Introduction: Cardboard Periscope
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The instructions below is for a design of a Periscope made from poster board or cereal box for the body, and the mirrors are cut from ordinary CDs or DVDs.
What you are going to need for this are 1.)Some old CDs or DVDs, 2.) Cereal box or any kind of cardboard 3.) Some tape, X-acto knife or any sharp blade to cut the CDs/DVDs.
What you are going to need for this are 1.)Some old CDs or DVDs, 2.) Cereal box or any kind of cardboard 3.) Some tape, X-acto knife or any sharp blade to cut the CDs/DVDs.
Step 1: Cut the Mirror
The proper way to cut the CDs is with a vice as shown. Each CD makes four mirrors. Just keep bending the CD slightly while scoring and it will cut/break clean pretty quickly. If you forget to keep scoring as you bend, the CD will shatter and ruin the reflective surface.
Warming the CD up first with a hairdryer for 2-3 minutes will prevent the CD from shattering.
Warming the CD up first with a hairdryer for 2-3 minutes will prevent the CD from shattering.
Step 2: Cut Out the Periscope Body
Click and drag the 2nd image below to your desktop so you can print out the body of the periscope.
Print the image scaled to 77%
(You are going to want it small because of the size of the mirrors. If you have bigger mirrors, then you can print out the patterns at 100% scaled.)
Rough cut (bubble cut) around the solid lines and stick 4 tape "doughnuts" to the corners of the non-print side. Tape the Pattern Onto the Cardboard and Cut out on the Solid Outside Lines. Keep the pattern taped on until you have cut and folded on the lines.
Print the image scaled to 77%
(You are going to want it small because of the size of the mirrors. If you have bigger mirrors, then you can print out the patterns at 100% scaled.)
Rough cut (bubble cut) around the solid lines and stick 4 tape "doughnuts" to the corners of the non-print side. Tape the Pattern Onto the Cardboard and Cut out on the Solid Outside Lines. Keep the pattern taped on until you have cut and folded on the lines.
Step 3: Cut Out Triangle Pattern
This is the pattern where the mirrors will go on.
You are going to have to print out Two of the patterns below for the mirrors.
(Follow the same steps to print out the triangle pattern.) Scale to 77%.
You are going to have to print out Two of the patterns below for the mirrors.
(Follow the same steps to print out the triangle pattern.) Scale to 77%.
Step 4: Fold and Tape
Fold both the periscope body and the triangle mounts on the dashed lines. Do it with a straight edge or on the sharp edge of a desk.
1-When folded, the body will start look like a rectangular tube. When you're satisfied of the folding job, tear off the pattern from the cardboard and tape the edges together.
2-Similarly, fold the triangle mounts on their dashed lines and they will actually start to look like triangles. Tape one end to the other end.
1-When folded, the body will start look like a rectangular tube. When you're satisfied of the folding job, tear off the pattern from the cardboard and tape the edges together.
2-Similarly, fold the triangle mounts on their dashed lines and they will actually start to look like triangles. Tape one end to the other end.
Step 5: Tape the Mirrors to the Mounts, and the Mounts to the Periscope.
The mirrors have to be taped to the hypotenuse of the triangle. (This is the longer side opposite the taped ends.)
On one of the other sides of the triangles, stick on a tape doughnut. Push that side of the triangle into the periscope so it sticks on the inside wall. Look carefully to see how it goes in. Put a piece of tape on the bottom to further secure it in place. Of course, this has to be done with the other triangle on the other end as well. (if this sounds to complicated then you can refer to the images.)
Tape in both mirrors, one to each end of the periscope.
You might have to do some adjusting to get the mirrors to line up.
Once done, Go start spying on people!
On one of the other sides of the triangles, stick on a tape doughnut. Push that side of the triangle into the periscope so it sticks on the inside wall. Look carefully to see how it goes in. Put a piece of tape on the bottom to further secure it in place. Of course, this has to be done with the other triangle on the other end as well. (if this sounds to complicated then you can refer to the images.)
Tape in both mirrors, one to each end of the periscope.
You might have to do some adjusting to get the mirrors to line up.
Once done, Go start spying on people!