Simple Animatronics (robotic hand)

I made my first animatronic hand when I was about 10 years old using stuff I found around the house. Now I want to share with you how to easily make your own at home!

 This hand is made from readily available materials and is perfect for your Halloween haunted house, scary pranks, as a movie prop or just good old fashion fun. It also serves as a good starting point for further work that might include the use of servos, remote controlling and more advanced animatronics. There's a few videos at the end of this instructable that shows the building process and some of the movement of the hand. Here's one;

Step 1: Parts and tools you need

Tubing
String
Tape
Sharp knife
Hot glue-gun
Marker/ pen
CD-cover
Plastic or wooden clothes hanger

The two latter can be replaced by other materials as you will find out later.

Comments

[Orzahn]

Thank the robotic overlords for instructables, I was looking to build a hand, but wasn't sure if the strings would work, but evidently they do ;) Thanks.

[exceeda88]

thank you for this, i have recreate it using rubber tube

[ksafaet]

nice work.... :)

[sridharvenkatesh]

simply superb! thamk you! i learnt a lot..

[MakingWorld]

well done!

[MakingWorld]

well done!

[wood wizard]

I have some armoured paintball gloves and shall try to make an exoskeletoney version .I shall try to put it on here but It could take a year for me to get round to it. if possible I'll make them extendable arms to. my mouth is often bigger than my skill level so don't count on it being up soon.shall put a link here if I get it done.

[ThamarBerber]

Thanks for posting this 'Ible! I'm one step closer to be able to get things from up high out of the fridge myself!

[cjs1298]

I like how extra additions can come. Like coverage with a glove or even adding an arm.

[mb inventor]

This is most likely the best one I've seen on this website beause it is simple but it works great and it's easy to make good job!

[mb inventor]

This is most likely the best one I've seen on this website beause it is simple but it works great and it's easy to make good job!

[jeroentrebuchet]

Just simple and therefore great, well done.

[YOUTHGONEWILD]

How long was the total length of tubing you used? I really want to make this..

[pelindolok]

I want to download this as pdf, why i can't? :(

[haredrier]

Is it possible to make one that is bigger than your own hand? I'm working on a robot suit for Halloween.

[tanntraad]

Sure! Did see one guy that welded his hand! Awesome, with a hint of deadly!

[jakepark]

tantraad, could you use straws instead of pipes?

[tanntraad]

Hi! I don't see why not. But wouldn't it be very skinny? Also, it might not be as strong.. but give it a go! Let us know how it works out:)

[TimmyMiller]

how would you put a glove on it? p.s. can you turn a dial with this? i want to build a robot that will be able to turn a thermostat dial. it's for a friend. please respond with a private message, thanks.

[Stefhan Albayaty]

If you had 5 Servos you could, that would be around $75 if you got them from radio-shack or you could find some on eBay. And for a robot you wish to function as a robot i would suggest using a stronger material for the hand such as hinged metal or a hard plastic/

[pyromanic]

cool

[admerritt4life]

where did you buy the tubing???? ps can i use this at an invention convention 4 my school???

[oneaze]

wire conduit, auto parts or hardware store.. or if you goto a junkyard there is tons under hood of almost any car from 82 present day.. newer cars, much more, and will have from 1/8"-1.5" pieces.. and typical junkyards just give it away..

[freeza36]

The tubing i bought has a cut going down the entire length. Is there a simple fix?

[Gunnar120]

hmm, seeming as it is already invented... I would think not. it is probably already copyrighted by somebody and you just might get sued

[freeza36]

Ok the plastic piping that i bought has a slit running down the whole length of the tube, so wires can be inserted. It is like you just cut a straight line down the entire side. Would this work, and if not, could i tape it together?

[vadivelp]

so nice

[Aethereal]

Dx I've been to several large hardware stores and can't find (even after asking) any of the tubing. Any help?

Thanks :)

[Themajor13]

Try an automotive store. I work for Napa and we have a bunch of that stuff for wiring cars. Its called wire loom. Make sure you dont get the split loom because it has a slit down the center.

