The Wagon Lesson

Another morning of dubious, sleepy, tinkerers. Even though the results are in doubt, there is general enthusiasm for the project.

Spinning Wheels are Fun

The design sketch is quickly assembled on the bench and scruitinized for potential problems. Then we spend some time watching the wheel spin - how pretty it is in the foggy morning light that seeps in the windows.

Rule #4

"Don't Hurt Anyone Else" - Nikhil almost knocks down the mockup and the spinning wheel as he tries to sneak past the instructor.

You are a Board

"Imagine you are each boards and these eye-bolts are screwed into you..."

Spinning Wheels are Fun (part two)

With the wheel mounted, it's open season on wheel spinning. No one is immune to giving the nubbly black surface a spin.

A Complicated Moment

The chassis is starting to come together but there are issues at both the front and back ends.

Lunch break

Quesadillas, PB&J, and big handfuls of carrots and fruit. Topics of discussion include: whether or not the bicycle project is harder than last years rollercoaster, which episodes of Sponge Bob are scariest, fine points of freeze-tag, and what to do tomorrow.

Brake Analysis

Piper and Nikhil decypher the brake mechanism.

Mystic Symbols

Retelling the story of the ancient Tinkerandoo tribe, Nikhil enscribes the foam block with hieroglyphs.

Wrestling with Math

After what seems like seven or eight tries, Robyn and Theo work all the sums and arrive at the drilling plan for the lever mounts.

Cutting Glyphs

Piper and Nikhil try to extract the glyphs from the foam - with mixed results. In the end the foam cutter proves to be too frustrating to use in an artistic way.

Can I Have a Nail?

After finding a lonesome hammer, Tywen fails to find a nail. "Can I try pounding a screw?" he asks.

Seats

Harlo's seat factory has cranked out three good bench seats - no seat belts included.

Art Break

Taking a break from heavy construction, Theo and Ozzie do some foam carving.

Safety First

Having identified the protruding ends of the lever pivot bolts as potential sources of leg gouging injury, Ozzie applies liberal duct tape and styrofoam.

A Page From the Ikea Handbook

A hole drilled through a board to expose the end of a bolt so that a nut may be applied... where have we seen that before?

On the Test Track

It's looking... feasible. Hopes are high, but confidence is low. A quick poll reveals no consensus regarding where the failure will occur, but there is widespread agreement that some failure will ensue.

Test Pilots

Loitering around the setup area, we find the nervous test pilots discussing the multitudinous ways in which they may soon meet a terrible fate.

The Point of Failure

The fully loaded vehicle has proved too much for the retainer screws of the steering column. Two on each side have sheared off internally. No injuries.

Eighty PSI

In an effort to combat the crushing force of the combined weight of eight tinkerers, we push the 20" tires to the their limits by applying nearly three times the recommended air pressure. Will it explode?

Back on the Test Track

We've modded the front steering mount and stabilized outrigger wheels, so we're ready to try it again.

The Next Point of Failure

Off axis pressure while turning creates enough force to peel the solid rubber tire from the rim of the front wheel - have never experienced this before with these tires.

The Brave Pilot, Impatient for the Open Road

Harlo waits patiently while the pit crew work out the kinks.

Magnetic Sweeper

Nikhil is more than willing to clean up the test track, as long as he can use the magnetic sweeper. If only there were a magnetic room cleaner.

More Safety

Showing deep concern for the future offspring of our brave tinkerers, Robyn adds a safety pad to the steering column.

More Duct Tape

Now we're using it for everything. Instead of sanding down the brakeman's security handle, Piper and Fiona decide to just tape it up.

Two Ends of the Same Vehicle

Harlo eyes his seat with some concern, while Nikhil worries about having to sit too close to the spokes of the rear wheel.

It Has a Brake

Sure, we're concerned about stopping, I mean we put a brake on it. We're not crazy.

A Brother's Concern

"That helmet won't help you if you get run over," says Ozzie, adding, "just try to jump free of the wreckage before that happens."

It Rolls!

The basic mechanisms are all working. That's good, right?

Maiden Voyage

Heave. Ho. Heave. Ho. Heave. Ho. Wait! Stop!

Tinkering School Class of 2006 (12 and under)

(L to R) Nikhil, Ozzie, Fiona, Harlo, Piper, Tywen, Winslow, Theo

Your Moments of Zen

Every summer, as members of the Tinkerandoo tribe turn twelve, they must undergo the ordeal of the vines. Afterward, all members of the tribe perform the traditional dust kicking dance.

Movie Makers

Ryan and Paul agreed (without knowing what they were getting into) to help us edit our movie project - thanks you guys!