Drunk Drivers

Making a drink can be tedious at times but with our instructable, the preparation of drinks become incredibly fun and exciting. We have made a contraption where you can race with others to make drinks without the boring steps you take to normally make your drink. All you have to do is put your cup onto one of the cardboard cars and let it go! The car will hit a weight and fall off the edge, letting prefilled water in a bottle to fall into the cup and create your refreshing beverage. From making juices to coffee, tea to any other powdered drink, anything is possible and fun to make with this contraption.

1. Cardboard
2. Tape
3. Plastic Cups
4. Powdered drink - Coffee, Cool Aid, etc
5. Plastic Straws
6. Plastic water bottles
7. String
8. Weight
9. Glue gun
10. Chopsticks

Steps to Build the Car

1. Create the Base of the Car

1. Cut a rectangular piece of cardboard. This will be the base of your car. Make it large enough to fit the wheels and cup holder

2. Add the Axles and Wheels

1. Prepare the Wheels:
2. Take the bottle caps and poke a small hole in the center of each (just large enough for the chopstick to fit snugly).
3. Attach the Axles:
4. Glue one straw horizontally near the front edge of the underside of the base and another straw near the back. These straws will hold the axles in place.
5. Assemble the Wheels:
6. Slide a chopstick through each straw. Attach the bottle caps to the ends of the chopsticks and secure them with glue to create the wheels.
7. Let the glue dry completely before moving on.

3. Build the Cup Holder

1. Create the Base:
2. Cut a cardboard circle that matches the size of the bottom of your plastic cup.
3. Make the Sides:
4. Cut four thin rectangular strips of cardboard. Attach one end of each strip to the edges of the circle, forming vertical walls around it.
5. Secure the Shape:
6. Wrap a piece of string around the strips to hold them in place while gluing. Insert the cup into the holder to ensure it holds its shape. Let the glue dry before removing the cup.

4. Add the Front Pusher

1. Cut a small rectangular piece of cardboard.
2. Glue it vertically to the front edge of the car to act as a bumper or “pusher.”

Finishing Touches

1. Let all the glue dry completely before testing your car.
2. Decorate the car with markers, paint, or stickers for a personal touch.

Steps to Make the Track and Ramp

1. Create the Base of the Track

1. Find or cut a long, rectangular piece of cardboard. This will be the base of your track. Ensure it’s wide and long enough to fit the cars and allow them to race smoothly.

2. Add Side Barriers to Guide the Cars

1. Cut the Strips:
2. Take another piece of cardboard (similar in length to the track) and cut it into long strips. These will act as barriers to keep the cars in place.
3. Measure the Width:
4. Measure the width of your car and mark that distance on the track using a ruler and pencil.
5. Position the Barriers:
6. Place two cardboard strips along the track, ensuring the gap between them matches the width of your car. Adjust the placement until you're satisfied.
7. Glue the Barriers:
8. Once aligned, glue the strips in place. Repeat this process for multiple lanes if you want more than one car to race.

3. Build the Ramp

1. Cut the Ramp Support:
2. Take a shorter piece of cardboard and cut it into a rectangle. This will support the track at an angle to create the ramp.
3. Set the Angle:
4. Place the ramp support under one end of the track. Adjust the angle to make it as steep or gentle as you prefer for racing.
5. Attach the Ramp Support:
6. Once you’ve decided on the angle, glue the ramp support securely to the track and the surface beneath it. Allow the glue to dry completely to ensure stability.

Finishing Touches

1. Test the track by releasing a car to ensure the lanes and ramp work as expected.
2. Decorate your track with paint, stickers, or tape to give it a fun and vibrant look.

1. Prepare the Table Legs

1. Cut two identical pieces of cardboard for the table legs.
2. Width: 3–5 cm
3. Height: 2–5 cm taller than the cars to allow enough clearance.
4. Set these aside for now.

2. Create the Tabletop

1. Cut a rectangular cardboard piece for the tabletop.
2. Length: Slightly longer than the track to fully cover the cars' movement.
3. Width: 3–5 cm wider than the funnels or cups to ensure stability.
4. Mark the placement of two holes on the tabletop.
5. Space them evenly apart.
6. Make the diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the plastic cups or funnels.
7. Cut out the holes using scissors or a craft knife.

3. Add Barriers Around the Holes

1. Take plastic cups or bottles and cut them into halves to create curved barriers.
2. Hot glue the curved pieces around the edges of each hole to act as a protective barrier.
3. This ensures no water spills out of the funnels.

4. Attach the Funnels

1. If using plastic cups or bottles as funnels:
2. Cut a small hole at the bottom of each one.
3. Glue the funnels securely to the barriers on the tabletop.
4. Angle the funnels toward where the water will drip into the cups below.

