MIT graduates recreate nacho fountain from Talladega Nights

This contraption doesn't look as slick as a PS3 bbq, nor is it an ideal option for gamer sustenance, but it sure packs a punch for true nacho fanboys. Chris Vogt and Schuyler Senft-Grupp, two MIT Engineering alums, fulfilled a "mission from the Nacho Gods," to build "the beast," which was directly inspired by a nacho fountain seen in Talladega NIghts. All it took was 4 gallons of water, 6 feet of copper tube, 1 plumber's torch, 4 hose clamps, 4 plastic bowls, 1 aluminum water heater drip pan, 1 emergency drill pump, 1 power drill, various PVC bits, some string, 2 heating plates, 1 wooden spoon, several bags of chips, and of course, 6 gallons of cheese. Three days and six hours later, "the beast" came to life, overflowing with nacho goodness for Vogt, Senft-Grupp, and a posse of fellow nacho-lovers to worship / devour.

[o29 @ Mar 6th 2007 8:24PM]

I'm not sure if that's a brilliant display of ingenuity or a terrible indication of society's declination.

I do like nachoes, though, so I'll call it brilliant.

[Roberto @ Mar 6th 2007 8:55PM]

MIT finally jumped the shark.

[steve @ Mar 6th 2007 9:05PM]

salsas better.....
but hey cheese is cool too
and i need to get one of those for my room
then i can be the ultimate gluton

[The Downer @ Mar 6th 2007 9:17PM]

It isn't mission accomplished until they get six different kinds of cheese to cascade down like a waterfall.

[Mike @ Mar 7th 2007 10:09AM]

its not the fountain for talladega nights unless it has six types of cheese. this article is crap.

[fenix @ Mar 6th 2007 9:18PM]

Whether or not you like nachos, that thing looks incredibly nasty.

[eric @ Mar 6th 2007 9:27PM]

This isn't all that new. Most good chocolate fountains will handle nacho cheese, which has been done a number of times.

[g_stewart @ Mar 6th 2007 9:43PM]

Wait, bunch of guys from MIT cover some household junk with cheese and it makes front page of Engadget? WTF?

Is this the equivalent of technology elitism, if anyone other than MIT students had done this and posted pictures would anyone really give a #$%^?

[k0a10 @ Mar 6th 2007 10:37PM]

It would be better if they could work a cow into the equation.

And defecation.

[straycat5150 @ Mar 6th 2007 11:05PM]

I'm a bit worried. Usually you hear something like, "MIT students have found a way to harness the power of flatulence"...or something groundbreaking like that.

This is nothing more than some sort of high school stoner contraption. Yes, I think its funny, but I don't go to MIT.

Let's raise the bar a bit people. You're supposed to be our best and brightest.

[Ben @ Mar 6th 2007 11:16PM]

This will be the new "must have" for a white-trash wedding.

[Pat @ Mar 6th 2007 11:20PM]

3 days 6 hours later. Give me one good day and I would be able to build this and make myself sick from nachos.

[E @ Mar 7th 2007 8:05AM]

To Pat: Ok, take a day, do it, document it and post it so the world can see how much better you are.

Do you idiots have anything better to do than down every post here on Engadget? "terrible indication of society's declination"...oh STFU.

As for the "technical" fools with the "gallons and cheese don't go together"....is Nacho Cheese usually hard? NO, it's usually somewhat liquid, you warm it up and it gets even more liquid. Get a life you fools.

[Sam @ Mar 6th 2007 11:31PM]

I think this was an expose on the real talent and level of intelligence reigning on at MIT. Its a scoop.
They would have done good to sway the crowd from the actual deed by swinging in words such DDR, processors, bill gates, speed and research, then the whole thing would have tasted slightly better.

It would have even helped the engadget readers to digest such exposes. And see them for what it really is.

[Matt @ Mar 6th 2007 11:34PM]

MIT is just like any other school, except all the rich parents.

Meh, how did they do it without some kind of pump? Or did you forget that gravity makes things fall not rise.

[Pat @ Mar 7th 2007 12:09AM]

1 emergency drill pump, 1 power drill. There is your answer Matt. Very "ghetto rigged" setup but whatever, all they are doing is moving some cheese.

[Brett Biba @ Mar 7th 2007 1:39AM]

I don't know which is worse the fact someone created this, or the fact that someone actually owns the domain www.ilovenachocheese.com that it came from.

[Dave @ Mar 7th 2007 1:40AM]

from chocofountains dot com

"The Chocolate Fountain not only is perfect for different flavors of chocolate (dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, etc.) it also works great as a caramel fountain, cheese fondue fountain, or even a BBQ fountain...the options are almost endless!"

that thing in the picture is barftastic, MIT must suck.

[David @ Mar 7th 2007 4:12AM]

Any cheese you can measure by the gallon is not cheese.

[dan @ Mar 7th 2007 4:49AM]

So, the parents are thinking... "I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to send my child to receive good education, and he's building a... what? Fountain of cheese? That's it, my daughter's going to a community college."

@David: You're right, "gallon" & "cheese" are always a bad combination of words. I don't think this device will work as well with a wheel of artisanal gruyere, though.

[o29 @ Mar 7th 2007 10:16AM]

So you actually think that I believe that a few MIT students making a nacho fountain is a serious indication that society is falling apart?

Hmm...

[What the... @ Mar 7th 2007 11:54AM]

I'm sorry everyone thinks your nacho cheese fountain is stupid.

BTW, quit wasting your parents money.

[Cory @ Mar 7th 2007 8:49AM]

They don't have one picture where the damn thing is actually running. Plus the bowls are all skewed, which wouldn't give you that nice round cascade, just a series of pours. It all looks like aftermath of a failed project to me. Not the usual quality you get from either MIT or Engadget.

[KR @ Mar 7th 2007 8:51AM]

What do you call cheese that isn't yours?

Nacho cheese!

[juztin @ Mar 7th 2007 8:58AM]

Japanese students are making stair climbing robots...while in the U.S., MIT GRADUATES are making nacho cheese fountains.

[PEZ @ Mar 7th 2007 9:14AM]

I wanna contest for the worlds biggest dorito.

[Kyle @ Mar 7th 2007 1:15PM]

Wow are you serious... MIT graduates???? An elementary school kid could do this, why is this even news?!

[chris @ Mar 7th 2007 2:51PM]

Disgusting.

[navstar @ Mar 7th 2007 3:35PM]

Yeah, why didn't use a standard screw impeller used in chocolate foundtains?

[Doug Wright @ Mar 7th 2007 5:09PM]

Has anyone verified that this thing really works? Somehow, it just looks like a hoax to me.

[Fred @ Mar 7th 2007 5:26PM]

What's the problem about making a cheese fountain? they need to be serious every time? just because they are from MIT they need to make robots or solve your problems everyday? nah, they can make a cheese fountain and eat nacho for weeks and get back solving your problems. The thing is, you guys cant have fun in your jobs, so you think no one can, just give a break, take a joke, have fun sometimes...

[john @ Mar 8th 2007 6:40AM]

I rather enjoyed the posting, thanks Engadget. I found it heartwarming that MIT students watched, and were "inspired by" Talladega Nights. This shows that geeks may finally have shed their former image. And, who cares if a chocolate fountain could handle it? These guys built it homebrew-style -- that should make their tech model railroad club ancestors proud.

[Slam254 @ Mar 27th 2007 12:02AM]

McGuiver would be proud.