What's Inside A Music Box

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Making your own music box requires patience and precision, but the process is easier than you might think. Choose a hinged wooden box and music box mechanism to create your music box. And then, simply decorate the hinged wooden box all the same y'all like and install the music box mechanism. Your music box will be ready to employ or give as a souvenir in no time!

1
Choose a hinged wooden box to hold the music box mechanism. For most standard sized mechanisms, yous'll need a box that is at least 2 in (5.1 cm) deep, iii in (seven.6 cm) long, and 2 in (5.ane cm) wide. Take measurements on your music box mechanism before you choose a box to be sure. Also, keep in mind that larger boxes may work improve since they can hold more than than only the mechanism.
- You can also make your own hinged wooden box if you lot prefer to starting time from scratch.^[ane]. Hinged wooden boxes are available at craft supply stores and online in a wide range of sizes and styles.
2
Pigment the inside and outside of the box if desired. Paint both the inside and exterior of the box using a sponge brush and acrylic paint in whatever color. Apply 2-iii coats of the paint to attain an even expect. Then, allow the paint to dry completely before standing.^[2]
- Painting the woods is just necessary if the box isn't already finished and decorated. If you choose to recycle a box and you already like the way it looks, yous don't need to paint over information technology.
- You can technically utilize any blazon of paint that is approved for utilise with wood (or whichever cloth your box is made of). For wooden boxes, you can even apply woods stain.
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3
Decorate the lid, if desired. You can leave the outside chapeau plain or embellish it. Since the musical mechanism won't touch the lid of the box, such decorations should non interfere with how well it works. Some suggestions for how to decorate the hat of your music box include:^[3]
- Using stencils to paint a pretty design onto the lid.
- Using spray agglutinative and Modernistic Podge to adhere a laser-printed photograph to the lid.
- Gluing a flat-backed cameo or cabochon to the center of the lid for something simple and classy.

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Purchase a music box machinery kit. There are many types of music box mechanisms bachelor, from ones that operate with gears to those that feature a series of bells or newspaper scroll mechanisms. Discover a music box shop or website to choose your preferred blazon. You tin even customize the vocal by choosing a pre-loaded song or programming the music box with your ain vocal.^[4]
- Brand sure that you check the dimensions of the music box mechanism earlier you purchase it to ensure that it volition fit into the box you accept chosen.
2
Create a newspaper template by tracing effectually the mechanism. Place the musical mechanism onto a sheet of paper and trace around its perimeter with a pen or pencil. Then, utilise scissors to cut around this outline. Once you cut out the template, flip over the machinery to reveal the bottom and rest the template on top. Use a pen or pencil to lightly mark the spiral holes and keyhole on the paper template.^[5]
- If you cannot come across the holes through the paper template, utilise a small ruler to measure where they lie on the mechanism in comparison to each side. Mark dots on the template using those aforementioned measurements.
Warning: Some mechanisms do not have spiral holes. In this instance, the fundamental will commonly be enough to agree the mechanism in place. Exercise not attempt to create holes for screws in the mechanism since doing so could preclude the movement from working.
3
Position the template inside the box off to one side. Place the newspaper template inside the box, positioning it where you want the mechanism to sit down. Apply articulate tape to hold the template down in its final position. Choose an area forth the base of operations of the box, rather than using the sides or hat.^[6]
- Make sure to position the mechanism off to one side of the box or in one of the back corners. However, if you utilize a small box just big enough to fit the mechanism, eye the mechanism inside its base.
- When determining the best placement for the mechanism, make sure that the screw holes and keyhole will be clear of the feet on the lesser of the music box.
4
Drill 3 holes through the box to adhere the mechanism. Use a hand drill to create holes in a wooden box. Carefully drill two ¹⁄₈ in (3.2 mm) screw holes and ane ^one⁄_four in (6.iv mm) keyhole through the paper template and through the lesser of the box. Follow the markings you made on the template to ensure correct placement.^[7]
- If yous opted for a newspaper mache box or recycled tin, create the holes using an awl, rubber block, and hammer.
- Remove the paper template and clear away whatsoever shavings or other droppings earlier continuing. Modest particles of debris can easily work their manner into the inner workings of the musical mechanism, and if that happens, the mechanism may stop playing.
- Brand certain to check your music box machinery'southward instructions to determine what size screws to use.
5

