DIY iTouch Stylus

A stylus that works on the iPod touch will also work on the iPhone and iPad.

The iTouch -- officially known as the iPod touch -- uses a touchscreen technology that responds to bio-electrical contact with your finger. This type of touchscreen technology does not respond to inert material such as the plastic or metal used in typical touchscreen styluses. To create your own iPod touch stylus, a material must be used that exhibits similar properties to your finger so its movements can be detected by the device. An organic kitchen sponge provides these properties, while also protecting your screen from scratches due to the soft material.

Things You'll Need

• Organic kitchen sponge
• Drinking straw
• Wooden chopstick
• 12-inch length of thin copper wire
• Scissors
• Sticky tape

Instructions

1. Cut a rectangle of kitchen sponge that is 1 inch wide, 1 inch deep and 2 inches long.

2. Roll the sponge along the 2 inch length, creating a a tight cylindrical shape that is 1 inch long. The diameter of the cylinder should be the same as that of the drinking straw.

3. Wind the thin copper wire around half of the sponge cylinder to help it keep its shape. Leave approximately 6 inches of wire free.

4. Insert the sponge cylinder into the drinking straw, leaving approximately a quarter of an inch protruding from the end. The free length of wire should also protrude from the end of the straw.

5. Insert the wooden chopstick into the other end of the straw and secure it in place using the sticky tape. This makes the stylus rigid, while the straw is used to hold the sponge.

6. Wind the free length of copper wire around the length of the drinking straw. It should be wound tightly, though the spiral can be wide. Secure the wire in place using a piece of sticky tape. The stylus is now ready to use on the iPod touch.

Tips & Warnings

• Test your kitchen sponge on the touchscreen before cutting it to make sure the iPod touch can detect it. You may have to experiment with different types and brands of sponge to find one that is suitably responsive.

• The wire acts as a conductor between your finger and the sponge to improve the performance of the stylus. If your type of sponge is particularly responsive you may not need the wire.

• If you can find a rigid drinking straw, you do not need to use a chopstick insert.

References

• FingerPainted.it: Building Your Own Stylus For the iPad, Painter Style