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NES Stepping Stones

NES Stepping Stones
The Nintendo Entertainment System rocked the world with 8-bit goodness when it first came out, but it has faded in use as the years have gone on. I got a ton of use out of my own, but now... not so much.

Even though I don't play retro games, I still love the old box and figured that it should be honored in some way. Thus a concrete version would be great since it could live on in my garden as stepping stones. That way it would still provide a path for me to enjoy,

Here's how to make them.
 
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Step 1Prep the NES - part 1

Prep the NES - part 1
All you need is the top half of the NES. Fortunately, it comes off easily with a Phillips-head screwdriver.

After you get the top off, you'll see a few plastic posts that stick out. Cut these off with a Dremel. You now have a top half that will lay flat.

Note: some people are shocked to see a NES console cut up. The machine still works and the top can be reattached if you want. But still, they sold over 60 million of these things and barely any are used these days. Relax.
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29 comments
Nov 4, 2011. 9:43 AMtimwikander says:
these are great! instantly recognizable in the concrete grey color. way to make an ordinary object more fun!
Apr 19, 2011. 7:03 AMraith2006 says:
should add some paint to these
Sep 22, 2011. 2:09 PMAquilla says:
I was thinking the same thing. Splitting the mold into 2 parts to allow the use of a black dye in the aggregate of the smaller part would make the the stones more recognisable.

Though for the time and effort a better effect might just be to instead make similar molds for the SNES, N64, and Gamecube - perhaps even a Wii if a broken one can be found cheap enough.

I think progressing along the stepping stones would make for a nice idea, but I wouldn't like trying to stand on an N64 stepping stone if its icy; plus the wii and Gamecube would be really small too. I'd hate to hear someone broke a hip on one of these.

They might work ok in a rock garden or in crazy paving though, so long as the height of each of 'em of match up.
Mar 4, 2011. 7:51 PMreginaron says:
hi

I didn't read anything about you adding any reinforcement bar,to this mix
Stepping stones, are usually made of Concrete, not cement.

cheers

Mar 20, 2011. 11:04 PMlcorriveau says:
Cement is the powdered stuff you use to make concrete. & I think rebar *might* be overkill for stepping stones... :)
Mar 21, 2011. 8:06 AMreginaron says:
hi
As my post states, stepping stones are usually made from concrete.
cement is an adhesive. Adding even something, like chicken-wire, or coathanger wire, in the form will add a little bit of (reinforcement), sturdiness to plain concrete. :)

Jun 19, 2011. 9:51 AMtimweaver17 says:
cement: A powdery substance made by calcining lime and clay, mixed with water to form mortar or mixed with sand, gravel, and water to make concrete

concrete: A heavy, rough building material made from a mixture of broken stone or gravel, sand, cement, and water, that can be spread or poured into molds and that forms a stonelike mass on hardening
Apr 23, 2011. 10:21 PMpjrpumpken says:
Hi would it be cool if u put like a sentence like (nintendo entertainment stones)

thanks
Apr 23, 2011. 10:13 PMpjrpumpken says:
Awesome idea I love it
Apr 19, 2011. 7:02 AMraith2006 says:
this is an awesome idea, I might have to try it, though instead of just using the NES I could probably try an old xbox, or some other systems if they are the right shape
Mar 7, 2011. 7:49 AMindomitable says:
these are awesome, so subtle and cool.
Mar 1, 2011. 4:00 PMkelseymh says:
These look an awful lot like Frank Lloyd Wright's textile blocks. Was that intentional?
Mar 1, 2011. 8:40 PMkelseymh says:
Oh, no. I meant intentional by you: They are really reminiscent of the Ennis House (see Blade Runner), for example.

The monochromatic concrete with the linear textures is great, in a very pure American A&C style. They would not look out of place at all in any of the Craftsman bungalows off of Telegraph or Solano Ave. The fact that they derive from a mass-produced plastic electronics enclosure introduces some wonderfully ironic tension for those who recognize the design.
Mar 7, 2011. 7:48 AMindomitable says:
o_O
Mar 4, 2011. 7:31 PMreginaron says:
hi
Wouldn't be easier, to build a wood mold for the cement,pour it in, wait until it's alomst stiff, then just press in the top of the NES ,into the cement, with mabye a layer of cellophane inbetween?
No need to take the Nes apart either.

cheers
Mar 5, 2011. 12:29 AMmslaynie says:
That's not a bad idea, but it won't be anything like what the author is actually going to end up with. With the author's project, you'll end up with a cement replica of the NES lid. With what you describe, you'd end up with a cement block that has ridges in it, if they didn't get stuck in the top of the NES lid. Totally different end result.

Still, it's good to think about these things. :D
Mar 5, 2011. 11:47 AMreginaron says:
Hi
It all depends on how good of a finisher you are.

cheers

Mar 5, 2011. 11:59 AMreginaron says:
hi

u r right, detail? I don't know, I don't have an NES to do this.
Mar 3, 2011. 2:09 PMCropJ says:
How clever. "Stepping Stone"... I get it.
Mar 3, 2011. 5:28 PMkmbrmom says:
I was attracted by the photo, I had no idea what NES was—not a gamer, so I never would have made the connection to nintendo if I saw these on a path. That part makes them more interesting, though. The design is very bauhaus, and the cement is perfect for the subtle lines. Clever you for seeing the potential in an old beige box.
Mar 3, 2011. 1:28 PMbsgolob says:
Cool.
Mar 1, 2011. 2:21 PMSenior Waffleman says:
NICE!!!
Mar 1, 2011. 3:15 PMTOCO says:
I own one too but I wont take it apart for this. I still play it in spare time over the summer.
Mar 1, 2011. 6:42 PMSenior Waffleman says:
You replied to the wrong person -_-
Mar 2, 2011. 3:54 PMKanellos says:
That was awesome
Mar 1, 2011. 2:39 PMknex_builder_freak says:
Great!!! I still own one :-)

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Author:fungus amungus(my site)
I like to make things both useful and odd. The odd projects are usually more fun. I'm also the Content Manager here at Instructables. Follow @edabot for more