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Articles by Edwin Wise
Hot Glue Web Gun | Make:
Halloween is a time to cast off the gleam of the new and put on the musty mantle of the old, the creepy, the decrepit. Nothing says “unused and uncared-for” like cobwebs, that dusty detritus of spiders gone by. But how do you create cobwebs for your party, to turn your sparkling living room into a gloomy crypt? Short of training spiders to do your bidding, you must turn to artificial means.
Boom Stick: The High Powered PVC Air Cannon
The super-loud Boom Stick is a PVC air cannon that delivers maximum bang for the buck. It assaults the startle reflex of any nearby victim, adding an instant rush of physical terror to haunted houses, art pieces, pranks, and performances. I work in haunted houses during the Halloween season, as an actor, guide, technician, makeup artist, and effects creator.
Build a Simple Vortex Cannon, Then Upgrade with a Subwoofer
I’d been aware of vortex cannons for quite some time, mostly as an interesting toy, and after I kept stumbling on the concept while touring the web, I decided I had to build my own. There’s something fascinating about taking a substance as ubiquitous and amorphous as air and transforming it into a coherent and persistent structure, almost like a crystal. I also hoped to find some use for my vortex cannon, perhaps to propel scents or give the touch of a ghost in a haunted house.
Make the Most Adorable Praying Mantis Costume Ever
Earlier this summer, Emily and her daughter, Zoe, were at a local garden at the Colorado State University campus when Zoe found a baby praying mantis crawling up her shirt and down her arm… Zoe was delighted! As the baby mantis crawled over Zoe’s arm hairs, she decided to name him “Hairy”. She was so enamored that she decided on the walk home that she wanted to be a praying mantis for Halloween.
Build a Twilight Photometer to Detect Stratospheric Particles
Have you wondered why some sunsets are so spectacular and others so drab? This ultra-sensitive photometer project will allow you to tease out the secrets of twilight and even do serious science by finding the altitude of the dust, smoke, and air pollution that influence the colors of twilight. With this project you can detect the tiny particles and droplets known as aerosols from 3km (around 10,000 feet) high to well above the top of the stratosphere at 50km (165,000 feet).
Flying Crank Ghost
This article appeared in the Make: Halloween special issue. This ghost prop was pioneered by Doug Ferguson of Phantasmechanics, who made it public domain in 1997. It uses a slow motor and a simple system of pulleys to create an eerie, ghostly motion that literally stops cars in front of homes. Open source and cheap to make, it’s become a haunting classic. CAUTION! This project uses enough electricity to kill you. Please be careful.
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