How to Make a Gravity Puzzle (Brain Game)

here’s a little brain game you can

here’s a little brain game you can easily make to impress the smartest

easily make to impress the smartest

easily make to impress the smartest people you know the idea has been around

people you know the idea has been around

people you know the idea has been around forever but most people still can’t do

forever but most people still can’t do

forever but most people still can’t do it the challenge is simple just balance

it the challenge is simple just balance

it the challenge is simple just balance these 14 nails on a single nail head

you

you [Music]

for this project I started by making a

for this project I started by making a template for a platform design I want to

template for a platform design I want to

template for a platform design I want to try if you like it you can have it for

try if you like it you can have it for

try if you like it you can have it for free I’m getting ready to take this to a

free I’m getting ready to take this to a

free I’m getting ready to take this to a piece of wood and I want these edges

piece of wood and I want these edges

piece of wood and I want these edges flush put a little overhang on these

flush put a little overhang on these

flush put a little overhang on these others

others

others I found a 3/4 inch panel of birch wood

I found a 3/4 inch panel of birch wood

I found a 3/4 inch panel of birch wood in a scrap pile at the home-improvement

in a scrap pile at the home-improvement

in a scrap pile at the home-improvement store and my paper template goes right

store and my paper template goes right

store and my paper template goes right in the corner a little duct tape will

in the corner a little duct tape will

in the corner a little duct tape will hold it in place just enough to help me

hold it in place just enough to help me

hold it in place just enough to help me cut holes for some nails a total of 15

cut holes for some nails a total of 15

cut holes for some nails a total of 15 holes for 15 nails I’ve got a 9 64’s

holes for 15 nails I’ve got a 9 64’s

holes for 15 nails I’ve got a 9 64’s inch drill bit that looks about the

inch drill bit that looks about the

inch drill bit that looks about the right size so that goes in the Chuck of

right size so that goes in the Chuck of

right size so that goes in the Chuck of my drill press and once I’ve got it in

my drill press and once I’ve got it in

my drill press and once I’ve got it in secure I’ll drill a test hole in some

secure I’ll drill a test hole in some

secure I’ll drill a test hole in some junk wood to double-check these 3-inch

junk wood to double-check these 3-inch

junk wood to double-check these 3-inch framing nails will fit I can manipulate

framing nails will fit I can manipulate

framing nails will fit I can manipulate the nail easily and the hole is still

the nail easily and the hole is still

the nail easily and the hole is still tight enough to support the spike firmly

tight enough to support the spike firmly

tight enough to support the spike firmly in place

in place

in place perfect lowering the bit next to the

perfect lowering the bit next to the

perfect lowering the bit next to the edge of the board will help me gauge the

edge of the board will help me gauge the

edge of the board will help me gauge the depth of the hole and I can set these

depth of the hole and I can set these

depth of the hole and I can set these nuts to stop the press from drilling any

nuts to stop the press from drilling any

nuts to stop the press from drilling any deeper I think I’m ready to drill some

deeper I think I’m ready to drill some

deeper I think I’m ready to drill some holes I’m being careful to drill all 15

holes I’m being careful to drill all 15

holes I’m being careful to drill all 15 markers to the same depth and before I

markers to the same depth and before I

markers to the same depth and before I move on I’ll insert a nail in each hole

move on I’ll insert a nail in each hole

move on I’ll insert a nail in each hole and check the tops of the nail heads to

and check the tops of the nail heads to

and check the tops of the nail heads to see if they’re all level looking good

see if they’re all level looking good

see if they’re all level looking good let’s move on the nails come out and

let’s move on the nails come out and

let’s move on the nails come out and it’s over to the chop saw to cut the

it’s over to the chop saw to cut the

it’s over to the chop saw to cut the other two sides off the template these

other two sides off the template these

other two sides off the template these cuts are good and I’m happy with it so

cuts are good and I’m happy with it so

cuts are good and I’m happy with it so far but let’s go one step further and

far but let’s go one step further and

