Building a working machine basically from scratch is an awesome feeling—particularly when you can use that machine to make gorgeous spin art.

Tinker Crate‘s latest subscription box allowed us to do exactly that. Their monthly boxes cost anywhere from $16.95 to $19.95 per month depending on the length of your subscription, and each crate comes packed with everything you need to execute a hands-on STEM project.

This particular box included the parts to make a spin art machine.

Tinker Crate spin art machine items

While making a spin art machine from the raw materials may sound like a stretch, it actually wasn’t too complicated. They even have a video tutorial, in addition to a blueprint instruction manual, that lays out the whole process.

To start, we simply taped up any gaps in the bottom of the box (to avoid making a mess) and installed a tiny motor on the bottom of the box using a guide and some double-sided sticky foam. Another couple of pieces of foam secured the motor’s wires to the side of the box.

Tinker Crate spin art machine motor

Next, we stuck a few more pieces of sticky foam to a round wooden circle, as well as a gear to the bottom, securing it to the motor.

Tinker crate spin art machine wheel

Next was the tricky part—which wasn’t even that tricky—the electronics. Using a tiny breadboard, we used three resistors to connect three columns on the breadboard, stuck the breadboard and battery pack onto the breadboard mount and stuck it to the front of the box. Next, we had to cut off a portion of the cardboard box so the breadboard could close fully, and connected the wires.

Tinker crate spin art machine battery and bread board

After putting the splash guard on, the spin art machine was ready to go.

Tinker crate spin art machine complete

Placing a square sheet of white paper in between the grooves made by the red foam pieces, we turned the machine on and started dripping drops of yellow, blue, green and orange paint.

Tinker Crate spin art machine in motion

By moving one wire from the 1 column to the 3 and 5 columns, we also discovered we could slow the movement of the machine—but of course, the fastest settings gave us the coolest results. At the end of our first round, we liked the art but thought we could do even better.

Tinker Crate spin art machine piece 1

That’s more like it!

Tinker Crate spin art machine piece 2

We loved this Tinker Crate because it was easy to put together with really impressive results. Better yet, this is a machine that we’ll be able to use again and again whenever we get the urge to create some quick, cute art.

Tinker Crate spin art and paint pens

The experience leaves us excited to get tinkering again next month.

Looking for a less technical, more artsy, project to take on every month? Click HERE for our review of the art-focused Doodle Crate.

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