Walk on Water Monster

Monsters can walk over water, everybody knows that. But how do they do it!? It looks so easy for them, but try to do it yourself... Wet feet will be your reward for trying.

The answer to this mystery is in your kitchen drawer. Seriously. When familiar with monster-physics, a six year old kid can do the trick. So you might give it a shot. It will take you 15 minutes and no money.

But first, have a look at the video for monster physics gone bad...

If the video doesn't play, have a look at it here.
 

Step 1 What you need

What you need to make a monster walking on water:

• One googley eye (hobby store, or practice your surgery skills on a doll)
• 3 "twist ties" that come with garbage bags (about 15 cm / 6" long)
  (the plastic coated iron wires, that you wrap around a garbage bag to close it...)

Optional:

• Paper, markers, scissors and some glue to make a tongue or other enhancements.

Comments

[ilpug]

the little water bugs have microscopic hairs on their feet so they can walk on the water easier. maybe you could put some fuzz on the monsters feet?

[ynze]

I tried that, actually. With "hairy iron wire", that I bought in a hobby-supplies store. I don't know how this kind of wire is called in English.

It doesn't work at all, the hairy monster sinks like a rock...

[blinkyblinky]

They are called pipe cleaners. This monster doesn't work because the concept is that it floats upon the water's "skin." The same could go for a paper clip that normally sinks.

In Dutch:
Ze heten pijpenragers. Dit monster werkt niet omdat het concept is dat het drijft op het water de "huid." Hetzelfde zou kunnen gaan voor een paperclip die normaal zinkt.

[MadBricoleur]

maybe glue pieces of the twist tie on to the feet, so it doesn't sink? I think the fuzziness lets water thru and hasn't enough surface area for it to float. so just something flat glued to the feet will make a furry water walking monster!

[ilpug]

those are called "pipe cleaners" but yea,y i meant like put some glue on the monsters feet and dust some fuzzy stuff onto it.

[popoki1178]

Cool! this is awsome!

[Kaptain Kool]

I built this and it worked! Great job.

[ynze]

Cool! Thanks :-)

[happyjo]

Oh my gosh! This is awesome! :D

[ynze]

This one is REALLY easy to make ;)

[gaojx]

that is interesting

[Cheezpaper]

Drop a bit of soap into the water where the monster is floating.


DROWN, BABY, DROWN!

[ilpug]

that "monster" in the last picture isnt just "carrying" the other monster :P nice instructable. random and unique idea!

[marcocen]

now drop a drop of liquid soap in there!

[ynze]

;-)

[star folder]

I just made one, it worked the first time I set it on the water, and perhaps it had to do with the fact that I made sure the legs all touched the table at once, before trying it on water. I will definitely be doing this with grandkids. Thanks for a great use of the 'twist ties' or 'tie me ups' that I otherwise seldom use. The ones I grabbed have a waxy coating on one side, and paper on the other. My creature has the waxy coating side in contact with the water, which may allow it to remain longer.

[ChrysN]

Very clever!

[dewshaft]

Long ago I learned a trick to floating a pin or paper clip on water. Use a small, flat bit of toilet paper larger than the pin and drop it on the water. Then carefully drop the pin onto the floating tissue. Carefully press the tissue paper down into the water, leaving the pin to float on the surface tension of the water.

This technique may also work in helping your monster float.

[hahahippo=)]

l think the "ties" are called twist ties (at least thats what l call them :)

[ynze]

Thanks! That's a comment I was waiting for :-)

[rainbuilder]

Awesome. i wanna make one now!

[ynze]

Thnaks. Please do!

[rainbuilder]

I made one. I even got it to floart aftee a few tries. maybe you should list that it takes 3 ties? other than that great instructable.

[ynze]

Thanks for debugging the instructable. I updated it. I wish you and your monster a happy time together :-D

[bertus52x11]

Nice way to illustrate physics! Well photograhed!

[ynze]

Thnx! The pictures took me _much_ more time than making the monster :-)