Prank Box

The prank box is basically a sealed wooden box with an electric bell inside that is activated by a key switch. Once it is turned on, a relay inside the box is latched and it cannot be turned off without knowing the secret trick (Spoiler Alert: magnets). Quite understandably, a completely sealed box with a ringing bell inside that doesn't seem to stop can quickly become maddening. It is very funny to watch people ponder the implications of the device, reluctantly turn it on, and then stress out when they cannot turn it off. It is even funnier to get panicked emails from your friend in Canada after you mail it to him without any explanation, and he decides to ignore the directions on the box and turn it on.

Step 1: Go get stuff

You will need:

(x1) Laser cut 1/4"-thick plywood box template**
(x1) 6V electric bell
(x1) 4 x D battery holder
(x1) Reed switch
(x1) Latching DPDT relay
(x1) Key switch
(x1) 9V battery holder
(x1) 9V battery snap
(x1) 4-40 x 1/2" wood screws
(x8) 8" zip ties
(x1) 4" x 4" x 1/8" matte white acrylic
(x1) Black and red acrylic paint
(x1) 5-minute epoxy
(x1) 30-NF Fastbond contact cement
(x1) Wood glue
(x1) Masking tape
(x1) Red and black wire
(x1) Wood stain and 220 sandpaper (optional)
(x1) Shrink tube

**The laser cut template should be etched (when appropriate) and cut. The "DO NOT INSERT AND TURN KEY" shape should be etched and cut from 1/8" acrylic.

Comments

[Dbro395]

Your Evil just pure EVIL I tell you but I must say it scared the hell out of my friend I customized it a bit to my likings lol it cracks me up all the time. Lol

[ryukyu]

How about a smoke detector instead of a bell? Seems like it would be much more annoying...

[LeumasYrrep]

Yes, that is the perfect noise.

[yapoyo]

How did mike react to the prank?

[mikeasaurus]

I was hilarious.


^{_{my revenge will be swift and unyielding}}

[Rich140]

I bought the key switch from the "kit" doesnt seem to be right- theres no common.... am I doing something wrong?

[randofo]

I have contacted Jameco (who puts the kit together) and they will help you get the right part.

[exotictoad]

im making mine so you spin the box to turn it off;)

[wheellan]

I think im going to try and get it to shock you when you turn it...

[srilyk]

This would be incredibly easy - just hook up the switch to the capacitor poles from any one of those "make a stun gun from a disposable camera". Though maybe a milder shock would be appropriate. Unless the key is actually isolated, they tend to be a great conductor.

If you really wanted to be evil, do that but add the bell. Then require holding the key in the "on" position for a second or two to turn it off instead of the magnet. I'm not sure what you'd have to do to make the circuit work, but that would be super fun.

[SteamCap]

oh that is a great idea

[timbon77]

I've decided to make one of these, but I plan to use a sturdier, more hammer-resistant box and I plan to omit the magnetic switch simply because it will be more satisfying to be able to say "oh, sorry, there's no way to turn it off"

[randofo]

Good idea. My initial plan was not to have one, but I was convinced to add one.

[batman96]

It's got the batteries to run for a week
It's simple
It's tough enough to take a beating
There's no expensive circuit boards to get damaged when it is thrown against the floor
And it's almost impossible to figure out

The only ting it needs is a computer socket type power jack to recharge the batteries

The only thing better would be a clock so when they get it they turn the switch and it does nothing, so they leave it sitting there, but after the switch has been turned it triggers at 2AM. (adjusted for their time zone) Imagine trying to get it to stop at 2 AM!

[nils.petter]

Or, better: They turn the key, the bell goes off. Some small button on the side or under the box, under a lid that needs to be unscrewed with some weird bit, stops the bell. PHEW! Found the button! Finally, peace!

A clock triggers the bell again at 2AM.

Don't blame me if you end up with an axe planted firmly in your skull though.

[exotictoad]

i made it, I than had the idai to test it out. i could not turn it off. fun.

[Rimwulf]

what would be funny is after they turn the key and let there guard down it would set off caps or poppers.

[oldmechanic]

Pretty cool!

[Adambowker98]

What tech shop do you go to?

[throbscottle]

Just for an extra twist, why not have, turn the key, a little beep comes out and an led comes on, then the bell starts if the victim tries to turn it off...

[oldmechanic]

you could turn it into a thing that rings a bell for 15 seconds, and then, lets say, it does the most unexpected...

[Musicman41]

I have another idea: oscillating solenoids attached to weights to make the box shake.

[Lindie]

Funny! :-)

[flamekiller]

I've gotta wonder how you could get this through the mail without getting in LOTS of trouble.

That said, favorited (on to my 80+ item Instructables project list it goes!) I think I'll build one with an aoogah-type horn in it.

[Whiternoise]

I have one word for this: Library.

[T-K]

YES.

[rickwag]

Oh you are bad but I do like your thought process:)

[Klappstuhl]

You could modify the box to look like a book. It should activate when removed from its position!

[Aegian2424]

twilight series....

[Muniosi]

Well, with your idea it seems more like a set-up and less like your own stupidity led to the annoying noise. It's a cool idea though.

[srilyk]

To be fair, I think many (most?) people would equate picking up a copy of Twilight with stupidity ;)

[-max-]

to further improve the concept, i would use a alarm or siren instead of a bell and put a gient flashing red lamp on it and many useless switches and buttons with there own flashing lights to confuse the victim

(the switches would not conect to anything other than maybe a small led light next to each one, and only the magnets would stop the loud siren and giant rad light)

[stringstretcher]

I made one once with a siren. It had a trip wire that set it off, which then closed up so you could not stuff the trigger back into it. We froze it to the grond under a buddy's car... He could not get the box open and his kids were crying, the wife was unhappy and his neighbors were calling and complaining about the noise :) He destroyed the box with a hammer, but let us know how much he appreciated the engineering!

[ScottyAlmanjoy]

I'd smash it the second I would realize that the bell wasn't stopping.

[nerd12]

this is evil... and that is why i am building one. :D great 'ible

[Nunyabidness]

It needs three things.

1) A button that is labeled "Push To Turn Off" which does nothing.
2) A dummy cord, plugged into a wall outlet, which can (and will) be unplugged after the "Off" button is pushed.
3) A dummy battery that can (and will) be removed after the "Off" button has been pushed and the cord unplugged.

[kimvellore]

That's a good one..
The wall plug could be used to charge the batteries and
if you make it electronic:-
each time you try to turn OFF with the key or push the OFF button the volume, frequency and or pitch increases
or have the OFF button turn off for 3 seconds before it blasts louder...
Add a ticking sound with a blinking LED if it is unplugged or a count down timer
...
all my evil juices flowing as I am drooling

[Nunyabidness]

I work for an engineering firm... Are there any more button-pushing-prone people on the planet?

[Jezter Long]

your evil :)

[lperkins]

The bell is nice, but did you know that if you take the chip out of one of those musical greeting cards (that used to be really popular and that you can still find sometimes) it will run continuously for approximately two and a half *years* on a single, alkaline C cell?