How Do I Make a Claw Machine?

Cut a 2-inch diameter PVC pipe to a length of 2 inches, using a handsaw. Drill two 1/4-inch holes equally spaced under the top edge of the pipe, using a power drill and 1/4-inch drill bit.

Cut a 1 7/8-inch wooden dowel to a length of 1/2 inch. Drill three holes through the radius of the circle. Space the holes equally. Drill the two outer holes to a diameter of 1/4 inch, using a power drill and 1/4-inch drill bit. Drill the center hole to a diameter of 1/2 inch, using a power drill and 1/2-inch drill bit.

Position three eyelets around the sides of the roll. Space the eyelets equally with the holes of the eyelets facing downward. Glue the base of the eyelets to the roll, using a hot glue gun. Insert three S hooks into the three holes in the eyelets. Squeeze the top halves of the S hooks to connect them to the eyelets, using pliers.

Cut a fish wire into two 6-inch pieces, using scissors. Tie the ends of the fish wire to the outer holes of the two holes on the 2-inch PVC pipe. Insert the opposite ends of the fish wire through the top holes of the roll and tie them together.

Cut a 3-inch PVC pipe into two 3/4-inch pieces, using a handsaw. Cut the 3/4-inch pieces in half to make C-shaped pieces. Drill 1/8-inch holes near the end of the three C-shaped pieces, using a power drill and 1/8-inch drill bit.

Insert bottom halves of the S hooks into the holes in the C-shaped pieces. Squeeze the bottom halves of the S hooks to connect them to the C-shaped pieces, using pliers.

Cut fish wire to the length of 6 inches and tie a large knot at the end of the fish wire. Insert the opposite end of the fish wire into the hole in a 5/8-inch sinker. The sinker rests on the large knot. Insert the end opposite the knot through the holes in the C-shaped pieces and middle hole in the wooden dowel.

Cur a 2 inch by 4 inch hole in the bottom right side of a 12 inch by 12 inch by 6 inch cardboard box. Cut the top and one side wall of a 2 inch by 4 inch cardboard box. Insert the box inside the box with the cut wall facing outward. Position the box adjacent to the hole in the outer box. The box and hole make the drop shoot used to remove the grabbed object or prize.

Cut an 8 inch by 8 inch hole on the same side with the drop shoot, using a utility knife. Cover the hole with plastic wrap and tape the edges of the plastic wrap inside the box.

Cut 1 inch by 11-inch holes into the top of the left and right sides of the box. Position the holes 1 inch from the top of the left and right sides.

Insert the ends of a wooden dowel with a diameter of 1 inch and a length of 24 inches into the holes in the left and right sides. Tie the ends of the fish wire connected to the claw to the middle of the wooden dowel.

Move the dowel to position the claw. Pull the string upwards to grab items with the claw.