Test Tube Rack

$30 - $40 (based on 2020 prices)
Makes one rack

One of the props I planned to make for the mad scientist theme was a test tube rack; however, time constraints prevented it from reaching completion. A few years later, I tasked myself with finishing the project. By this time, I was beginning to experiment with electrics and was able to incorporate lights into the build, which I think makes it even more impressive.

• 3 ½’ of ¾” PVC pipe
• Six ¾” PVC ninety-degree elbow joints
• Four ¾” PVC coupling joints
• Two ¾” PVC tee joints
• One string of white battery-powered LED lights
• Six plastic test tubes with metal lids
• Two feet of steel wire
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat black*
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in metallic silver*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat black*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat brown*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat olive*
• One 8 oz. can of oil-based interior wood stain in Jacobean*
• One 8 oz. can of oil-based interior wood stain in red chestnut*
• One piece of 8” x 11.5” copy paper with biohazard labels printed on it
• At least one tablespoon of dark roasted coffee grounds
• One pan large enough to soak the copy paper
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*

1. Measure, mark, and cut the PVC pipe into the following sections and use sandpaper to clean their edges: one sixteen-inch piece, two nine-inch pieces, and four two-inch pieces. How long and tall you decide to make the rack will dictate the length of the sixteen-inch and nine-inch sections. If you want a shorter proper, you can decrease these measurements or increase them for a larger version. 

2. Use the two nine-inch and four two-inch sections to make the bases, connecting them using the two tee joints and fashioning legs with four of the six ninety-degree elbow joints. To level the prop, line them up to ensure they are the same width and height. 

3. On one of the bases, use a 5/16 bit to make a hole three inches from the top of the tee joint. You want it large enough to easily feed the LED lights through without making it too large. Then, hot glue the lights’ battery pack just below the opening and gently run the lights through the hole. You may need to gradually increase its size if it proves too small at first. 

4. Use a 5/16 bit to create six evenly spaced holes in the sixteen-inch section. This is where the lights will shine through the lids of the test tubes. As with step three, you want the holes large enough to pass the LED lights through, so you may need to widen their openings during step five. 

5. Cut a two-foot section of metal wire, wrap it around the end of the light string, and use it to feed the lights through the sixteen-inch section of PVC pipe. As you do so, use a pair of tweezers to pull the lights through the holes. This will take a lot of patience, so the temperamental haunter may want to do this in stages, working on only one or two lights before taking a break. 

6. Remove the lids from the test tubes and drill a hole in the center of each one with a 13/64 bit. Following this, feed the lights through the lids’ openings and glue everything in place. I used hot glue; however, you can use superglue for a stronger hold, especially if you plan to fill the test tubes with anything heavier than water. 

7. Cover the lights in painter’s tape to protect them from the spray paint and, on a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, build up layers of black and metallic silver spray paint to give the entire rack the look of steel. I found it works best to apply a base coat of black to the entire prop and then add the sliver, working in quick bursts to allow parts of the black to remain visible. You can also touch up portions with additional blasts of black if the silver becomes too heavy.

8. Create washes of brown and olive paint and use them to add a level of grime to the prop, allowing the liquids to settle in the crevices. Depending on your chosen aesthetic, this process can be skipped for a cleaner look.

9. Remove the tape from the lights, glue them in place so they sit below the rims of the lids, and paint the insides black. The black will help darken the interior to improve the light’s reflection.

10. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, paint the test tubes with the wood stain. Apply a thin coat and pat it with paper towels to produce a hazed appearance and brush the edges to create the illusion of grime buildup. Refrain from making the coverage too thick, though, because it can obscure their contents. 

11. Add the coffee to a cup of boiling water. The longer you allow the coffee to brew, the darker the stain. Likewise, greater amounts of coffee will produce a richer stain. Since I wanted irregular spots rather than a unified discoloration, I placed the copy paper on a baking sheet, splashed coffee and grounds onto its surface, allowed the liquid to sit for a few minutes, and then moved it to a space to dry. After this, cut out six of the labels and glue them to the tops of the test tubes as well as the battery pack. 

12. Reattached the test tubes to the prop. If you plan for a permanent display, fill them with specimens and glue the tubes to their lids; otherwise, you can keep them empty and add ingredients during the haunt.

*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.