DIY Halloween Air-Powered Pop Up Skull Prop

How to build a pop-up trash can Halloween Prop.
This uses an air cylinder and a bunch of scrap and recycled materials. See it in action at: • Halloween Trash Can Po...
Parts used include:
Light Sensor: amzn.to/2TfMFXn
Timer/DelayModule: amzn.to/2vtnGXm
Air Valve: amzn.to/2Tspgkd
DC Power Supply (Not the exact one I used, but similar style) amzn.to/2x22OqH
A low-cost style power supply like the following would work fine for this project: amzn.to/2PyVRUk
Air cylinder was from a surplus store, but similar to this one: amzn.to/3cl6VhI

[@stevecollins3294]

I would have liked to have seen it work in action! This is awesome!

[@zenomorph8806]

Try attaching the lid with a string to the pop up rod. That should pull the lid down. So basically when the rod goes down it will pull the lid down too.

[@juddfrazier]

I’m going to try to make this. I’m a bit out of my depth and two of your parts are not available. Can you make alt suggestions? Really appreciate this video!

[@drew4702]

Very nice

[@tomcoster191]

Excellent video! I see that the solenoid valve is a 3-way...but since you are using a double-acting cylinder and letting the exhaust vent out the second port of the cylinder, could I get away with using a 2-way solenoid valve in this setup, or is air still needing to escape through your exhaust on the solenoid? I'm new to trying stuff like this out.

[@BenjaminNelsonX]

Hi Tom, this was a fair number of years back. I don't remember all of the exact details. On this project, the air-pressure held the head up and out of the trash can. When pressure was released, it it dropped back down in. I really encourage people to learn by DOING. See if you can find some inexpensive air components to play with from a surplus store or maybe a Makerspace. Try things out and see if it does what you want. I haven't tried it myself, but a friend of mine also says it's easy to build air cylinders out of those screen door closers. Maybe I'll have to try that sometime. It's always OK to be new to something. It just means you are learning!

[@nightmarejr]

wouldve been awesome if it was before halloween. and then you couldve gotten reaction shoots too.. but thanks for the upload none the less

[@gregwatkins2596]

Attach the top of head to inside of can lid. It will limit it and keep the head from spinning as well as decrease the apparent floppiness of the plastic

[@CardiacCat]

Yep. Thinking velcro would work for that

[@seansmith6060]

Can you post links to the parts?

[@BenjaminNelsonX]

It was kind of a random pile of stuff I already had. Here's a link to the light sensor though. amzn.to/2TfMFXn

[@BenjaminNelsonX]

Added parts list to the description!

[@jakehargis234]

Could you have this set up with a motion sensor instead of a light sensor?

[@BenjaminNelsonX]

Sure. There's plenty of different ways a person could set this up. The important thing is to have some sort of input that senses a person and then sends the signal to activate the air valve.

[@phantasmone532]

where did you buy the air cylinder

[@BenjaminNelsonX]

Local surplus store.

[@BenjaminNelsonX]

I added parts list to the video description, including a link to a similar air cylinder as the one I used.

[@dgkaminski1]

Do you have a link to the light sensor you used?

[@BenjaminNelsonX]

amzn.to/2TfMFXn

[@FordeeHo]

that would be much better if it can get back automatically after popping up. the cost for air compressor is not small amount as well.

[@BenjaminNelsonX]

Fordee Ho if you look at the beginning

[@BenjaminNelsonX]

Watch the video of the prop in action (link is in the video description.) In there you can see how I used two strings to keep the lid from opening too far. That way, when the head goes back down, the lid automatically closes as well. A small air compressor is a common shop tool in my area. I simply used the compressor I already had, and then returned the compressor to my shop when done with this prop.

[@neonfox6419]

Its called a trash can trama

[@nicholasakeith]

do you have a wiring diagram?

[@BenjaminNelsonX]

No, I don't have a wiring diagram, but it's very straight-forward. The light sensor activates and provides power to the air-valve, causing the prop to pop up. The delay module holds it there for a few seconds. That's about it.

[@nicholasakeith]

@@BenjaminNelsonX Thank you so much for the quick reply! I bought some 12v remote lights www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073Z6NTGL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 in lieu of using the light sensor. I wasn't sure if id be able to wire that directly to the delay timer relay or does the relay needs its own 12v supply? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. So i plug the light power supply in then cut the lights and attach that to the timer relay is the plan.