Tinker Crate November 2020 Review “Automaton” + 50% Off Coupon

Today, we are reviewing Tinker Crate by KiwiCo! Subboxy paid for this box.

Here's a quick peek at all of the materials we got in the Wooden Automaton box!

Tinker Crate comes with a “blueprint” with step-by-step instructions on how to assemble each product.

I like how the instructions are illustrated and in color!

This Wooden Automaton creates a contraption that will make balls climb stairs with the turn of a crank! The finished project, per the blueprint, is shown below.

Our Assembly of the Wooden Automaton

My 9-year old son started by assembling the wooden pieces that simply slotted together. Here he is inserting cardboard pieces (that were already pre-cut) into the Automaton.

The crank is an important part of the Automaton, and this took some help from me to assemble, only because an extra set of hands was needed.

The “engine” of the Automaton is shown below. It is a set of alternating circles that will help push the “stairs” up and down with the turn of the crank. I loved seeing my son try to figure out how all of this would work!

For the stairs, he had to arrange the wooden blocks by height in descending order. This wasn't as easy as you would think, as the wooden blocks were slanted on one end. But he figured it out!

Below, he's placing the wooden blocks into the Automaton to create the “stairs”.

Below, you can see the “stairs” that will help assist the balls up the Automaton.

You can see an shelf was added to the right of the Automaton. This shelf will take the balls that fall off the top of the Automaton and will guide them back down to the bottom of the stairs.

With a turn of the crank, the ball started climbing up the stairs!

Below, you can see the shelf in action as the first ball fell of the top of the stairs – as designed!

I took a video so you can see how cool this Automaton really is!

In Summary

My 9-year old son really loved making Tinker Crate's Wooden Automaton! I loved watching and helping him build the contraption – and he only needed my assistance for a little bit. I could see the gears turning in his head on how the Automaton really worked, and he even had ideas on how to improve it! He is definitely an inventor – he loves making his own cardboard contraptions – so this Tinker Crate box was perfect for him!

My son played with this Automaton for quite a while after assembling it, and continues to play with it every day. It is a bit mesmerizing to watch balls climb up and down the stairs of this Automaton!

TinkerCrate Deals

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To get these KiwiCo deals, just use this link and coupon code MERRY.

Tinker Crate

Tinker Crate is a STEM subscription box for kids ages 9-16+. Each month, you'll get all the materials and step-by-step instructions you need to build a creative, innovative STEM project. You'll also get the Tinker Zine magazine that will be filled with additional science content and activities.

Tinker Crate is great for kids who aspire to be scientists, engineers, and innovators!

Save 30% off your first month of any KiwiCo line with this link and coupon code SHARE30.

$19.95

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