Animated Skeleton Chainsaw Massacre Halloween Prop

Halloween is coming up and it happens to be my favorite holiday. I always try to have some type of display in my front yard. The past few years, I've had “Lawnmower Man”, which is a madman running over a body with his lawnmower. It’s a static display, but it gets attention. This year on Halloween night, Lawnmower Man will be using his new tool, a chainsaw, to cut a zombie in half. It will be motion activated so that when someone walks by, the chainsaw starts up and the skeleton sits up in pain. The chainsaw sound is provided by a loud compressor that inflates a bladder behind the skeleton, which raises him to seating position. I hope you enjoy this Instructable.

Here's a test run in the basement (very messy since Hurricane Irene)

And here it is set up with the rest of my mini-haunt.

Step 1 Step 1: Materials

I had almost everything I needed for this project lying around my shop. Here’s the list.

1” PVC pipe – sizes below
3 – 1” PVC Tee’s
4 – 1” PVC Elbows
1 – 1 ½” PVC 45° slip/hub (male one side, female other side)
1 – Bladder from a wine box (yes, a wine box)
1 – ½” Copper pipe – 2” long
2 – Shelf brackets
Screws to mount shelf brackets
1 – Threaded rod approximately 21” long
2 – Nuts for threaded rod
3 – Set screws (whatever ½” – 1” long screws you have on hand should work)
1 – Plastic skull
Scrap wood for the base – 1 piece a little longer than the threaded rod, and 1 piece about 24 inches or so. These are mounted together to form a T (see photos).
Air compressor
Air line for compressor
Tubing for exhaust blower (optional)
Chainsaw (I had an old electric one in the basement that doesn’t work. Perfect!)
Mannequin to hold chainsaw (I built one with scrap 2x4’s and a severed head prop, but be creative)
Clothes and newspaper to dress and stuff these guys
String or wire to attach the bladder to the skeleton
Motion activated light fixture (around $8.00 or so)
Lamp holder to outlet adapter (to plug the compressor into the light socket)
Ground lift (3 prong to 2 prong converter so you don’t have to destroy the compressor power cord)

PVC pipe sizes:
Spine – 18”
Shoulders – 7” (x2)
Upper Arms – 6” (x2)
Forearms – 7” (x2)
Neck – 4”
Coupler – 2”
 

Comments

[l8nite]

this is WILD ! ! going in my favs for maybe next years haunt !

[hauntedworkshop]

Thanks l8nite. It's a pretty easy project. I had almost everything on hand. The only things I bought were the security light and the lamp socket to outlet adapter. I hope to see pictures or video of your build. Have fun!

[l8nite]

If we do an interesting build this year (and I remember to take pics) I may do an 'ible" or 2. In the meantime check my profile for other haunt inspired "ibles" and pics of the past few years Haunted House.. Happy Haunting !