Knex Tower Crane

My first large-scale knex project! This is a great Knex Tower Crane that is 6.2 feet tall and has a boom 4.11 feet long. Very durable, it has stood for two months in my room under all kinds of tests. (There is a limit to it's ability, though.) I hope you like it, the crane rotates and has a working hook. You can make your own hooks for various tasks.

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Step 1: Piece Count

With this large a project, piece counts are necessary!
Subject to small counting errors.

CONNECTORS

1-way grays: 58
oranges: 40 (68 if fully cross-braced)
reds: 20
greens: 4
yellows:14
snowflakes: 32
purple snaps: 222
blue snaps: 94

RODS

green: 80
white: 72
blue: 106
yellow: 73 (129 if fully cross-braced)
red: 147
gray: 68
black: 2

OTHER

tires: a whole lot!
blue spacers: 20
gray spacers: 9
small blue gears: 2
medium yellow gears: 3
big yellow gears: 2
tan clips: 14
blue clips: 7
string: a reasonable amount, yarn works well

HolyCross9 says: Jan 2, 2013. 6:37 PM

How exactly do you wind up the string onto the winch?

MarsCrystalMan (author) says: Jan 3, 2013. 7:54 AM

Good question! The tan clip and the blue clip should be closer together than in the above pictures (I've added some new ones to illustrate better). Simply knot the string around the tan clip's peg and push the blue clip against the tan clip. This closes the string in, and when the rod is turned in either direction, the string is forced to wrap around (instead of loosely hanging on the rod itself and never winding in). Hope this helps!

Knex Tower Crane Winch String Attachment.JPG

Knex Tower Crane Winch String Attachment 2.JPG

Knex Tower Crane Winch String Attachment 3.JPG

Knex Tower Crane Winch String Attachment 4.JPG

Knex Tower Crane Winch String Attachment 5.JPG

MrSmashCat says: Jan 13, 2011. 2:58 PM

I will have my instructions for mine on the site this weekend Sunday at the latest.
Sorry for any inconvenience.

The ironman says: Oct 17, 2010. 3:27 AM

im 5 foot 5 and i am talller than that

MarsCrystalMan (author) says: Oct 21, 2010. 12:23 AM

Hmmmmm.....
Either you're taller than you think, or (more likely) my measurement was wrong. Sorry for any inconvenience.

The ironman says: Jan 9, 2011. 8:22 AM

ok but can you make it taller

MrSmashCat says: Dec 20, 2010. 3:05 PM

Very nice. I am making a tower crane of my own, and I will probably post it when I finish it (which will hopefully be in the next few days).

qwerty2008 says: Aug 23, 2010. 11:47 AM

i built a tower crane that looked just like this a wile back but i did'nt post it. it used chain to move the hook back and forth and thread instead of rods for the support cable other then that it was the same