Tips for blocks and marbles
December 25, 2011 2:34 PM   Subscribe

Help me Rube Goldberg-ize umbuzinho's blocks and marbles toy.

My son just received this awesome blocks and marbles toy. Does anyone have any ideas of how to make it even more fun by adding other household objects? Any unusual blocks and marbles techniques out there? I'd love to build a ceiling-to-floor marble run with him that has wacky Rube Goldberg-style detours.
posted by umbĂș to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
i would just experiment with whatever you have lying around...the cool trick would be getting a marble to run out of the playset and then back into it...
add dominos!
or a popsicle stick bomb!
posted by sexyrobot at 2:53 PM on December 25, 2011


It's always fun to get the marbles to land on a drum or a xylophone.
posted by ShooBoo at 3:53 PM on December 25, 2011 [1 favorite]


There are lots of videos of marble runs on YouTube from which to get inspiration.
posted by dfriedman at 3:57 PM on December 25, 2011


Do you have any cardboard tubes laying around from wrapping paper, paper towels or toilet paper?
posted by lee at 4:23 PM on December 25, 2011


It's quite easy, fun, and satisfying to have a marble run trigger a set of dominos.
posted by alms at 9:16 AM on December 26, 2011


We got that exact set for our nephews. It has been loads of fun for the kids (and adults too). I really like the cardboard tube idea and we will definitely try the domino activation plan.
posted by mmascolino at 11:36 AM on December 26, 2011


YouTube can be your best friend. Also, if there are any hot wheels tracks (or something similar) specifically a loop or a jump, that could be fun.
posted by doyouknowwhoIam? at 12:05 PM on December 26, 2011


oh...cheaper than hot wheels track: look at plastic weatherstripping channel or the like at yr local harware store...prob as low as a few cents per foot in lengths up to 12 feet...look for something that has an extra flange or strip (other than what the marble will travel in/on) so that you can clip it to stuff to shape it. they will prob also have big clothes-pin-like clips with rubber guards (so the furniture doesnt get scratched)
with those two things u could prob rig up a wicked spiral around a kitchen chair...
posted by sexyrobot at 1:22 PM on December 26, 2011


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