[jackjackattack]

hi

[jackjackattack99]

Hi

[djudkins]

Hi

[jmcconnell5]

Hi

[Zach4997]

Hi

[Garrus]

Hi

[bstott]

Ha, Ha, Ha. You are just too smart. I'm loving this! This is really like a - Duh - moment.

So many of the simple things around us can be used for such vastly different, imaginative, creative and purposeful uses. Thanks for the creative eye opening. This is cool!

[djudkins]

dude thats awesome, gonna make my own tommorow

[11rex11]

Ready For This?! I Made Mine Out Of Steel Tubing But With Some Hefty Springs And 100 Pound Wire Cable I Can Literally Crush Full Cans With It.

Oh Iv Already Started On Another This Time Way Stronger And Powered By A Hydraulic Cylinder Placed In The Upper Arm Part Of It. If You Were To Put It On, The Part That Pushes (or In My Case Pulls) Is Facing The Body So That It Pulls The Wires Iv Still Got To Work Out How To Make It Compact. (Do They Sell Powerful Mini Hydraulic Pumps?)

Ideas, Ideas Ideas, Maybe I Should Make Another With Some High End Servo Motors With Censors So If I Move My Arm It Moves The Arm. (Guess That Would Get Expensive Considering Id Have To Buy 7 Servos And Censors Just For The Fingers/Wrist)

[chosenangelx]

Iron Man much?
-R

[Traw]

Um, I'm sorry, but I just noticed... why are all your words capitalized?..... and that's awesome! Could you post some pictures or something so we could see it?

[11rex11]

Its funny you ask because i literally went like a week with this stupid thing on my computer that my friends put on they apparently thought it would be funny if they installed something that capitalized everything after the space bar was pressed i went a whole week Going Like This. It drove me nuts and i had to write an 3 page essay using the shift whenever i didnt want a capital letter i ended up just using capslock

[Traw]

Haha! Well, that's pretty funny, and that actually really sucks now that I think about it, haha. So, are you going to post some pictures of your hand?

[J-Ri]

You can't tell us that and not at least give a picture of it! A video crushing a can would be even better! Awesome job, I would love to see it!

[redy2rumble]

how do you split the string into 5 pieces?

[Foyet]

um with a knife

[tinker234]

hey guys i just wanted to say thank you to taan tard sorry for my spelling but this is great if you could controll the movment then you could make a humaniod robot hand

[beetlewing]

I'm so tempted to make a giant version of this with that 4-6" black ribbed pipe that's made for extending a gutter...

great build btw.

[dragonsniper]

please post if u do

[Aethereal]

this is brilliant:)
where would you suggest getting the tubing from? are there any do's and don't with the material?
suggestions would be great
thanks a lot

[haakon.k]

Wow, love the quality of the motion versus the simplicity of the build! The next step might be to make the thumb pivot ninety degrees so it can oppose the fingers or lay alongside them. Hmmmm..... now I'm complicating your build!
Nicely done!

[jabujavi]

I wish see it wearing latex gloves...
Sorry my English.

[aaaroniscool]

awsome ,you should make a modified version.

[Niek67]

Dude this is really awersome, I'm just 15 years old, do you think i can build it ? I saw something like this at Mythbusters, Adam also build one. I hope I will make it. Thanks

[Plinko1]

I'm seven and i made it.

[aaaroniscool]

really, I'm ten but i said i was 13:)

[darkria 45]

dont worry, im 13 and i stick weld all the time. i think you can make a hand

[daltonjcw]

Adams was copper and brass and awesome. I will not disclose my age, but I'm younger than you and plan on making it. Have fun! Make stuff!

[metal slug 2]

The mythbusters mechanical hand was tank. It used a motorcycle chain for finger sections and linkages =) and yes, 15 years is plenty to be able to build something like this.

[aaaroniscool]

where do you get the tubing stuff

[aaaroniscool]

how long would it take to make?????

[kkarthik]

This is so cool.......

[maneshcs]

dude... this is simply awesome.. u rock.. :)

[WTFBOOM]

ORLY?

