Introduction: Swiss Army Barbie
Empower young girls to expand their horizons beyond playing with stereotypical gender reinforcing toys by combining a everyone's favourite pink girl-centric doll with something a little stabby.
A multi-tool is hidden inside the torso of the Barbie, where the blades can be pulled out from a slit in her side. The body also separates at the waist to reveal a screwdriver hidden in the legs. The two halves of this doll are connected by magnets, so she holds together when fully assembled. Barbie never looked so good!
Ready to see how it's done? Let's make!
Step 1: Supplies
I bought both the components for this project online, I found a standard Barbie doll and an inexpensive multi-blade knife. All in this project cost less than $15.
For the cutting and modifications I used an inexpensive rotary tool.
Step 2: Slice Barbie
To get to the insides of Barbie we'll need to bisect her plastic body. I carefully sawed Barbie in half at her waistline.
After sawing through the edges of the cut were cleaned of any burrs.
Step 3: Hollowing Out
There's some support structure inside Barbie to align the two halves of her body when she was fabricated, this extra plastic will need to be removed in order to fit the folding knife inside her torso.
Using a rotary tool with a fine tip carving tool I removed the support plastic and some of the connecting plastic from inside the doll.
Step 4: Trim Down Folding Knife
This folding multi-blade knife is already fairly small, but has some extra bulk that can be removed.
The plastic covering of this knife is glued on and can be pried off. This reduced some bulk, but more can be removed. This knife came with an assortment of smaller blades like a corkscrew and an awl, these can be chopped off with a rotary tool to save on mass and allow the multi-blade to fit entirely inside the Barbie doll.
Step 5: Fit and Trim
More refining was needed to insert the multi-blade knife into the Barbie doll. I could get most of the multi-blade into the top half of the body, but also needed to modify the lower portion around the hips to get the multi-blade completely inside the body.
Step 6: Opening Up the Side
Once the multi-blade can be inserted inside the body cavity we'll need a way to open the blades, I chose to make an opening in her side so the blades could be swung outwards. In hindsight maybe a switchblade would be a better style of knife to hide inside. Maybe next time.
I sketched cut lines on one side of Barbie's torso and then used a cutting wheel on the rotary tool to create an opening. The edges were cleaned up with a sharp knife.
Step 7: Epoxy
With all the carving done it's time to epoxy the multi-blade knife inside the doll. I mixed up some 2-part epoxy and glued the knife inside the torso, ensuring the blades lined up neatly with the opening in the side of the torso.
I used tape to hold the knife in place while the epoxy cured.
Step 8: Leg Tools
Seeing an opportunity to utilize the legs I decided to try and include a screwdriver which would be revealed when the body is pulled apart.
Using an inexpensive screwdriver I removed the handle with a cutting wheel on a rotary tool. I then carefully carved out a section of the leg from inside the hip cavity. Since this are had a lot of material removed already from fitting the knife handle inside I needed to reinforce the legs to the hips with some 2-part epoxy.
After carving a new slot for the screwdriver in the leg I was ready to epoxy it in place.
Step 9: Magnets
The two halves of Barbie will be held in place with small magnets, allowing her to be taken apart and out back together effortlessly.
To do this I found areas around the knife handle that have voids large enough to put small magnets, then epoxied a magnet with the bottom flush with the bisecting cut line of the Barbie.
After these magnets were firmly in place I added a second magnet to where it was flush to the cut line, then added a small dab of epoxy to it before moving the bottom half of the doll in place. Allowing the epoxy to dry I then pulled the Barbie apart again and reinforced the second magnet with more epoxy.
The doll is now able to be ripped in half and can be put back together whole and the form is all held by magnets.
Step 10: Glue Clothes
Next is to secure Barbie's clothes back on. I used hot glue to fix her bikini top in place, then cut a portion from the side to access the blades, gluing the open flaps down to the doll's sides.
The same treatment was given to the bikini bottoms.
Step 11: Go Barbie, Go!
Barbie is now ready to conceal your multi-blade, and deploy an assortment of edges to fit any situation when the need arises.
When not in use, the blades can be tucked away and the legs are magnetically attached to the torso making the doll appear as one again.
Have you modified your own toy? I want to see it!
Happy making :)
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42 Comments
6 years ago
Can you sell me one of these these
6 years ago on Introduction
This is really awesome, just don't give it to your daughter.
6 years ago on Introduction
Do you have a recommended type of band saw blade for cutting the plastic? Does it matter?
By the way, you actually cut her just below the waist, not above.
Reply 6 years ago on Introduction
Since the plastic is not very dense, a small wood saw or hacksaw could also work.
6 years ago on Introduction
Hard to believe it's real - but I Like it, I Like it!!! I never played with dolls as a kid, just knives, sticks, and rocks. Now I know why - you had not invented this one yet! Great job! Now for the baton wielding teddy bears, handcuffs hidden in Elmo...
Reply 6 years ago on Introduction
When I was a kid, I tried to make my sister's My Little Pony electrified. It didn't work then, but maybe it's time to explore that again...
Reply 6 years ago on Introduction
B&D Elmo? Does he have vibrators built into his hands or come with advanced "Spanking Action"?
6 years ago
Why buy new?! Thrift stores and ebay are swimming in dolls and cheap multiknives for typically a buck apiece.
Reply 6 years ago on Introduction
I agree!
6 years ago on Introduction
This makes me think of Sid from Toy Story. Lol!
6 years ago on Introduction
AWESOME!!!
i think i have found, "what to give the grandchild who never likes anything you give her..." thank you thank you
6 years ago on Introduction
this is my fave instructable to date! Its easy, practical and comical. 6 out of 5 stars!
6 years ago on Introduction
This is crazy funny!! Love this.... I think I want to make it for my dad for Christmas -- He will get a kick out of it!!!!! hahahaha Great job!
6 years ago on Introduction
This is so twisted, I just have to love it. I had a "Captain Action" doll (excuse me - "action figure") as a kid. This would have been perfect for him.
6 years ago on Introduction
Is that the Lorena Bobbitt limited edition Barbie? Ken just booked a one way flight and could not be found.
Reply 6 years ago on Introduction
From what's NOT in Ken's pants I'd say she already got to him.
6 years ago on Introduction
next up: barbie murder wepon
6 years ago on Introduction
but great swiss army btw !!!!!!!!
6 years ago on Introduction
you made Barbie in half how sad !!!! why did you do this to barbie nooooooooooo!!!
6 years ago
Should have added a scream when you sawed barbie in half!!!