How to Make a Non-Electric Pinball Machine
Pinball derives its name from an early form of it that used a ball with pins on a tabletop frame. Most pinball machines are elaborate electronic devices, but some are simple spring-loaded handheld mechanisms with tiny bearings for balls. You can create your own non-electric pinball machine with basic and even scrap materials.
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Things You'll Need
- Thin particle board, fiberboard or pegboard
- 1-by-2 pine stock
- Saw
- Wood glue
- Nails - 1 1/2 inch
- 2-16d gauge nails
- Hammer
- Drill
- 3/4 inch drill bit
- 1/8 inch drill bit
- 5/16 diameter hex bolt with nut
- 3/8 inch diameter spring
- Steel or glass marbles
- Rubber bands
- Wood pegs
Instructions
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1
Cut the particle board, peg board or fiber board to the desired size of the table. This forms the table, or base for the machine.
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2
Cut 1-by-2 stock to frame the fiberboard. Cut a piece the length of the dimensions of each side of the board. Add an extra 1 1/2 inches in length to the top and bottom pieces.
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3
Rip two pieces of the 1-by-2 wood stock into 1/2 inch thick strips of wood the same length as the side frame pieces. These pieces will be nailed to the bottom of the frame to support the table top. Glue and nail the 1/2 inch strips to the center of each piece along the bottom edge.
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4
Lay the fiberboard on top of the two side pieces on the supports. Push the pieces together. Lay the top 1-by-2 piece along the frame and nail to the ends of the two side pieces. Push the bottom piece in place until it fits tightly. Trim the fiberboard if necessary. The piece must fit tightly to all edges of the frame when put together. Nail the bottom piece in place.
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5
Drill a hole 1/2 inch in diameter in the bottom right corner of the bottom frame piece. This is the plunger hole. Insert the hex bolt, and slide the spring over the bolt on the inside of the box.
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6
Attach the nut to secure the spring on the bolt. Slide the bolt down compressing the spring, and let it go to test it. This is the plumber mechanism.
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7
Cut several more pieces of 1-by-2 pine down to 1/2 inch square strips. Lay a strip just to the left of the plunger bolt inside the box. This piece must be at least 6 inches long to give the ball room enough to pick up velocity. Leave about 1/2 inch of space between the strip and the plunger, then glue and nail the strip in place on the fiberboard.
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8
Drill out two 3/4 inch holes on the side frame pieces, about two inches up from the bottom, centered between the top and bottom of the board. Drill another 3/4 inch hole next to the first so the outer wall of the holes meet, making a 1-inch long oval hole.
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9
Drill down through the center with the 1/8 inch drill bit. Create a hole that goes through to the oval opening on each side.
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10
Cut two pieces of the 1/2 inch wood strip down to 3 inches. Sand the ends into a rounded shape.
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11
Drill a 1/8 inch hole 1/2 inch in from the end of strip. Slip this piece into the opening in the side wall of the pinball frame.
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12
Place a 16d nail through the hole in the frame, through the flipper, and into the bottom of the opening. Tap the nail with a hammer to secure it in place, but do not push the nail all the way through the wood. Operate the flippers with your fingers on the outside openings in the side of the frame.
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13
Attach pegs, rubber bands between pegs, or any other obstacles to the table top inside the frame. For the best operation, prop the back of the game against a book or block so the ball will roll down.
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14
Place a ball on top of the plunger and pull the bolt back to compress the spring.
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