No cemetery is complete without a creepy old grave digger.

Here's a quick and easy way to make your own! 

Needle-nose pliers, heavy-duty snips, hack saw or miter saw, glue gun, duct tape, drill with ½ inch bit.

To get exact measurements for a particular height.  Visit ZombieTronix for help making the correct calculations.

Purchase your PVC connector joints to accommodate the pose you are looking for.  Example:  You may need more 90s or 45s to properly position the grave digger armature.

Create the Armature:

First, you will want to cut out the PVC to the lengths you want them.  I wanted this guy to be tall and very slim, so I made his body a little longer than usual.

I used my own body's measurements to make my cuts, but extended the body length so that he would stand a little taller than me.

Measurements don't have to be exact just close.  When you go to put the clothes on the armature, no one will no any different.

Just reference the picture to the right to see how I used the PVC fittings to create a pose for the armature.

Notice that the PVC reducer is inserted in the neck area.  I used a reducer so that it would fit the ½ inch PVC used in the foam wig head.

Wrap the Frame with the Chicken Wire:

In my opinion even the skinniest of armatures needs some sort of filling to make it look realistic.  I had some chicken wire laying around from another project, so I used it.

Just cut a 4ft x 4ft piece off the roll and wrap it around the mid-section of your armature.

Secure it with floral wire and needle nosed pliers.

Cut holes for attaching the arms:

Using wire cutters, cut the chicken wire back out of the arm holes.

Reference the photo to the right for the exact cut.

Now use the wire cutters to snip a few holes at the legs of the armature.

Next, pull the wire down around the armature legs for attachment.

Bend the chicken wire around the PVC armature at the T of the legs and attach to itself.

This should give you a nice clean pelvis area, and won't hang you up while putting on the cloths.

To make the armature look like a real person, use some extra padding.

I wanted this guy to be extra thin, so I opted for some bubble wrap on the legs and arms.

Sometimes foam pool noodles can give you a good like; however, I wanted the Grave Digger to be skinny.

Use Masking Tape or whatever you have to secure the bubble wrap/padding.

The hands where made as follows:

1. Drill 5 holes in the PVC end cap.

2. Push wires through holes and bend wires snug against back of PVC end cap.

3. Cut vinyl tubing to lengths that will fit over the wire, then bend wire over tubing to secure.

4. Slip Monster Hand over the newly made hand.  Stuff hand with newspaper for filling.

NOTE: The photo far right is for reference only.  I did not attach the hands until I put the cloths on the armature.

1. 2.

3.  4.

1. Hot Glue the eyes in place on under mask.

2. Secure the under mask to the wig head.

3. Hot glue ½ inch PVC in the wig head neck hole.

4. Slip the real mask over the entire head.

3.  4.

Applying the cloths is rather obvious.  You can add what you like.  Just be sure to cover the armature.

I found a nice pair of coveralls and this blue jacket.  It kind of looked the part, so I bought it for cheap.

The hands and head are put on after the cloths.

Next will be the boots detailing a simple way to secure the prop to the ground without any obvious pipes or poles showing.

Take an old pair of boots and drill through the heel of them using a ½ inch drill bit.

Now you can use rebar to secure the armature of the prop in place in your yard.  Just stick the rebar through the boot and hammer it into the ground where you want your Grave Digger to stand.  Next, slide the entire prop armature over the rebar and down into the boots for a great looking prop with no visible bars or stands to see.

OK, what Grave Digger doesn't have an old rusty lantern?  I can't think of any, so I made this quick and easy one shown to the right.

1. Store bought lantern from Walmart.

2. Primed and paint the lantern (remove the glass).

3. Added a small 6 ft.strand orange lights.

4. Reconnected the lights with wire nuts and electrical tape.

1.  2.

3.  4.