Pocket Sized Altoids Tin Racer

by Heywasup

19K6561

Intro: Pocket Sized Altoids Tin Racer

Have you ever gotten bored at school or wanted to make your friends jealous with something they didn't have? Well this is it, this is what you have all been waiting for... Pocket Sized Altoids Tin Racer!

STEP 1: Materials: Getting the Tin

My tin was not a regular Altoids tin. I used the Altoids Smalls which has a smaller tin and smaller Altoids. You can get the tin from almost anywhere that sells Altoids but I got mine from Trader Joes if that helps.

STEP 2: The Moving of the Altoids

Take the Altoids out of the tin (you don't have to but it makes construction much faster). I put mine in a Ziploc bag although if you have somewhere better go ahead.

STEP 3: Drilling the Holes

Drill the holes a little far from the edge and make sure they are aligned. Drilling the holes was fast for me because I had an exceptionally strong drill. A regular drill work but will take longer.

STEP 4: Coloring the Wheels

I chose to color the wheels black to give it a rubber wheel kind of look but it turned out too glossy. And the gold really compliments the black.

STEP 5: Drilling the Wheels

Drill 1 hole down the center of each wheel. Be careful not to go off to one side, that will make your wheel wobbly. Drilling the wheel is easier than drilling the tin and any drill will work.

STEP 6: The Axles

To connect the axle with the wheel insert the wooden stick into the hole in the cap, it should fit tightly but if it doesn't use hot glue. It will ensure a tight bond between the cap and the stick. Once you have glued one cap on don't glue the other on because you still have to put the stick in the frame.

STEP 7: Putting It Together

Insert the wooden stick with the cap into the hole in the side of the tin. Then do what you did in step 6. Repeat for the second set of wheels.

STEP 8: The Accessories

It's a car but it doesn't look too much like a racer if you know what I mean. So... WE ADD ACCESSRIES!!!! A spoiler should do the trick. So cut the index card into the shapes shown in the pictures. Then color the spoiler red but not the small attachments.

STEP 9: Finishing It Up

Glue the attachments to the tin (I used krazy glue for this cause I ran out of hot glue). Once those are firmly in place apply glue to both the bottom of the spoiler and the top of the attachments. Put them together and wait for it to dry. To make the exhaust pipes get another index card and cut a small rectangle. Fold the rectangle into a tube and tape. Glue the tube onto the bottom of the tin but make sure a part of it is sticking off the end. You can also make flames coming out of the pipes if you want to give it an exciting look. If the wheels are slipping you can wrap rubber bands around them for better traction but the should be fine.

STEP 10: VOTE

If you liked the Instructable and have comments don't be shy I'll accept criticism. If you have any suggestions or questions don't be afraid and please vote for me and rate me thanks :D Enjoy your new racer.

61 Comments

BLASTFEMI 14 years ago

I Like it! Very clever!

mason0190 14 years ago

Drills are for weenies. I use a wrench and nail, and it's MUCH easier. Plus, I'm going green :D

fragmaster4 14 years ago

You do realize global warming is just a scam right? If anything it is global COOLING. And YES the polar ice caps are melting. mainly because it is getting warmer over there. NOT because of us, but because of the earth works.

mason0190 14 years ago

I made no reference to global warming.

bluefly1215 14 years ago

Agree with mason, I use a hand drill, powered by me. green.
Frag, You obviously haven't researched this problem thoroughly. might want to do that before you reply. There is more to it than that. 

sculptur 13 years ago

i doubt one or two people not using a battery powered drill is going to change anything.

vascanj 13 years ago

Question: Do the wheels move? Can you... let's say... race it, or move it around on a table? If you can't... how would you?

will772 13 years ago

you could put a rubber band and a motor on there and make it motorized. using a pulley. still great instructable, my little sister loved the car. :)

bluefly1215 14 years ago

have you tried to add rubber band power? 

Heywasup 14 years ago

 no i havmt tried a rubber band engine yet mainly because my axles are too weak. If i can find something stronger like a thin metal rod i might test it out though. if u have ideas plse tell :]

kk1235 14 years ago

I swear this is awsome! My cousin and I are obbsessed with altoid tins! I can't wait to show to tmy friends. So gonna give you points!

itsmecman 14 years ago

i think if u glued a gear on the rear axle and got a aa baterypack hooked it up to a one way moter and switch it would be awesome and you would definetly win the pocket sized competion. o and put glue onthe tires for traction

Heywasup 14 years ago

whrer could those things??? and are they small enough to fit in t he tin?

Heywasup 14 years ago

...ok? but drill are still faster
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