Dads Tool Terror: Make Halloween Props With Stuff in Your Garage

Halloween is looming, but never fear! You can make ghoulish props out of nearly anything in your garage. These creative ideas can transform your front porch into a ghoulish garage or make great props for a murderous mechanic. 

Tool Chests: If you have a portable tool chest, empty it to make room for a spooky surprise: Leave the lid open just a bit with a fake severed arm hanging out, or have a colony of plastic rats take up residence in a drawer. A smaller chest with a handle can be a great costume prop, especially if you can dribble some pretend blood down the sides. 

Chainsaws: Chainsaws are a classic horror prop, and if you follow these important safety rules you can get plenty of screams: 

• Do remove the chain. 

• Don't run with the chainsaw, even after removing the chain. Stand in one place or walk carefully. 

• Do keep plenty of distance between yourself and trick-or-treaters; don't run into a crowd or get too close to anyone. 

You may be able to pull off a similar but subtler scare with a couple of battery-powered drills, but leave out the bits. 

Vises: If you can temporarily move your bench vise to the front porch railing, you can give trick-or-treaters a shock by posing a fake severed head in its grips. A Styrofoam wig head, painted or wearing a mask, makes for a great severed head. You can also use a pumpkin carved with a screaming face. For a portable version that works well for costumes, try a C-clamp instead of a bench vise. 

Spare Parts: Stick a couple of bolts into the sides of your jack-o'-lantern to create Dr. Frankenstein's pumpkin. If you have a mannequin or dummy, you can create a great Frankenstein's lab scene using continuity testers and amp meters for instruments. For front yard cemeteries, scatter an "offering" of hardware in front of a tombstone whose epitaph says He went nuts and then bolted. (Sorry.) 

Bloody Tools: For a gory scene right out of a slasher movie, smear and splatter some fake blood or red washable paint on a few hand tools. Try hammers, handsaws, screwdrivers, or anything else you can picture in a horror flick. Hanging on the walls, they make great decorations for your front porch or a horror-themed Halloween party. Hang a few bloody tools on your tool belt and you have the perfect prop for a really creepy costume, especially if you splatter faux blood on a pair of coveralls to round out the look. 

Note: Safety first! Never leave sharp or dangerous tools within reach of children, and never combine alcohol with potentially dangerous tools—that's good year-round advice. To prevent theft, keep your tools firmly tied down, or stay outside where you can keep a watchful eye on them. And before applying any fake blood or washable paint, make sure it will not damage or permanently stain your tools.