Oversized Scissors (Stage Prop)

I made it at TechShop http://www.techshop.ws

This project was made at TechShop - Detroit for a school play. They needed an oversized pair of scissors for the scene in the Wizard of Oz where the Cowardly Lion is getting "all prettied up" to see the Wizard. After designing the three-dimensional scissors in CAD (Autodesk Inventor is available to all TechShop members for free), it was easy to fabricate using the ShopBot CNC Router at TechShop.

Materials used:

   3/4" particle board (appropriate size for scale)
   (1) 1/4"-20 x 1-1/2" carriage bolt
   (1) 1/4"-20 nut
   (1) 1/4" fender washer
   (1) 1/4" washer
   latex house paint (for primer)
   spray paint (for finish colors)

Tools used:

   ShopBot
   Sanders
   Die grinder with flap sanding wheel (optional)

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Step 1: Cut out the shapes

Using your CAM program (we use VCarve Pro), lay out the shapes for the ShopBot. You may download the .DXF of the scissor shape at http://www.lime3D.net/instructables/scissor.zip

Note: You will cut out two of the same exact part. Nest the file in any orientation to optimize the size of your 3/4" particle board workpiece.

You will see that the .DXF contains the profile shape, plus a boundary defining a pocket for the blade section. Cut the pocket 1/4" deep first. This will allow the two halves of the scissors to fasten together, and operate like their real-life counterparts.

Finish by cutting out the profiles and screw holes.

Pay no attention to the other shapes in the photos. Those are for two different projects we were cutting at the same time.