What if your cemetery tombstone prop could rock and roll?
This home haunter rigged up a motion rocker using plywood, 2×4 blocks and a $4 dollar 3 RPM, 12-volt motor powered by a computer power supply.
Try to say that 3 times fast…
With it all hidden inside the tombstone let’s take a closer look at how he did it!
How To Make Halloween Tombstones Move In Random Ways
Images by heresjohnny / YouTube.
The motor draws very little power from a computer power supply.
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop Power Supply](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/moving-tombstone-prop-diy-3.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
A simple irregularly cut cam mixes large and small movements, instead of just up and down.
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop Motor Mechanism](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/moving-tombstone-prop-diy-5.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
And the incredibly low profile of the power wire helps it easily stay out of your trick or treaters’ view!
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop Motor Closeup](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/moving-tombstone-prop-diy-6.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Three motors were considered for the job: a deer motor (left), the 12-volt 3 RPM motor (middle) and a 12-volt 6 RPM motor (in hand).
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop Motor Sizes](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/moving-tombstone-prop-diy-17.png?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
They all share the same approximate radius (and can be interchanged!)
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop Motor Radius](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/moving-tombstone-prop-diy-9.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
You can swap this entire setup into other tombstones by hallow-ing out the insides…(see what I did there?)
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop Hollow Area](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/moving-tombstone-prop-diy-10.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
To prevent the tombstone from toppling over, two rods on each side help add extra lateral support.
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop Lateral Stability](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/moving-tombstone-prop-diy-12.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
This jig helps line up the rod holes inside the prop to make sure they line up perfectly with the motor mechanism.
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop Jig Template for Rods](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/moving-tombstone-prop-diy-13.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Once the jig is in place, you can head an aluminum rod with a butane torch and push through the jig to create a nice long pilot hole.
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop Aluminum Rods For Pilot Holes](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/moving-tombstone-prop-diy-14.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Alas! Screw the base into a larger wood platform for extra stability.
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop Secure Base With Wood Screws](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/moving-tombstone-prop-diy-16.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
What a slick little project to animate your cemetery!
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop Final Photo](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/moving-tombstone-prop-diy.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Hey, check out this phot “before” the armature was added and painted…
![Moving Tombstone Prop Before Armature](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMAG0953.jpg?resize=579%2C1024&ssl=1)
…ok, and another “after!” (:
![Moving Halloween Tombstone Prop After Finished and Painted](https://i0.wp.com/hallowlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMAG1135.jpg?resize=579%2C1024&ssl=1)
Thank you Johnny!
For more info about this DIY, check out Johnny Ghost’s blog.
Images by heresjohnny / YouTube.
Our big thanks to Johnny for sharing!
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