Remove the mechanism case if you want it to exist visible. Use a pocket-sized screwdriver to remove the screws holding the plastic casing onto the machinery, then snap away the casing itself. You tin can technically go on the casing over the mechanism, if desired, but removing information technology will permit yous to view the movement as it plays and may create a more than aesthetically pleasing result.^[8]
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Identify the mechanism inside the box. Position the musical mechanism within the box, direct where the template was. Then, carefully turn the box over while holding the mechanism in place with one manus. Make sure that the screw holes in the box match the screw holes in the machinery. Also, make certain that the keyhole in the box matches the keyhole of the mechanism.^[9]
7
Secure the mechanism with two screws through the bottom of the box. Identify a ¹⁄₈ in (3.two mm) screw through each screw hole, then secure both screws in identify. They should go through the bottom of the box and into the screw holes of the mechanism.^[x]
- Subsequently y'all ready these screws in place, ensure that the machinery is secure at the base of the box without being held in place.
- Think to bank check the music box mechanism'southward instructions to determine what screw size to use.

1

Cut a divider to separate trinkets from the mechanism. Trim a thin piece of wood, making it as long as the width of the box and roughly ¹⁄_eight in (three.2 mm) thick. Ensure that the wood's width matches or exceeds the height of the machinery, but is at least ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₄ in (3.2 to 6.4 mm) shorter than the side of the box. Then, sand downward any rough edges.^[11]

Tip: You do non demand a divider if the box is merely big plenty for the mechanism and nil else.
2
Secure the divider with hot glue or wood mucilage. Use hot mucilage or forest glue to adhere the divider to the back and front sides of the box. Position the divider and then that it lies just adjacent to the mechanism. Ensure that the divider is non really touching the moving parts of the machinery.^[12]
- Let the mucilage dry completely before continuing. Hot glue will dry within about five minutes while wood glue will need to sit for at least 8 hours.
3

Wind the music box up and permit it play. Your music box is finished and ready to use at this point! Add jewelry and other trinkets to the compartment if desired. To enjoy the music, simply air current the key and let it play.^[13]

Add together New Question

Question

How exercise I get people to spin while the music is playing?

There are companies online that sell moving parts for music box movements, like the national art craft website. You tin choose your music box movements in the menu followed by your move making attachments. Basically though, you will adhere an arm across the summit of the movement and install a turntable to that.
Question

How do I remove the fundamental from the mechanism so that I tin install information technology?

Most keys tin just be pushed onto the mechanism and pulled off, though you accept to practise it carefully.
Question

Where did the little crank come up from?

The crank or central usually comes with the mechanism, every bit well as the bolts (usually three). If you buy online, bank check the specifications to make sure information technology comes with everything yous need.

Show more answers

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Things You lot'll Need

Wooden box
Air current-up musical mechanism
Matching wind-up key
2 screws, ^one⁄₈ in (3.2 mm) each
Sponge brush
Acrylic pigment
Hot glue gun
Hot mucilage sticks
4 foursquare chaplet, ¹⁄₂ to 1 in (1.3 to 2.5 cm) broad
Decorative cabochon or other embellishments
Pencil
Obviously newspaper
Pair of scissors
Clear tape
Hand drill
Small-scale screwdriver
^ane⁄₈ in (iii.2 mm) thick forest slab
Saw
Coarse sandpaper

About This Article

Article Summary 10

If you desire to brand a music box, the first thing you'll need to do is get a wooden box that's larger than the musical machinery you want to put in it. Then, y'all should paint or decorate the box as y'all similar, and let any pigment or glue dry earlier moving on. Next, you'll need to make up one's mind where inside the box to put the musical mechanism. In one case yous know where you lot desire it, you'll have to drill holes for the mechanism and spiral it into your box to secure it. Finally, you tin make a wooden divider and a plexiglass cover for the mechanism if you want to. For detailed instructions on how to install the musical machinery in your music box, read on!

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