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The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => Off Topic => Topic started by: crazydoug on March 22, 2022, 12:57:37 pm

Title: Re: Marble Run Puzzle - Making a New Hobby
Post by: Adirondack Jack on March 24, 2022, 12:12:32 am

I looked hard at them a couple of years ago, but ended up buying a wooden gear, weight and pendulum clock instead.  I never did get it to keep proper time, but if the earth ever speeds up to a fifty two minute hour, I’m all over it.
The rest of that winter I designed and built a combination lock, four bolt door, sorting coin bank/safe, all out of Baltic birch hobby ply.  Marble runs and anything Rube Goldberg always interests me.  Hence my current steampunk themed setting for the whippet.  Hint, before you can make coffee, you gotta grind it.  Before you can grind it, you have to roast the beans. In a world without a power grid, Edison’s method would be the way….

Title: Re: Marble Run Puzzle - Making a New Hobby
Post by: txlabman on March 23, 2022, 03:38:59 pm

Really cool Doug.

The video of it running is mesmerizing.

Title: Re: Marble Run Puzzle - Making a New Hobby
Post by: RedRyder on March 23, 2022, 03:18:56 pm

Nice one, Doug! The new one should keep you busy for a while.

Title: Re: Marble Run Puzzle - Making a New Hobby
Post by: ShadetreeMotorcycle on March 23, 2022, 10:38:36 am

I get a lot of enjoyment out of these type puzzle's, my favorite are mechanical wooden gear clocks,marble runs and wind up vehicles like trucks/tractors and farm equipment.

Title: Re: Marble Run Puzzle - Making a New Hobby
Post by: St Paul Steam on March 22, 2022, 07:11:03 pm

Pretty neat Doug , works well & I'm sure that took you awhile to build.

Title: Re: Marble Run Puzzle - Making a New Hobby
Post by: Nick on March 22, 2022, 06:06:52 pm

Quote from: crazydoug on March 22, 2022, 12:57:37 pm

I decided to try building one of the many marble run puzzle projects available through Amazon and other venues.

I’ve got 4 or 5 of them for winter projects :D oh wait, spring is here :D

Title: Re: Marble Run Puzzle - Making a New Hobby
Post by: Jim on March 22, 2022, 05:31:08 pm

That looks addictive Doug.

Title: Marble Run Puzzle - Making a New Hobby
Post by: crazydoug on March 22, 2022, 12:57:37 pm

Since I haven't been able to be out in my machine shop recently, I decided to try building one of the many marble run puzzle projects available through Amazon and other venues.  I started with this 550 piece non-motorized marble run, and then added a small gear reduction motor.  The quality of these puzzles is really impressive, and the instructions are very detailed, with full-color illustrations.  I enjoyed this enough to order their biggest marble run, which is 678 pieces and comes as a motorized unit.  This should keep me busy for quite a few days!

https://youtu.be/90cTHRE2tZw