5. Assemble the Table Structure

1. Position the tabletop (with funnels and barriers) above the two cardboard legs.
2. Glue the legs securely to each end of the tabletop.
3. Ensure the table is sturdy and properly aligned with the track so water flows directly into the cups on the cars.

Tips for Success:

1. Test the alignment before gluing everything together.
2. Reinforce joints with extra glue to prevent wobbling.
3. Make sure the funnels’ holes are large enough for water to flow smoothly.

1. Create the See-Saw Platform

1. Cut two cardboard rectangles slightly larger than your water container.
2. Example: For an 18.7 cm tall and 6.1 cm wide bottle, the cardboard pieces should be about 19 cm tall and 6.5 cm wide.
3. Place the straw between the two cardboard pieces at their midpoint.
4. Ensure the straw is perpendicular to the cardboard pieces, forming a cross shape.
5. Mark the points where the straw touches the cardboard with a pencil for guidance.
6. Hot glue the straw between the cardboard rectangles at the marked points.
7. Also, glue the ends of the rectangles together to make the platform sturdier.
8. If the platform is curved, add extra cardboard pieces between the two rectangles for reinforcement.
9. Slide a chopstick through the straw.
10. The chopstick should extend slightly beyond the ends of the straw.
11. Ensure the chopstick rotates freely inside the straw.

2. Add Supports for the Water Container

1. Cut three cardboard pieces that are at least half the length of the water container.
2. If using a plastic bottle:
3. Glue two pieces at one end of the platform in a “V” shape with a gap in the middle to hold the bottle’s neck.
4. Alternatively, cut off the top of the bottle to create a funnel and tape it securely to the container.
5. Glue the third cardboard piece at the opposite end of the platform.
6. This will act as a support for the base of the water container.
7. Make sure this piece is upright and securely attached.

3. Build the Legs for the See-Saw

1. Cut two small cardboard rectangles for the legs of the see-saw.
2. Length: 3–5 cm
3. Height: Tall enough to allow the platform to tilt 30–45 degrees.
4. Stack the two cardboard pieces for each leg and create a hole through the same spot on both pieces.
5. The hole should be positioned about ¾ the height of the leg.

4. Assemble the See-Saw Mechanism

1. Position the platform (with its supports) between the two legs.
2. Align the chopstick with the holes in the legs.
3. Insert the chopstick through the holes in the legs and the straw.
4. Secure the ends of the chopstick with hot glue to prevent it from slipping out.
5. Ensure the glue does not interfere with the tilting motion of the platform.

5. Build the Second Dispenser

1. Repeat the steps above to create a second water dispenser.

6. Create the Dispenser Table

1. Build a table structure similar to the one described in Step 3.
2. The table should be 5–10 cm taller than the water collection system to ensure proper pouring into the funnels.
3. Glue the water dispensers to the top of the table.
4. Align the dispensers so they are positioned above the track and funnel system.
5. Ensure they are spaced to match the rails of the track.

Notes:

1. The container does not need to hold water—it can contain any liquid required for the desired drink.
2. Test the system to ensure the tilting mechanism functions smoothly and aligns with the funnels.

1. Prepare the String

1. Cut a piece of string long enough to:
2. Reach from underneath the front of the water dispenser to the edge of the track where the trigger will be placed.
3. Test the string to ensure it’s taut but not overly tight when connected.

2. Create the Weight System

1. Take a plastic cup and fill it with materials to create the desired weight.
2. The weight should be sufficient to tip the water dispenser but not so heavy that it breaks the string or pulls too forcefully.
3. Tape the opening of the cup to secure the contents.
4. Attach one end of the string to the inside of the cup using tape.

3. Connect the String to the Water Dispenser

1. Glue or tape the other end of the string to the underside of the water dispenser platform (specifically the side where the container sits).
2. Make sure the string is securely attached and positioned so it can pull the dispenser downward smoothly.

4. Build the Weight Platform

1. Cut a long piece of cardboard to create a base at the end of the track.
2. Add small cardboard supports on the base to create a raised platform where the weight will sit.
3. The platform should be high enough for the cars to make contact with the weight and knock it off easily.
4. Position the platform so the string remains aligned with the dispenser and has a clear path to pull it down.

5. Assemble the Trigger System

1. Place the weighted cup on the platform at the end of the track.
2. Test the alignment to ensure:
3. The string is properly positioned to pull the water dispenser when the weight is knocked off.
4. The cars can reliably hit the weight off the platform during operation.

Tips for Success:

1. Adjust the Weight: Experiment with the weight until you find the right balance for smooth operation.
2. Strengthen Connections: Use additional tape or glue on the string and weight attachment points to prevent them from loosening.
3. Test Before Finalizing: Run a car along the track to ensure it reliably triggers the mechanism without needing extra force.