[Moxlonibus]

I can't tell you how many hours of sleep I've lost trying to think of an easy way to do this.

[Coindude19]

Where did you get the routed tubing?

[aedwards4]

That is awesome. Thanks ... I cant wait to use this idea to make my movie props.

[futureventions]

I find it easier when cutting the v to use a saw (or bread knife) at an angle. Then you get a nice angle on a cut that can be made very neat.

[redy2rumble]

It's so hard to make the V

[hobbitboy]

if you put a tube on the wrist make it just like a finger mart you can move the wrist

[Bandaids]

I want to make a Giant one of these for no reason at all...

[tanntraad]

Oh, you know the reason. We all do. It's why adding lasers to sharks ALWAYS is a good idea. It's why 100 % of us think words like 'not overkill, yet, ' more' and 'fill it up till we can't lift it anymore' are absolutely perfect at the bomb range.

The reason;
 We're MEN.

[AnnikaSkywalker]

I wouldn't be so quick to assign those qualities to just men. I know plenty of females who are just as smart and inquisitive as their male counterparts, we just tend to keep to ourselves in the dark corners of the Comp. Sci. lab plotting the overthrow of civilization with robots, lasers and animatronic hands. ;)

[Madrias357]

Agreed. It's the reason we build things like double barrel coilguns.

Or, we end up deciding that our neighbors super soaker isn't good enough, so we made one bigger and better. (Sadly, we didn't make the supersoaker war. We put a hole in someone's pool with a soda can cannon.)

[SolomonsJim]

I, for one, *welcome* our female robotic overlords.

:-)

[sunnywork]

such a great work! I've seen smth similar on spidesk.ru !

[Farrelbark]

I see how when you used it in the video, the hand didn't straighten out.
The string doesn't really keep it straight, it just get's it to bend.
I was thinking about making these, but adding a spring in with the string to make it straighten after bending.
I dunno, but you think that'd be a good idea?

[dont_unplug_me]

cool! Hey Have you ever been to Craft's site? If so did you see the ghost busters chair replica thing? do you think it would be posible to use these as the arms on the chair? Furthermore is it possible to make these remote controled to really spook someone?

[robo1804]

thanks for you model, is greatest

[zarulhairee]

i was thinking drinking staw with some toothpick and thumbtack... you made my day easierman! thanks for your tips!

[blade97]

Could you try and make it out of bike chain, welded except for where the joints are. It would make it much stronger

[big-jamie]

just reading this i think im gonna make two of these and buy a hugely oversized jacket for myself and be some scary boogey man for halloween with massive arms lol.

but even if that doesnt happen i WILL get round to making this, great idea.

[-chase-]

I've always wanted to make one of these - never did. Yours came out real nice! and has some stregth to the grip i see from the video.

Pop a oversized glove on it  and ....

Happy Holloween!

[JNMercer]

awesome!

[TechGnostic]

The idea to use corrugated wire wrap as hand-structure is pure genius.
Great idea.

[jillg]

is it okay if the tubing has a little split down the middle its the only kind i could find

[tanntraad]

What do you mean by split?

[daltonjcw]

I think he means Foam backer rod, or he means pipe insulation foam. Great 'ible

Maybe a wrist sized pipe for wrist? whole body? The possibilities!

[Gunnar120]

It is my problem too, all of mine has a big cut down the side, so you can pop wire into the side or some such nonsense.

[Speedmite]

Thats why you use duct tape!!!!

[PKTraceur]

I think he means its the "Perforated" kind. I used that stuff. it should actually help you when cutting!

[jillg]

yea it dosent matter it works well cool 'ible

[Bor]

If your really into animatronics I recommend paying a visit to theme park Efteling in Holland. A big part of the park (The Fairy Tale Forest) was built in 1952 and is still intact.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Tale_Forest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efteling

[DehLeprechaun]

should i use thicker tubing to make a three fingered hand or just make two fingers spread apart

[Wesley666]

If you want something really sturdy (So you can grab someone from far away and start knocking the c$@p outta them) Try motorcycle chain in small sections. You need some good springs on the back to bring it back afterward otherwise it will stay clutched to whatever.

