Baked beans machine
I made this marble run quite a few years ago from wire, old printing plates and three baked beans tins.
It doesn’t have much of a purpose. A marble rolls downwards along wire tracks, passing through 2 baked beans tins, before triggering a large crane arm that takes the marble right back to where it came from.
There are also a few special effects along the way – a counter weight that turns a windmill, and a release catch that flips over one of the cans.
Most of the structure is made from wire purchased at a hardware store. I spent about 6 weeks bending it into shape with pliers – it was a real labour of love!
I also used old printing plates. These are a very versatile material and over the years I used them to make loads of different things. You can easily fold it by hand, which means you can create complex components without the need for rivots and bolts.
My ‘baked beans machine’ is currently being stored at my Mother-in-laws house in Cape Town (in the garden shed)!
Tags: contraption, Decor, gadget, marble run, upcycled, Upcycling, wire designs
