Grave Grabber

[Spanky]

Im' not sure if this is late or not, but I figured I would submit it anyway. As a previous challenge winner I'm not eligible to win this time, but I entered anyway because this is such a great motivator to get a project done, it really makes you think with such a tight budget, and it great to share with other haunters. So heres my grave grabber:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/spankyhojek/gravegrabberfinal.jpg

Heres my material list:
3.99- home medics massager from Goodwill
2.50- foam skull (Walgreens half off sale last year)
.80 - 1/4" water tubing
1.00 - plumbers tape
1.60 - pvc connectors
2.00 - shirt that was going in trash
1.00 - apoxie sculpt
.50 -kleenex
1.00 -latex
.20 -floral wire
2.00 - hot glue
2.00 - various paints
1.00 - 3/8 o.d. faucet supply tubing
total 19.59

I wanted to get a video up of the movement, but that will have to be later. (camera trouble)

Heres in progress how-to shots, complete with drunken scribbled notes! (don't edit pictures and drink at the same time, its just bad)
Im writing this assuming everyone has seen the other grave grabber projects on this forum. You haven't? Well go do a search, they are so worth the effort!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/spankyhojek/gravegrabbertutorial1.jpg
First off, the Homedics massager has these huge spring and ball caps on them that to me, cause way too much movement and the spring can actually twist off the pvc. So I decided they had to go. They are held in place on a D shaped post by a set pin. Using a small screwdriver or center punch you can tap out the pin enough to grab it with some pliers and pull it out. If you cant get it out, loosen it by tapping it back in and out again.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/spankyhojek/gravegrabbertutorial3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/spankyhojek/gravegrabbertutorial4.jpg
After that take off the spring assembly and do whatever you want with it.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/spankyhojek/gravegrabbertutorial5.jpg
Take the supply tubing and cut a 6" sction of it. Heat one end of it with a heat gun for about 20 seconds, turning continually. ( well ventilated area please, and practice fire saftey- heat guns can burn in a blink of an eye!)

5 pic post limit -I finish in a new thread...

[Joiseygal]

I love how it looks, but I can't wait to see the video. Thanks for the detail pictures and description of the massager. Oh and I could make out the drunken scribble notes.

[SpookySam]

Looking forward to more pictures and the video.

[Frankie-s Girl]

That is seriously creepy, so I can't wait to see the video!:D

[STOLLOWEEN]

Looks great and just like everyone else I can't wait to see it in action.

[RoxyBlue]

He's gorgeous, Spanky, although the drunken notes really are the best part:Dj/k

[dave the dead]

Action, Action, Action!!!!

Really a good looking skull and hand BTW.

[Lilly]

Great grave grabber Spanks..

[Ghoul Friday]

The offset jaw just sells it. Fantastic.

[dubbax3]

Does he want a hug? I cant wait to see him or should I say it move. Well done!

[Dixie]

Yeah, I loved the drunken notes too - great job, love the eyes, the offset jaw and the hands - awesome.

[Sickie Ickie]

Did you pass out? I want to see the rest! :)

[pyro]

that looks great --but wheres the vid--lol

[Spanky]

Heres a few more pics- still working on vid.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/spankyhojek/gravegrabbertutorial10.jpg
Here he is naked- the offset jaw is kinda an illusion caused by his flayed flesh and apoxie sculpt built up teeth.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/spankyhojek/gravegrabbertutorial12.jpg
Heres the teeth.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/spankyhojek/gravegrabbertutorial14.jpg
this is just a pic of how to use the plumbers tape. Somewhere along the way I lost the pic of how I did the hand- I used the water tubing as "bones" and positioned them with the florist wire. I'm make two more of these guys so I get some replacement pictures then.

[hpropman]

I like him a lot Spanky. It should be cool when he moves. Are you going to place him in a half coffin. I started one of these as well. Got side tracked with the prop challenge have to get back to it.

[Spanky]

With this one I'm going to expiriment with insulation foam covered with fake turf as "cracked earth" and use it to cover the massager, I want him to be in front of a tombstone that I want seen. I might do another one I have in a coffin, it has two arms and looks like it would be elbowing boards out of the way.

[Merlin (The Quiet One)]

Love the way he looks. Great job.

[Wildcat]

Wow. Very nice.

[Lady Nyxie]

Wouldn't want him grabbin' me. The how-to hint pics are great.

