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How to Build a Toy Tower Crane

A young child could be fascinated with the mechanical structure of a toy tower crane that can transport small metal objects. Picking up the objects with the magnetized crane and moving them to a nearby location will be a lot of fun, but creating the actual tower crane with the help of an adult will add an extra level of excitement. Easy-to-find household materials are all you need to put together a toy tower crane.

Things You'll Need

Strong string
Scissors
Masking tape
Interior doorway
Tape measure
Two small magnets
Small metal objects like nails
Shoebox

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a piece of masking tape to measure 5 inches long.
- 2
  Cut one piece of masking tape to measure 3 inches long.
- 3
  Press the sticky side of the short piece of tape to the sticky side of the long piece, centered, leaving 1 inch at each end of the long piece.
- 4
  Press the sticky ends of the long piece of tape to the top of a doorway. This will create a pulley for the crane.
- 5
  Measure the distance from the top of the doorway to the floor. Double that and subtract 24 inches. Cut the string to this measurement.
- 6
  Insert one end of the string through the middle channel of the pulley, bringing the string down to meet the other end.
- 7
  Attach the two small magnets to one end of the string by pressing the magnets together.
- 8
  Spread the small metal objects on the floor under the string.
- 9
  Use the empty end of the string to manipulate the magnetized end of the tower crane, picking up the objects and transporting them to the shoebox.

Construction Toys