far but let’s go one step further and take it to the router table for some

take it to the router table for some

take it to the router table for some finishing work I’ve got a 3/8 inch

finishing work I’ve got a 3/8 inch

finishing work I’ve got a 3/8 inch beating bit and I’m testing the profile

beating bit and I’m testing the profile

beating bit and I’m testing the profile cut on some scrap wood it looks like

cut on some scrap wood it looks like

cut on some scrap wood it looks like that’s going to work so I can place the

that’s going to work so I can place the

that’s going to work so I can place the block with the nail holes facing down

block with the nail holes facing down

block with the nail holes facing down and carefully router the edges this bit

and carefully router the edges this bit

and carefully router the edges this bit is spinning at 20,000 rpm so I have to

is spinning at 20,000 rpm so I have to

is spinning at 20,000 rpm so I have to be very careful not to lose a finger

be very careful not to lose a finger

be very careful not to lose a finger here okay the edges are done but a

here okay the edges are done but a

here okay the edges are done but a little furry so I’ll sound that off with

little furry so I’ll sound that off with

little furry so I’ll sound that off with some 100 grit sandpaper then hit the top

some 100 grit sandpaper then hit the top

some 100 grit sandpaper then hit the top as well to get it ready for some color I

as well to get it ready for some color I

as well to get it ready for some color I like how it’s looking now so time to

like how it’s looking now so time to

like how it’s looking now so time to grab some leftover stain and shake it up

grab some leftover stain and shake it up

grab some leftover stain and shake it up wearing gloves of course this is a

wearing gloves of course this is a

wearing gloves of course this is a rosewood color stain and one of my

rosewood color stain and one of my

rosewood color stain and one of my project nails will help me get the lid

project nails will help me get the lid

project nails will help me get the lid off I’ll use a rolled up paper towel to

off I’ll use a rolled up paper towel to

off I’ll use a rolled up paper towel to apply the stain to the bottom top and

apply the stain to the bottom top and

apply the stain to the bottom top and edges making sure every surface gets a

edges making sure every surface gets a

edges making sure every surface gets a liberal coating this will soak for about

liberal coating this will soak for about

liberal coating this will soak for about 3 minutes then I’ll use another paper

3 minutes then I’ll use another paper

3 minutes then I’ll use another paper towel to remove the excess so that it

towel to remove the excess so that it

towel to remove the excess so that it looks like this after about 2 hours of

looks like this after about 2 hours of

looks like this after about 2 hours of drying I’ll insert a nail in the center

drying I’ll insert a nail in the center

drying I’ll insert a nail in the center hole and grab some wood finish that will

hole and grab some wood finish that will

hole and grab some wood finish that will seal the wood and give this

seal the wood and give this

seal the wood and give this somewhat glossy look when the sides are

somewhat glossy look when the sides are

somewhat glossy look when the sides are all sprayed I’ll prop it up to dry for

all sprayed I’ll prop it up to dry for

all sprayed I’ll prop it up to dry for another couple of hours if this looks

another couple of hours if this looks

another couple of hours if this looks like more work than you want to put into

like more work than you want to put into

like more work than you want to put into this project you could always just grab

this project you could always just grab

this project you could always just grab any old piece of wood and a hammer and

any old piece of wood and a hammer and

any old piece of wood and a hammer and nail it in just about anywhere it’s as

nail it in just about anywhere it’s as

nail it in just about anywhere it’s as easy as that but maybe you don’t have a

easy as that but maybe you don’t have a

easy as that but maybe you don’t have a hammer

hammer

hammer go find a rock just a couple of taps and

go find a rock just a couple of taps and

go find a rock just a couple of taps and you’re ready to go if you don’t have a

you’re ready to go if you don’t have a

you’re ready to go if you don’t have a rock how about an attractive assistant

rock how about an attractive assistant

rock how about an attractive assistant you can use any method you can think of

you can use any method you can think of

you can use any method you can think of as long as your nail is straight up like

as long as your nail is straight up like

as long as your nail is straight up like this alright it looks like the finish is

