March “How To”

Building a simple PVC pipe figure

We all have needed new figures in our haunts and will always need more.  Hopefully this tutorial will help you achieve this in a very fast and long lasting way.

Materials you will need:

·         2 – 10 ft. sticks of 1 ½” schedule 40 PVC pipe

·         Hack saw or reciprocating saw (sawzall)

·         1 – box of #8 Phillips head lath screws ¾” long

·         5 – 1 ½” tee’s

·         6 – 1 ½” 90’s

·         6 – 1 ½” 45’s

·         Tape measure

·         Pencil or pen

·         Phillips screwdriver or drill gun

·         Clean old rag

Starting with your pipe and your saw of choice (mine is a sawzall), your tape measure and pencil you will need to cut several pieces of the pipe as follows:

·         4 – 2 ½” long

·         3 – 3” long

·         2 – 4” long

·         2 – 6” long

·         2 – 7” long

·         4 – 9” long

·         2 – 10” long

·         2 – 33” long

Then using your rag clean the edges of you cut pieces.  PVC can cut you so please use the rag by folding it over the cut edge and pressing into the edge with your fingers while turning the pipe with your other hand (see photo below).

 Next take three tees and two 90’s and lay them out on a clean flat surface.  

Now get (2)  4” pieces and (2) 3” pieces.  Use the 3” pieces between the tee’s and the 4” pieces from the tee’s to the 90’s.  Don’t push them together tight yet.  They will need to stay loose for the moment.

Next get two 90’s and two tee’s and lay them out on your working surface like shown below. 

Using the last 3” piece between the tees and (2) 2 ½” pieces between the tees and the 90’s loosely fit them together.

Now take (4) 45’s, (2) 9”, (2) 2 1/2" and the (2) 7” pieces lay them out and assemble them as shown below.

Now you can push everything together tight (use a rubber mallet if necessary).  If you use a mallet be careful when hitting the pipe it can break and send sharp pieces flying at cutting speeds!  Once everything is tight begin assembling the shoulders torso and hips together like you see below.  When inserting the torso make sure that you connect the 9” pieces to the shoulders and the 7” pieces to the hip section.  When finished it should look like the picture below.

Put the whole assembly on your flat surface and tighten all the joints (do not use glue) while making sure that all fittings are laying flat on your surface, this is very important or your figure will be very lopsided.  Then start installing your screws.  You will need (2) screws for each place the pipe enters a fitting (yes a lot of screws).  Do not pre-drill the holes.  The screws will enter the pipe without having to pre-drill which will make a tighter fit.  Note:  do not screw the shoulder 90’s or the hip 90’s at this time.  If you are using a screwdriver instead of a drill gun then you will have to pre-drill the holes to allow some relief.  When you finish it should look like the picture below.

Now you can add the legs which will be the (2) 33” pieces, (2) 90’s and (2) 6” pieces.  Depending on what you’re building this figure for you can change this part to suit your need.  I am building a Reaper so I will not need the (2) 6” pieces for the feet so I do not have them in place.  Also you can use a heat gun (hairdryer will work as well) to bend the legs around the knee area for a different stance if you need to or you can use 45’s or 90’s in different combinations to achieve your goal.  With a heat gun anything is possible.  Screw the legs into the fitting securely same as before but do not screw the 90’s to the body yet.

Next we will add the arms.  Here again you can change the way you do this to suit your need.  For this tutorial though you will need the remaining (2) 9” pieces, (2) 10” pieces, (1) 45 and (1) 90.  Place the 9” pieces into the shoulders, screw them in like the legs leaving the 90’s to the torso loose for now.  Then add a 90 to one side and a 45 to the other.  Then place the remaining (2) 10” pieces into the other side of the fitting.  Using the heat gun on your arms or legs is a little time consuming but will eliminate the need for fittings in most cases.  You can see that this figure has the normal arms and legs which I will change to achieve the look I need for this figure.   See picture below.

Your figure is complete minus the head and positioning.  I have used Styrofoam heads with masks in the past but for this figure I’m using a Bucky head.  So mine will be different.  Once you have your head ready you will need to stand your new figure up and position it the way you want it to look in your haunt.  Legs front to back (walking, running), arms front to back and side to side.  Once your happy with the position then screw all remaining joints together tight.  Add your hands from the last tutorial and screw them tight and there you have your new figure.

Hopefully this helps with your haunt creations!

Tags: Haunt Wizard PVC Figure How To

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