[yutzwagon]

This should work just fine for my slender man costume idea. Thanks

[grooooovy]

I really like all of the clear pictures.

[tanntraad]

Thanks! I took them with my (very) old 3.2 Mp camera. I used a bright light, a tripod and no flash if I remember correctly.

[pantalone]

This is awesome. Your pictures and instructions are fantastic. Great job!

[tanntraad]

Thank you!

[F-17]

i was wonderng how these were made

[pneu6]

ET phone home.

[louwhopley]

The hand looks scary - haha , imagine a "real" skeleton hand in action like that!

[TheRavenKing]

*runs to look for parts*

[sonicfreak04]

thanks now I can make a realistic skeleton hand

[mattbad14]

Can i use any kind of material for this thank u

[aarone]

I remember when I was a kid, we'd do something like this with straws. It's cool to see it extended to something a little sturdier and well done.

As a nitpicky (and not really important) sidenote: This would actually be considered an animatic rather than an animatronic. The difference being that one is driven by electronics, and the other is not. Some people will take issue with that though and say that it's not an animatic, because those describe puppet-devices used in stop-motion animation. As some have asked about attaching servos, motors, etc, those would make this into an animatronic.

Either way, it's cool :)

[KnexFreek]

 Video was removed from metacafe?????

[cdousley]

could you hook the strings on motors to contoll it
that would be so cool
great project

[Udon]

Hey.
This.
Is awesome.

[Hill0]

Where can I get tubes?

[soulcalibur]

not bad but get a bigger tube and use it as the wrist so the person does't see the strings. and just let the strings hang there.

[Foaly7]

Mabye using some kind of piston system on a robot to add this. Also, could you put a glove on this & then spraypaint the glove to make it more "human"?

[rockman1965]

Can i use a servo to control the robotic hand?

[metal slug 2]

yes

[Mr. Shaggy135]

This Video was greatly helpful and I made one of my own, I made one completely following your instructions, then I made another one, but modified your instructions, instead of using tape on the string at the end of the fingers outside on step 4, I used a piece of plastic and hot glued it to the inside end, so it moved easier, and instead of taping the thumb pointing across the other fingers, i made it into a C-Shape (easier to hold things). In Step 7 I put a square Plastic piece instead of a trapezoid type, and connected each finger (string) into a individual tube, instead of one tube, and added tape around it so it could look like a arm instead, during step 8-9, i used a old glove and taped the string onto the fingers so i could hold it with one hand, then i put a huge square on the top of the knuckles and hot glued it on so it was boxed around the glove, seemed much easier to control it after the modifications.

[rbhavanirao]

Look at this . You will be amazed.
http://www.kz.tsukuba.ac.jp/~hoshino/mov/SIGGRAPH2008.html

[Soodime]

i made one of these when i was like 8 or something out of bendy straws and thread, it sucked, but it was really cool. thnx 4 this 1, now i can make an upgraded one :]

[SmeyerQuacks]

Oh my goodness :D im babysitting this summer, and was looking for a cool project to do with the 9 year old boy ;) and he is always talking about wanting a REAL "robot hand" although he doesn't realize that that means amputation ;) but this is PERFECT! and will hopefully satisfy his robotic needs, and he can say that he made it himself! (well, the stringing, and taping at least ;) )

[alesteir]

simply: Amazing!

[Shajee4510]

cool instructable............

[NytroDude]

Hey i just watched your video for simple animatronics its pretty cool. I was wondering if you could make a video on how to use it to have 2 extra arms? thanks sweet Instructable

[hellstudios]

Now what I want to do is: Hook it up to a computer to control it with software. Mwahaha!

[Ananand]

Like in Short Circuit when Crosby flips off his assistant!

[psp3601]

lol the beginning of the army of the terminators!!!! MUHUHAHAHAHAHA!

[hellstudios]

MWAHAHAHAHAH!!!

[Ananand]

Great instructable!

[darthmullet]

I'm doing something like this for my Andorian antennae on opening day... thanks for the idea!

