Simple to make but powerful enough to break glass and blast darts into concrete! In this project we’re making a custom laser-guided blowgun that not only looks cool but adds another dimension to your backyard endeavors.
29
LASER-ASSISTED BLOWGUN
SAFETY KEY:
+ Adult supervision + Open flame + Sharp projectiles
+ Safety shades + Danger: Concerned neighbor warning
+ Check legalities
SKILL LEVEL:
EASY
INTERMEDIATE
ADVANCED
APPROXIMATE TIME:
30 minutes
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
+ 2-foot length of ½ -inch PVC pipe (Schedule 40)
+ Female reducing adapter (Schedule 40, ½ inch × ¾ inch)
+ Zip ties
+ Laser pointer
+ 2 × 2-inch sticky notes
+ Paper party hat
+ Scotch tape
+ Hot glue gun
+ Blue tack adhesive putty
+ Sharpie
OPTIONAL:
+ #16 and #18 wire nails
+ Duct tape
+ Electrical tape
+ ½-inch-thick foam pipe insulation
LET’S BEGIN
MAKE THE DARTS
1. Wrap the sticky note around the tip of the party hat to form a pointed cone, and secure with Scotch tape.
HELPFUL HINT: Use two small pieces of tape about one inch each and be careful you don’t tape your paper dart to the hat.
2. Push the tip of the dart into the ½-inch PVC tube and give it a little twist. The pressure will leave an indentation right where the dart needs to be cut to fit inside the tube. Use scissors to carefully trim your dart along the line.
3. In order for your darts to fly straight, you’ll need to add some weight to the tips. Try squirting a little hot glue inside the cones until they’re about a third of the way full, or use a screwdriver to shove a small piece of adhesive putty down into the tip.
4. Now you’ve got a lineup of mini darts that should fit perfectly inside the barrel and fly impressively straight.
PRO TIP: You can take it one step further and transform your darts into high-speed nail darts. Simply push a nail through the cones until the heads catch on the inside. Then add a dab of hot glue on the inside to make it more durable.
HELPFUL HINT: Feel free to experiment with different kinds of heads, weights, and lengths. Try using #16 and #18 wire nails because they are relatively lightweight and have a nice flat head on top. Smaller darts will be easier to shoot and fly faster, while heavier darts will go slower but will penetrate deeper and do more damage.
ASSEMBLE YOUR BLOWGUN
1. Connect the reducing adapter to your half-inch PVC pipe, and tap gently. Just like that, you have a super-simple blowgun that can be used right away!
CUSTOMIZE YOUR BLOWGUN WITH COLOR AND LASERS
1. Get a roll of duct tape with a pattern you like, and lay out a strip on the table with the sticky side facing up.
2. Position your pipe lengthwise in the center of the strip and gently rock it back from side to side so the tape wraps itself around the tube. Use a second piece of tape on the other side to cover any gaps.
PRO TIP: Use electrical tape around the tip of the barrel and the mouthpiece to cover up any rough edges, and give your blowgun a clean, finished look.
STEP UP YOUR GAME: Take it to the next level by adding a laser sight! Hot-glue a dollar-store laser about eight and a half inches from the end of the barrel. Then hold it in place with two zip ties.
ONE STEP FURTHER
You’ve got a custom laser blowgun, an arsenal of darts, and everything you need to begin target practice. But why not take it to new heights by building an adjustable scope and a quiver?
1. Cut off a three-inch length of PVC, and buy a more powerful laser.
HELPFUL HINT: You can find one in the pet section of the local grocery store.
2. Cut a hole in the top of the PVC so you have access to the button. Place the laser inside and secure on either end by driving four small screws into each end. Then secure it to the blowgun with zip ties.
PRO TIP: You can calibrate your scope by securing the blowgun in place with something like a bench vise, taking a shot, and adjusting the screws on the casing until the laser points to the exact spot where the dart hit.
3. To form a quiver, cut two ¾-inch-wide pieces off the end of your foam pipe insulation.
4. Wrap the outsides of the disc with electrical tape, and color the rest of the foam with black marker, just for looks.
5. Slide the foam discs onto the blowgun barrel. Use a lighter to heat the tip of a Phillips-head screwdriver for about twenty seconds. Then make eight evenly spaced holes in the foam disc on the top and slide in the darts.
This quiver allows your darts to slide into place, and helps prevent the tips from poking out.
FINISHED! LET’S PLAY
These simple darts will penetrate dartboards, wooden posts, tree trunks, and even cinder blocks! With some practice you should be able to hit a target from one hundred feet away.
For a safer kind of ammo, try mini marshmallows. They work perfectly!
WARNING:
Even though they’re made of household materials, these darts pack a punch. Never shoot at people, animals, or property that isn’t yours.
FROM TRASH TO ARSENAL TREASURE: This project came to be by simply taking a plastic pipe out of the garbage and imagining what its use for fun could be. Eventually it became an all-encompassing dart gun that fires at high velocity! You never know when your junk will become your next favorite desktop weapon. There’s so much rubble just waiting to be developed into the next cool device.
FUN FACT: When you think of laser tag, images of preteens running around may come to mind. However, the origin of this game is way more serious: it was created in the 1970s for US Army soldiers to train for combat in a nonlethal way.