[Dragonomine]

Another amazing prop!

[Spanky]

projects :: Gravegrabber.flv video by spankyhojek - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@http://vidmg.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v654/spankyhojek/projects/Gravegrabber.flv@@AMEPARAM@@vidmg@@AMEPARAM@@mg@@A MEPARAM@@v654/spankyhojek/projects/Gravegrabber

So heres the video- about 1.5 min of movement with the motor going forward and backwards, also with his head and arm repositioned for a different "feel".
The audio is just ear candy, not the final audio I will use. Enjoy!!

[hpropman]

very nice Spanky I like different movements you were able to get by repositioning the arm and head.

[lowdwnrob]

That thing looks great.

[kevin242]

I have got to get me one of these!
very cool.

[Scary Godmother]

This came out awesome! I love the facial expression. Nice job!

[tot13]

I did as Spanky suggested and read all the Grave Grabber threads, and I am amazed at the different looks that can be achieved with the massagers.

I have my material ready, but I'm hung up on a detail, though the problem may be the massager I'm using. The two massagers continually rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise. How do you get the back-and-forth motion out of the circular motion? Is that what the plumbers tape is for? And lastly, does the tubing "ride" on the massager posts, or is it firmly attached to the post?

Thanks for any help.

[Just Whisper]

Spanky, that looks great. Is that a paper mache head? It's awesome. Nice motion.

[Spanky]

I did as Spanky suggested and read all the Grave Grabber threads, and I am amazed at the different looks that can be achieved with the massagers.

I have my material ready, but I'm hung up on a detail, though the problem may be the massager I'm using. The two massagers continually rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise. How do you get the back-and-forth motion out of the circular motion? Is that what the plumbers tape is for? And lastly, does the tubing "ride" on the massager posts, or is it firmly attached to the post?

Thanks for any help.

Yes the massagers do rotate clockwise or counter clockwise. The water tubing is firmly attached to the post. The PVC tubing that goes over it is larger and not attached. The plumbers tape holds the PVC in place and keeps it from rotating. That translates to the back and forth motion. The angle on the water tubing will add rotation. More angle makes more rotation. To help you visualize this do this expiriment: put a pen in a toilet paper tub. Now wiggle it in a circle. The tube rotates around the pen and spins. Now lightly hold it with you fingers, and wiggle in a circle again. See how you get the sorta back and forth movement? Now lessen the amount of spin, or angle. See the difference?
The location where the plumbers tape attaches, and the angle of the water tubing dictates the amount of movement.
I think I will put out a video how-to, starting with the physics all the way through to a nearly finished prop. I hope I helped clear a little of this up for you.

Spanky, that looks great. Is that a paper mache head? It's awesome. Nice motion.
Thanks! the head is a styrofoam skull from Wallgreens, covered in liquid latex and some kleenex.

[tot13]

[QUOTE=Spanky;320603]Yes the massagers do rotate clockwise or counter clockwise. The water tubing is firmly attached to the post. The PVC tubing that goes over it is larger and not attached. The plumbers tape holds the PVC in place and keeps it from rotating. That translates to the back and forth motion. The angle on the water tubing will add rotation. More angle makes more rotation. To help you visualize this do this expiriment: put a pen in a toilet paper tub. Now wiggle it in a circle. The tube rotates around the pen and spins. Now lightly hold it with you fingers, and wiggle in a circle again. See how you get the sorta back and forth movement? Now lessen the amount of spin, or angle. See the difference?
The location where the plumbers tape attaches, and the angle of the water tubing dictates the amount of movement.
I think I will put out a video how-to, starting with the physics all the way through to a nearly finished prop. I hope I helped clear a little of this up for you.


Thank you for the explanation. I'm still new to a lot of this and I just couldn't quite "see" it. Got it now though - thanks again!

[Sloatsburgh]

I really need to make one of these.

very nice, great description.

[fritz42_male]

At last I found a massager - cost me AU$30 at a thrift store but I've been looking for a month now!

Your pics n vid will help immensely - thanks!

[Spanky]

sure thing, post some pics/ vid when you're done!

[Brad Green]

Spanky, did you ever finish your how-to on this and I just missed it in another thread? You got as far as heating the 3/8 tube and ran out of picture space and I was wondering if it continued elsewhere. This is by FAR the best grave grabber tutorial I've ever seen and I'd love to see the rest.