[egriff]

I made something like this a couple days after halloween, I used dowels for the bones, and springs at the joints. I think I'll be either a gorrila monster or something steampunk.

[osakwe]

.Im having a tough time with this one...may i ask where did you find the tubing for this instructable???

[depayton]

The tubing is called wire loom and can be purchased at any auto parts store.

[PackRat4448]

such as auto zone?

[tanntraad]

Hey! I think Home depot should have it. Ace and Lowe's too. I got mine from Biltema here in norway;)

[PackRat4448]

i cant find any of the black tubing that doesnt have a split. where did you get your tubing from?

[PackRat4448]

thats awsome im going to make a pair asap!!!

[HisDivineShadow]

Thats awesome but its missing some sort of support system for the wrist so the we could actually use that thumb and all the other fingers to.... But it is very nice...

[Nostrovio]

what size tubing did you use? It looks like 1/2" in the picture, but could be 3/8". I think the diameter/length ratio looks good and want to order the correct size. Excellent Instruct

[PKTraceur]

I thank you millions for this instructable. This was the second instructable i ever saw, when i first joined. About 6 moths later, its october, and halloween is coming up! So, with 1 sunday, 27 feet of 3 1/2 inch diameter pipe, and a trashcan, i built a 7 and a half foot animatronic spider!!!! i will post a pic soon!

[tanntraad]

You're welcome! Can't wait to see the pics! Did anyone say arachnophobia? :)

[PKTraceur]

I just have 4 more legs to secure, the covering it with a trash bag. (to make it black! I also have ome red spray paint..... animatronic black widows dont bite, right tanntraad?)

[PKTraceur]

There might be some way to incorperate this into the Semi-Robo hand. http://www.unitednuclear.com/nitinol.htm

[tanntraad]

Think I'll have to get me a few rols of that!

[lolcat360]

i built one im going to post a video of it on youtube

[tanntraad]

Awesome! Can't wait!

[evilgenius 398]

add motors or solenoids and use wire instead of string robohand

[lolcat360]

awesome instructable :D im going to make one tonight

[lance_r]

This is great!!!! my idea was to attach the string ends to servos and then attaching those to relays then to a phiget so i can program it to open and close THEN attach to a robot :D

[TheMadScientist]

if you weren't going for looks, could you add rubber bands on the back of it in order to retain some more springiness?

[turtleshane]

this is sorta off topic but....Domo rules sweet icon.

[tanntraad]

Sure, that's exactly what I'd propose:)

[MjPadfoot]

i really like this idea! might use it 4 my science fair...

[DELETED_craz meanman]

(removed by author or community request)

[MjPadfoot]

hah i would but i'm a terrible diy person. i suck at technical stuff. the only thing that ever turned out right was a motorized skateboard...

[tanntraad]

You should make an Instructables on that!

[MjPadfoot]

i was planning on doing that,i even took pics and all that...but i never got to the point of actually uploading them...or writing the instructable...:P

[YummyPancakes]

Awww, could you? I've been looking EVERYWHERE for a motorized skateboard-- all they had was a motorized dirtboard.

[DELETED_craz meanman]

(removed by author or community request)

[MjPadfoot]

excellent! neither do i!

[conrad2468]

put a glove (not leather) on it it will make it look more real! then add servos to it

[Aeshir]

What's the default position of the fingers? Do you pull the strings to close or open the hand? If the string is in the fingers, doesn't pulling them make them go straight? I'm confused.

[OneManUniversity]

When you pull the strings, it does pull the top but since the top wants to go down it curves on the weakest point in the straw, which is where the cuts marking joints are. Great instructable! I made one out of straws, cardboard, and thread.

[tanntraad]

Pulling the string makes them bend. -just like the muscles;)

[GWJax]

Very Nice and simple, I will use this type of design in my upcomming Alien robot with AI now I need something that I can use for the fot actions. Great work! 5 Stars for you!

[tanntraad]

Thank you! Be sure to post pictures:)

[GWJax]

Yes I will and I'll give you credit for the basic foundations.

