Another Marble Race Toy...

[Art Mulder]

This is in the Winter 2008 Canadian Home Workshop magazine. I'm pretty pleased with the design I came up with. In particular, I like the ability to race, since there are two tracks.

14807 14809 14808

can be just a tad noisy... :rolleyes:

[Ed Nelson]

That's neat! I loved those things when I was a kid!

[Keith Starosta]

Very cool, Art!! I may have to tackle one of those in the near future. :thumb:

Question...are the grooves in the bottom of the longer runs merely decorative, or do they serve some functional purpose?

Thanks!!!

- Keith

[Wes Bischel]

Very cool Art! They are fun toys. Nicely done.

Wes

[Art Mulder]

Question...are the grooves in the bottom of the longer runs merely decorative, or do they serve some functional purpose?

They make noise. rattle-rattle-rattle as the marble rolls down.
It affects the angle at which you set those pieces... too shallow and the marble will just stop. too steep, and the marble will just zoom past the cuts without making noise.

So, not just decorative, but not specifically functional.
Just adds to the overall impact.

[Robert Schaubhut]

Hi Art :wave:,
That is really nice. Wish we cold hear the sound track to it. What is the time difference average one might expect over a series of ten races? Is it + or- 1 second, closer, or a wider spread?
Does one side prove to be the "Dealers Choice:rolleyes:"? If we race can I wax my side?:rofl:
Nice job and good post.
Shaz

[Art Mulder]

Hi Art :wave:,
That is really nice. Wish we cold hear the sound track to it. What is the time difference average one might expect over a series of ten races? Is it + or- 1 second, closer, or a wider spread?
Does one side prove to be the "Dealers Choice:rolleyes:"? If we race can I wax my side?

Waxing optional.

It took the kids about ... hmmm ... 15 minutes to figure out that the Walnut track ran faster than the Ash. Not by a ton, but a little. I think it must have a few angles that are fractionally sharper.

You want to hear it? Just for you, Shaz...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03-EFrQktiU

Hmm, definitely not a sound stage, nor a professional camera. The bell is louder in real life, and the rattle of wood is quieter. I think it's bouncing off the corner at us.

...art

[Garry Foster]

Art
Thats pretty awesome. And should make for a great gift from a grandparent for a kid to take home!..

Garry

[Robert Schaubhut]

Waxing optional.

It took the kids about ... hmmm ... 15 minutes to figure out that the Walnut track ran faster than the Ash. Not by a ton, but a little. I think it must have a few angles that are fractionally sharper.

You want to hear it? Just for you, Shaz...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03-EFrQktiU

Hmm, definitely not a sound stage, nor a professional camera. The bell is louder in real life, and the rattle of wood is quieter. I think it's bouncing off the corner at us.

...art
Hi Art :wave:,
Thanks, I just went here and really appreciated the visual and sound. I can imagine the bell being louder. The sound of the balls rattling and the thump as the change directions was a good thing.
Guess the kids will have to determine the exact place to start on the Ash to make it a fair run, any way, thanks again, good project.
Shaz:)

[Alex Reid]

Art that looks like it would be a big hit with my daughter. My apologies but I might have to steal your design.

[Vaughn McMillan]

If I had any kids on the gift list, I'd be stealing that idea bigtime. ;) Cool stuff, Art. Thanks for the pics and the video.

With that noise, it'd be a good gift to give the kids down the street whose parents throw noisy parties at all hours of the night. Just a little payback. :p

[Dave Richards]

Good work Art. Seeing this reminded me of something I ran across some time back. You might find some ideas for your next marble race here (http://www.sentex.net/~mwandel/marbles/index.html). Check out the rest of the site. More interesting woodworking stuff there. ;)

[Frank Pellow]

Very nice Art! Congratulations! Now that I know, I will have to purchase the magazine.

[Mike Stafford]

It looks like great noisy fun for the kids. Good work!

[Billy Burt]

I may have to try something like these for my grandsons. They can't tear them up any faster than anything else I've given them.:eek: Thanks, Art!

[Frank Fusco]

Sadly, when I saw your post yesterday, it broke my heart.
When I put my shop together I had high hopes of making things like that for my grandchildren. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, my son and his wife are successful and prosperous. They buy just about anything that is for sale for the children, mostly electronic stuff. And, my son doesn't have an ounce of sentiment in his body. Items are simply 'stuff' to him and when something is no longer used it gets tossed. The toys I have made them so far are no longer around.
I trust the recipients of your game will enjoy and treasure it for a long time.

[Travis Johnson]

I made a gumball machine a few years ago just for kicks. It was in the shape of a grandfather clock as in it had the base, the trunk and the top to it. The darn thing held 3½ gallons of gumballs. Basically it was a giant marble roll and the gumballs made something like 10 transitions before it came out the bottom.

Unfortunately this was in my early days of woodworking, and as I get better I start to really get embarrassed of my early work. So one day I got sick of looking at that pine concoction and made a bonfire out of it. Some day though I would like to make another. They are a lot of fun to make (and use).

[Corey Hallagan]

That is pretty cool Art! I love the game/toys you guys are posting!

Corey

[Don Taylor]

That's neat! I loved those things when I was a kid!

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

I love those things as an adult!

Those are neato Art! :thumb:

DT

[Bruce Page]

That is awesome Art! I bet the kids love it!