this alright it looks like the finish is

this alright it looks like the finish is dry and we’ve got the nail set in place

dry and we’ve got the nail set in place

dry and we’ve got the nail set in place now you can challenge your friends to

now you can challenge your friends to

now you can challenge your friends to balance all of the outer nails on the

balance all of the outer nails on the

balance all of the outer nails on the lone inner one all the nails have to

lone inner one all the nails have to

lone inner one all the nails have to balance at the same time and can only

balance at the same time and can only

balance at the same time and can only touch the center nail head I’ve seen

touch the center nail head I’ve seen

touch the center nail head I’ve seen some pretty creative attempts at getting

some pretty creative attempts at getting

some pretty creative attempts at getting this to work

this to work

this to work I say attempts because typically it’s

I say attempts because typically it’s

I say attempts because typically it’s fail after fail after fail when your

fail after fail after fail when your

fail after fail after fail when your player is sufficiently discouraged and

player is sufficiently discouraged and

player is sufficiently discouraged and claims it’s impossible this is where you

claims it’s impossible this is where you

claims it’s impossible this is where you get to show off your brilliance here’s

get to show off your brilliance here’s

get to show off your brilliance here’s the super simple pattern that was

the super simple pattern that was

the super simple pattern that was discovered long long ago and works

discovered long long ago and works

discovered long long ago and works amazingly well lay one nail on the table

amazingly well lay one nail on the table

amazingly well lay one nail on the table and mesh the other nails over top one

and mesh the other nails over top one

and mesh the other nails over top one after the other like this until you have

after the other like this until you have

after the other like this until you have six nails laid out on either side this

six nails laid out on either side this

six nails laid out on either side this last nail goes on top pointing the other

last nail goes on top pointing the other

last nail goes on top pointing the other direction and the pattern is complete to

direction and the pattern is complete to

direction and the pattern is complete to make this effective grab the bottom nail

make this effective grab the bottom nail

make this effective grab the bottom nail on both ends with your middle finger

on both ends with your middle finger

on both ends with your middle finger tips and while lifting slowly use your

tips and while lifting slowly use your

tips and while lifting slowly use your thumbs to hold the top nail down until

thumbs to hold the top nail down until

thumbs to hold the top nail down until all the nail heads catch at this point

all the nail heads catch at this point

all the nail heads catch at this point you can remove your thumbs and place the

you can remove your thumbs and place the

you can remove your thumbs and place the entire structure in position well that

entire structure in position well that

entire structure in position well that was easy

was easy

was easy the center of gravity of the entire unit

the center of gravity of the entire unit

the center of gravity of the entire unit is lower than the balance point making

is lower than the balance point making

is lower than the balance point making this amazingly stable I also discovered

this amazingly stable I also discovered

this amazingly stable I also discovered that the nails can be compacted and even

that the nails can be compacted and even

that the nails can be compacted and even more nails added I just added 9 more

more nails added I just added 9 more

more nails added I just added 9 more nails for a total of 23 and it’s still

nails for a total of 23 and it’s still

nails for a total of 23 and it’s still holding firm I just made another stack

holding firm I just made another stack

holding firm I just made another stack of 22 nails and I’m seeing if I can get

of 22 nails and I’m seeing if I can get

of 22 nails and I’m seeing if I can get them to balance on top a little shifting

them to balance on top a little shifting

them to balance on top a little shifting but they’ve held I’ll take my chances

but they’ve held I’ll take my chances

but they’ve held I’ll take my chances with another group of 22 and now this

with another group of 22 and now this

with another group of 22 and now this structure is up to 67 nails when I try

structure is up to 67 nails when I try

structure is up to 67 nails when I try one more stack of 22 spikes

one more stack of 22 spikes

one more stack of 22 spikes it’s about finished but wait he had

it’s about finished but wait he had

it’s about finished but wait he had actually stayed up well there you have

actually stayed up well there you have

actually stayed up well there you have it

it

it 89 nails balanced on one nail head at

89 nails balanced on one nail head at

89 nails balanced on one nail head at this point the center of gravity is high

this point the center of gravity is high

this point the center of gravity is high and the

and the

and the bass is narrow so it takes mad ninja

bass is narrow so it takes mad ninja

bass is narrow so it takes mad ninja skills to balance anymore I even got

skills to balance anymore I even got

skills to balance anymore I even got this to work with stacks of up to 15

this to work with stacks of up to 15

this to work with stacks of up to 15 matches and even when they were lit on

matches and even when they were lit on

matches and even when they were lit on fire they held their place on top of

fire they held their place on top of

fire they held their place on top of those little matchsticks amazingly well

those little matchsticks amazingly well

those little matchsticks amazingly well how many nails can you get to balance

how many nails can you get to balance

how many nails can you get to balance that’s it for now if you liked this

that’s it for now if you liked this

that’s it for now if you liked this project perhaps you’ll like some of my

project perhaps you’ll like some of my

project perhaps you’ll like some of my others check them out at the king of

others check them out at the king of

others check them out at the king of random calm

[Music]

[Music] you

you

you [Music]