[cacaloz]

very amazing I like it.

[tanntraad]

Thank you, and welcome to Instructables!

[aceLED]

lol thats great job I wish I would have known abou this instructable when I made mine check it out (idn how to do the link thing but look on my file )

[batchtho]

this is really cool when i made it, but the 'v' shape cuts where it bends are tricky to do, i tried it with a cut out square and covered it up with black electrions tape and it worked just as well. it just maes teh cutting easier.

[Rhyann101695]

Hey Tanntraad, you rock! I hope you build more cool things similar to this. This animatronic hand was awesome! Hopefully you will build more things.

[tanntraad]

Hey Rhyann! Thank you! I will build more things for sure!

[ChocLot]

Hey Tanntraad, do you have any ideas on any other material other than the CD-cover to separate the wrist and the fingers because to me, that part is hard. I have to have an answer before May 1, 2008.

[tanntraad]

Hey! You can use almost anything! Plastic, wood metal etc. -even stiff cardboard:)

[budsiskos]

try adding the air muscles to this to make it truly animatronic

[jackuroo]

i like it!---

[tanntraad]

I like your name!

[osakwe]

do you have to take the hook off the hanger? how would you use this hand and what it is the best use for the hand?

[Bonnie Thomson]

Great instructions! I made one and it turned out fantastic. I'm trying to go to the next step, which for me is attaching the strings to some kind of motor. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could do that? I'm insterting it into a "skin" and trying to hide the mechanics in the arm, for a theatre prop I'm making. Any suggestions greatly appreciated

[Zero0]

Awesome man!

[codemanager]

: ) Great Job! Cheers

[tanntraad]

Thanks! And cheers to you to!

[mastelios]

Pretty creepy!!!but nice.I tried to built my one, not as good as yours, but I beleive my second one will be better!!

[polar bear6]

woho go norge! ntnu er best ftw

[tanntraad]

Yay! NTNU er knall det ja;)

[Loveofchaos]

not trying to be critical or anything, cause this instructable is awesome... but one suggestion, and that would be add rubber bands to the back side of the tubing that way the fingers will always go back to being straight.

[rickyd!]

sooooooo coool

[Mahmoud.Samy]

I can't say any thing, except Thank You

[incorrigible packrat]

That is just so boss. It would go quite well with my duct tape glove. I'm also thinking; what about using some big-O drain tile, and scaling things up just a tad...

[RiddleOfSphinx]

You know, I'm thinking an extendible arm/arms for elderly people , ya know, to reach high places or stuff off the ground where they can't reach due to back problems. I mean, hey, if it can pick up a bottle and a phone ;)This would work GREAT for my mom!!! AWESOME Idea, THANKS :D !! If and when I make one I'll post a pic ;) Nice Instructable

[James (pseudo-geek)]

they have simpler versions of this with a pistol grip for that purpose. its just 2 "fingers" that squeeze together when you pull the trigger on it.

[RiddleOfSphinx]

Yep, I know :) In fact, my mom even has one and it's a piece of junk :P They're geared more towards picking up flat objects rather than round objects(like a ball or even sticks and twigs in the yard)in my opinion. Which is why I think if it was shaped like a hand, it would be more versatile and easier for an elderly person to use :) But yah, simple would be a nice way of describing them :P..lol

[James (pseudo-geek)]

yup. they have ones with suction cups on them, but a well-designed hand would be more useful.

[ihop77]

this was an awsome instructable because i scared the living crap out of mom,dad,and grand parents :I

[tanntraad]

Nice:) I'd love to see that!

[steiner]

Hello mate.
I think you will dig this one, thank you kindly from UNIVERSITY IUAV OF VENICE
http://www.nastypixel.com/prototype/workshops/usable-witchery-venice/

[tanntraad]

That is just awsome! I love the vids!

[gelvenchief]

you could probably have the string wrap around the stick thingy (no idea what it's called) on the servos when they turn, but might slip off...

