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How to Make a Rideable Hoverboard

Ever since Marty McFly took on the bad guys while riding a hoverboard in "Back to the Future II," people have been looking for ways to re-create the futuristic toy vehicle. Unfortunately, unless you have lots of money to spend and a fair knowledge of superconducting physics, you won't be able to replicate the exact device. However, you can get close by building a personal hovercraft using some common materials.

Things You'll Need

4-by-4-foot pressboard, 1/2 inch thick
Plastic shower curtain
Saber saw
Drill
Staple gun
Duct tape
Leaf blower or reversible shop vac
Coffee can lid
1 1/2-inch bolt
Nut
2 washers
Craft knife
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Cut out a 4-foot diameter circle from the 1/2-inch pressboard. Drill a hole in the center the same diameter as your bolt.
- 2
  Press the nozzle of your leaf blower or shop vac against the board, halfway between the center and the edge. Trace around the nozzle, then cut out the hole with the saber saw.
- 3
  Lay out the shower curtain and place the board in the center of it. Fold the edges of the curtain neatly over the edge of the board, making it slightly snug but not tight.
- 4
  Staple the edges of the plastic to the board, placing one staple every two inches, about one inch in from the edge. Carefully trim the excess plastic with the craft knife or scissors, then duct tape all around the edge of the plastic. Make sure no air can leak out.
- 5
  Cut a hole in the coffee can lid the same diameter as your bolt.
- 6
  Pick up the plastic-covered pressboard on its side. Place a washer and the coffee can lid on the bolt. Put the bolt through the center hole on the covered side of the board, using the craft knife to cut a hole in the plastic sheeting. On the uncovered side, place the other washer and secure the assembly with the nut.
- 7
  Cut six 2-inch diameter holes in the plastic sheeting, evenly spaced about 5 inches from the center of the board.
- 8
  Set the board plastic side down. Attach the nozzle of your leaf blower or shop vac to the hole cut for it using duct tape. Make sure no air can get out. Sit on the board and turn on the blower.

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