"Stuck" Coin Prank

by mikevanky in Workshop > Metalworking

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"Stuck" Coin Prank

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 This is a simple prank. A person is walking down the street and they notice a gold dollar coin on the ground. They bend over to pick up the coin up. They are shocked when it just wont seem to budge! Try as they may the coin will not move. They stand up confused, disappointed and some what embarrassed. =)

Materials Needed

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Materials.
      One Gold dollar coin 
      One toggle bolt ( 3/16'' x 2'')
      Gold spray paint
      One brass  3/16 nut
Tools.
     Drill 
     Drill bits  ( 7/64 , 3/16)
     Hand File Set
     Pliers 
     Adjustable Wrench
     Bench Vice
     "C" clamp
     Drill punch/set
     Tape Measure
     Hammer


Drill

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 I used 3/16'' hardware so I need a 3/16'' hole. Pretty simple.
 
First mark the center of the coin and then used the drill set to punch an indentation.
Then Clamp it in the vice with a bit of paper and wood so not too mess up the finish.
I started with a 7/64'' hole then went through with the 1/16'' drill bit to give me my final hole size.
Finally remove any burrs with a file if necessary. 

Grind

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 This step takes patience and its worth taking your time. The goal is to turn the head of the bolt into a shape that will still hold onto the coin yet be flush with the surface of the coin.

You can do this however you want, but I am not good at eyeing things so I used angles to help me out.

The first thing I did was to file the head down till it is flat and no grove can be seen.
Then I made the head square.
After that I filed it down a bit thinner and made it into an octagon.
Then I rounded it off and made it even thinner. Now it sits almost perfectly on the coin.
The final tweaks can be made by setting it on the coin and identifying the high points.

Paint It Gold

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 Find a well ventilated place and paint the head of the bolt a metallic gold. Try to find one that matches the coin. I have been told that several thin coats gives the best finish.
Let it dry!

ATTACH

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 Place the now gold screw through the coin and then put on the nut.  Torque the nut by placing the threads of the bolt into the vice with some card  and tighten the nut. Be careful though, do not make it too tight or you will snap off the very thin head of the bolt. (If the nut is too small a small washer can be added.)

Application

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Deploying the Device.
Your want to spin the wings down to the bottom of the threads and then push it into the grate or manhole cover until the wings pop out on the other side. Now you must tighten it. To do this you must pull up while turing to get the wings to catch on the under side of the grate. Then once it's finger tight give it one last lil bit of torque with a pair of pliers. But be careful. If you tighten it too much you will pull the thin head of the bolt through the coin. Remember you just want to make it more than finger tight. Because im assuming that no one will be carrying around a pair of pliers to remove it. You never Know though. =P


Location

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 Location
This would be fun on any street, but would be especially nice in a place where there is allot of foot traffic. I chose to put it out side my house because I have a view of it from my window. 
A better location would be out sides ones office where they have a view of a busy street. 
Remember any grate or manhole cover works well. ( The hole should be from 1/2'' to 1 1/2'' in diameter)