[sonnimo123]

hello, My name is Maurice and i was wondering if i am allowed to post my own verison of this idea as a instructable. I am asking u this because it is wrong to do this without ur permission.Please send me a private message to tell me ur answer.Thank You. p.s- Aswmsome instructable!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tanntraad]

Sure no problem:)

[Chavez]

nice, i dig

[maninamousesuit]

A thought just struck me.....Motorcycle drive chain. A section with three or four links, Each link a digit. Weld a few side by side, run some steel wires through and you would hasve a serious frankenhand....Now who do i know with a bike.....?

[Aeshir]

The problem is, it doesn't bend enough. Every joint, on every finger, other than your thumbs, can bend at a right angle.

[Crash2108]

It's been done.

[Mr.Roboto]

This is great, but do you think that you could make one that is stronger, or may hold something better? not to be mean or any thing, just wondring.

[youkneephsycle]

dude, awesome!! this thing is soo great, i read it and had to make one straight away, i didnt have any of that kind of tubing so i used straws and really thin sewing cotton. i got a fairly similar result but in the end it kinda died lol.

[tanntraad]

Thanks for watching my Instructable!

[gorgo333]

good one. but metal and springs work MUCH better than pipe.

[tanntraad]

I've made a few with wood and springs. It's far more complicated as you have to articulate each joint so that they don't bend backwards. I think that using tubes makes for awesome results. Adding some rubber bands to the joints helps if the fingers is lacking some tension.

[gorgo333]

what I mean is that you have to pull harder with tubes. thus making the hand much weaker.

[tanntraad]

Oh i see, well i guess that some tubes can be too stiff for this project. The flexitubing I'm using is not that hard to pull at all. A tube and spring combo would also work if one can't find a tubing that works.

[Charles IV]

where did u get your tubing from?i really want one of these

[tanntraad]

I got mine from a Norwegian store:) ..since I'm from Norway.

[robothor]

Was that Clas Ohlson in Solsiden by any chance? We recently moved to Trondheim from the US and was to build a haunted house for the kiddies for Halloween. Random grabby hands are good :-)

[tanntraad]

Hi! It was from Biltema actually, (next to City Syd up at Tiller) but I see that they have the same at Clas Ohlson; http://www.clasohlson.no/Product/Category.aspx?id=251419&_path=251882;251433;251436;251418;251419

Art.no 36-1907
Happy haunting and welcome to Trondheim!

[Whaleman]

that's why your website isn't ".com" I couldn't tell what the ".no" stood for.

[tanntraad]

yeah we're in a positive domain;)

[Whaleman]

yay!

[Charles IV]

Crapzors I don't live in Norway, what was the actual thing called and wat store was it from (couldnt find at lowes or home depot)

[ItsTheHobbs]

Home depot should have it, if not find an Ace

[tanntraad]

http://www.biltema.no/products/product.asp?iItemId=84122
But I don't think they send abroad...
Mr. BeanyMvBeanBean commented:
"I went to lowe's and home depot and they called it conduit tubing" "...$2.75 for 10 feet i think"

[Charles IV]

the conduit not as flexible as the stuff u used thats why it didnt work

[fireFEIND67]

FxxxIN SWEET!!! *goes to rais middle finger of hand at random people

[tanntraad]

Thx, or just thumbs up at random people for the faint-hearted;)

[Whaleman]

Cool! It looks like some sort of frankenhand! I have been wanting to make one of these for years!

[tanntraad]

Frankenhand, lovely name:)

[Whaleman]

Yay! When I have kids, I should name one that :)

[tanntraad]

Haha, well no need for name-calling at school then;)

[Whaleman]

Yay! Now all I would have to do is teach him Krav Maga, and he would never ever be bullied!

[awawawaw]

Love this! I happen to have tons of this loom in my junk box so I will be working on it soon. I am was looking for a way to make a hand controlled by a BasicStamp and ran by servos. This will work perfectly. The wire loom I have is split so I may have to glue the seem. It came from parts-express and was only 15 cents per foot.

[tanntraad]

Be sure to let me know when you've made one. I'd love to see it!

[Strikah]

Nice!, I once also made a hand, if you want to, I can post some pics of mine. Mine were made out of cotton buds, dental floss and some toothpicks.

