creative way to help your father. good job!

Aug 1, 2008. 6:43 PMBartboy says:

Now a tennis ball one? Maybe?

142

Feb 28, 2007. 11:26 AM

Kiteman says:

Is it my imagination, or is this actually a useful K'Nex Instructable?

Jun 19, 2008. 1:20 PMThe Jamalam says:

be quiet!:P

May 14, 2008. 5:57 PM

I_am_Canadian says:

I really like this. It works very well.

Feb 28, 2007. 12:13 AM

LasVegas says:

It would be nice if you were to mention KNEX somewhere since that is the product you're using. The title might be a good place. At least it's not a gun.

May 14, 2008. 5:56 PM

I_am_Canadian says:

The very first word in the title is knex........

Dec 8, 2007. 3:45 PMthekingisme says:

read the title...

Oct 8, 2007. 11:07 AMadamsdead says:

another use other then guns

Jul 16, 2009. 8:12 PMsmattman22 says:

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSTTT

Jun 19, 2008. 1:20 PMThe Jamalam says:

post it plz, i know it's been a year, but jesus christ POST

Mar 11, 2008. 1:15 PMGunnyzmith says:

what the heck does that have to do with a ping pong retreiver?!

Mar 11, 2008. 5:38 PMadamsdead says:

Like the "Ping Pong Retriever", It is not a gun.

Jul 20, 2008. 12:57 PMburning_feather says:

you've probably already heard this but plz plz post it.

Oct 8, 2007. 11:13 AM

LasVegas says:

Very impressive adam! You should make this an Instructable! Not that I'd necessarily look at it since 'Knex' tends to put me off... Now, if you could only create a cooling chamber or install it in the fridge somehow with an extended trigger for front access.

Nov 23, 2008. 12:18 PMBartboy says:

Adams dead!

Oct 8, 2007. 11:53 AMadamsdead says:

That would be pretty nice and thank you

Dec 4, 2007. 5:18 PMcowscankill says:

i just made it! it's great, and i put some mods that made it even better :)

Dec 4, 2007. 6:03 PMadamsdead says:

Sweet

Nov 22, 2007. 4:24 PMnerfer192 says:

thats a sick thing. nice to see some thing knex thats not a gun everyonce and a while. (not a knex hater)

Mar 17, 2007. 1:53 PMpeepsx13 says:

the soda dispenser and the tank were kewl but this isnt tht kewl.where does it pick up the ball.u dont have a moveable claw.so it cant pick up the ball.plz make a video showin how it works.it makes no sense 2 me.

Apr 6, 2008. 2:58 AMcombot55 says:

it sticks to the green connectors

Mar 18, 2007. 8:45 PMTeacherOfTheWays (author) says:

I made a video.

Mar 11, 2008. 2:08 PMGunnyzmith says:

good job man! i made a stuffed animal/ball(bigger ball) picker upper cause of my dogs stuff but i give credit 2 u!

Mar 14, 2008. 7:51 PMTeacherOfTheWays (author) says:

thanks so much!

Apr 21, 2007. 2:53 AMpigs are fat says:

simple but clever..

Feb 28, 2007. 5:18 PMAeshir says:

Nice.

106

Feb 28, 2007. 1:29 PM

noahw says:

While I certainly don't look at every K'Nex instructable that gets posted, this one caught my eye. Its so nice to see K'Nex being used for things besides weapons - they obviously have a lot of potential, and this looks like a great project. Nice work!

Feb 28, 2007. 1:06 PMLostkid says:

What do you have against knex guns, Las vegas? We are just a bunch of people who test our design skills and have fun by making knex guns.

Feb 28, 2007. 9:03 AMTeacherOfTheWays (author) says:

I fixed it.

Feb 28, 2007. 8:59 AMTeacherOfTheWays (author) says:

Sorry I kinda forgot to mention that.

Feb 27, 2007. 10:38 PM

Whaleman says:

Wow, a simple solution to a simple problem, but unfortunately i wont be making it because i dont have a ping pong ball, but my friend does, but when i play with him, the ball always goes over the wall. But great instructable, very simple, very good!