Distressing the Animated Coffin Top

I had a question about creating the texture on the Animated Creepy Coffin. Since I used soft cedar fence boards for that prop, it was pretty easy to use a rasp bit on my electric drill to distress the wood.



No special technique was used. Just go at it until it looks like you want it to look.

Inside the Animated Creepy Coffin

Many of you have seen the Animated Creepy Coffin I made for Halloween 2006. I never got around to doing a proper how-to for that coffin.

However, I've had several questions about the mechanism used in the prop so I dug up several old images of the internal mechanics.



The bottom of the front of the coffin lid is attached with a couple of hinges.



A wiper motor with a crank arm powers the coffin lid at the top.



A clevis pin and a couple of brackets attach the crank arm to the top of the coffin lid.

Giant Skull

Like many others this year I could not pass up getting one of the giant skulls from our local Costco. The sound is lame and I really don't like the LED eyes but I think I can use this skull as part of an huge imposing creature for Halloween this year.

Fall Is On The Way

There are certain indicators of the impending return of the Halloween season. One is when our local Costco begins stocking my favorite seasonal brew. Happy camper here.