How to Build a Spooky Working Drawbridge With Sounds and Light

This Halloween, if you really want to draw in the trick-or-treaters and make a huge impact, consider giving your house a spooky drawbridge complete with lights and sounds. Although this project could be pricey, if you use recycled materials, it takes just a small investment of time and money. So get out your hammers and saws, and follow these steps to build a spooky working drawbridge for Halloween.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Old barn door
• Scrap lumber
• Chain
• Metal rings
• Hinges

1. Gather your materials. You can find a variety of items in scrap yards, so if you have the time, search for recyclables to save a lot of money. You need something to function as a drawbridge door, some chains and various other pieces of wood and metal to create the frame for the door.

2. Construct the door itself. If you can find something like an old barn door, your job is halfway done. If you have to start from scratch, use scrap wood to create a crude door in the dimensions of your choice. The cruder it is, the scarier it will look. Near the top corners of the door, drill holes large enough to feed the chains through that will lift the drawbridge. Make sure to leave a little space.

3. Use lumber to create a frame that fits around the door you constructed in Step 2. Decorate it with fake torches and metal accents to make it look more authentic. This will look really spooky once it's dark out as the torches give off a scary glow.

4. Put the drawbridge together. Install metal rings at the top of the frame, a few inches from the outer edges. Then hoist the frame upright and thread the chain through the metal rings.

5. Attach the door to the frame, using hinges on the bottom edge. This is basically the same as any other door installation, except the location of the hinges. Once the door is hinged, put it in an upright position. Thread the remaining chain through the door and around the frame again, so that the door can open and close when you manipulate the chain.

6. Test the drawbridge. You may need a few people to move the door up and down, so test it to make sure that everything works smoothly. It should make creaking sounds with each movement. Raising the door slowly will prolong the spooky sounds of the chains clanging together. You can also include a few spare pieces of chain behind the door to rattle together when the door isn't in use.