[cowscankill]

cotton buds? post a picture (if possible) I weant see how it works!

[Strikah]

Here are some pics, I'll be making a instructable if I get the time, I have some schoolstuff to finish off.

[tanntraad]

Indeed, show us!

[Charles IV]

hope u win the contest but ur losing to skeletan pumpkin one :-(

[cowscankill]

i tried this with 10 OD vynal tubing, but it's kinda stiff and i built it wrong lol. I might try another one with PROPER instructions, not by memory. I'll nedd to buy more tubing, but here's a thought: Could you make a baby hand with straws? like a creepy skeleton hand?

[tanntraad]

I think a small baby straw hand would work well! Got shivers anybody?

[cowscankill]

lol...the only problem is i don'tt have straws XD

[Charles IV]

wow im posting way to much

[Charles IV]

Mine didn't really work the conduit tubing was too thick and when it didnt move as freely as the one in the video i cut the joints wrong and my sister tore the middle finger off -cries-

[Charles IV]

I went to lowe's and home depot and they called it conduit tubing not routing tubing and i think thats what its really called.

[tanntraad]

Do you remember the price on that? I'm sure some of the readers in the US would find that information helpful. Here in Norway you can score 75 ft for less than $20.

[Charles IV]

It was like $2.75 for 10 feet i think. (i love how tubing is so cheap)

[Charles IV]

awsome instructable ill have to make this next time i go to lowes

[BlessedWrath]

I will be constructing a pair of hands similar to these for a costume this year. Is there a way I can use these techniques to convert a fake skeleton hand? I would appreciate any advice.

[Tvman]

hey man can you please put more detail and the materials and stuff in here i really want to make this :) the giant metal hand of doom kind of is to big for me but i really want to know how to make this please put up more detail and materials! video doenst explain much

[tanntraad]

You could use just about any tubing to make one of these. If you visit your local Home Depot or Wall Mart, I'm sure you'll find many different tubings that'll work:) Some feet of string, tape and some bits of wood and you're all set!

[Tvman]

ok i kind of get the whole construction but what do you use to hold the strings and pull so they dont just slide out? and whats that thing for the handle again? I really wanna make one and flick people off on the street with it >:D

[tanntraad]

I tied a knot at the end of the strings and secured them with electrical tape. For the handle I used some bits from a wooden clothes hanger:) Some duct tape is also handy;) Hope to see your results!

[Tvman]

cool thanks :) now all i need to do is run down to home depot and get some more black duct tape and some tubing maybe some string too :)

[tanntraad]

Hi Tvman! Just did a major update!

[andy60]

nice idea i shall make one of these tomorrow thanks

[AlexTheGreat]

You inspired me to make this cyborg hand of doom

[Unearthly]

ya that is pretty badass

[acer73]

That is pretty awsome

[Tonamel]

I love the concept, but this is really lacking in details. What kind of tubing and string? How are you attaching the string to the tubing? What are you mounting the "fingers" to? Even a narration on the video would have helped.

[tanntraad]

Hi Tonamel! I'm sorry for the lack of details (the video vas originally not intended for Instructables). I have added more info to the instructable now. Rest assure that my next instructable will be more detailed.

[Tonamel]

Hooray! Thanks! Can you pick things up with this hand? I'm wondering if it would be useful for a Halloween costume.

[tanntraad]

Yes you can easily grab things. A full can of soda is no problem. Adding some "soft spots" between the joints by wrapping soft tissue paper and taping and then using a thin glove, gives it a human touch. you can easily fool someone by just shaking hands and then stepping backwards while still holding on...

[mr bkilled]

what kind of tubing is it?

[TheCheese9921]

its for electrical I think

[tanntraad]

yes it is. (to route wires through) But you can use just about anything:)

[Loosewire; SOE Operative]

cool!! i love it. just what i need for some of my amature films

[microman171]

I think Its AWSOME!!

[canida]

Instructions here for embedding video, including metacafe.

[tanntraad]

Thanks:) Now it works;)