This is my miniature Guillotine build. This creepy little device was requested so here it is. You can find the build process in the description of the video as well as on this page.
Miniature Guillotine build
A miniature Guillotine that works, but is relatively safe to use. I had to think about this one but here are the safety measures I built in.
- The power for this comes from an elastic band. The elastic band slips above the middle section of the blade to pull it downwards and if you use a band that is too big (strong) it fouls the whole mechanism and the blade no longer works.
- The trigger is manual so no automation. That stops accidental triggering.
- The blade only looks sharp. That means it will chop brittle items or very soft things.
As long as the the three things above are not deliberately changed the mini guillotine can not cause serious harm. But that does not mean you should put them anywhere near animals or children.
Mini Guillotine build instructions
First I took some scrap hard wood and cut a groove for the chopper rails 3mm deep, 3mm wide.
Next I cut the wooden rails 8mm square and sanded it to 7mm. Two at 100mm long each. The base is 3 or 4mm thick 55 x 95mm. The plank design is unnecessary but makes it look old fashioned. I have it on the template at the bottom of the page.
The two small neck holders are 22mm high and 25mm wide, a 16mm hole is cut in a central position. The larger, thicker one is 22mm high and 38mm wide with a 16mm hole as above. The smaller one is sanded to 2mm thickness and the other 5mm with cut outs as in the video. The small one of these is glued into place, spray on activator makes it dry quick.
The side rails are now glued and screwed to the base with m1 or m1.2 x 6mm screws. If screws are not used the impact of the blade damages the model. 1.5 or 2mm holes are then drilled for the elastic bands either side of the inner blade rails.
Alternatively you can build the blade first, then make the rails fit the blade.
The 3 blade components of the guillotine are marked onto some 0.8mm steel from the template and cut out. It’s important the thickness of 3 layers of the steel is not more that the width of the groove in the wooden rails.
I age the two outside components of the blade and polish the inner just for looks, this is not needed. 1mm holes are drilled and I use 1mm panel pins to rivet it together. The blade should be left blunt, it just needs to looks sharp.
Bracing is made for extra strength and looks but may not be necessary for function. 4mm square with 45 degree cuts.
The top block is now made 52 x 12mm, and a 4mm channel is drilled out between the uprights. A 1mm trigger hole is drilled in where it aligns with the hole in the blade. It screws to the top with m1x6mm screws that are countersunk.
I cut and tie a standard stationary elastic band into place, it cannot escape because of the knots in the base. When the elastic is stretched it pops into the groove between the two outer parts of the blade, and above the middle chopping blade. If the elastic is too thick it fouls the inside of the wooden rails and the guillotine will not work. There also needs to be a slight tension so the blade remains at the bottom of the model.
The final neck holder is screwed into place, same screws. I decorated it with a Dremel and a diamond tip, then varnished it. Ageing was done with a brown Acrylic paint and water mix, allowed to dry a little and wiped off. I did the same with white Acrylic, allowed it to dry then buffed it with fine wire wool.
Miniature Guillotine Template
This is the Template or plan for the miniature guillotine. By downloading this you accept all responsibility for building and using it. This is the PDF version and below is the JPG download. Check any measurements when printed.
The above project is aimed at adults for education and entertainment purposes only, not to replicate. Anyone doing so takes full responsibility for their own actions.