How to Carve Wooden Guns

Let two kids play out in the yard and it won't be long until they find sticks to pretend to shoot at one another. Carve toy guns from 2-inch- by-6-inch lumber to keep them from poking someone's eye with a stick. Here is how to make guns from pieces of wood.

Things You'll Need

• 2 X 6-inch lumber
• Reference pictures
• Pencil
• Circular saw
• Jig saw
• Electric sander
• Hand grinder and sanding disc (optional)
• Drill (optional)
• Dowels (optional)
• Aluminum wire (optional)
• Fine grit sandpaper
• Paint (optional)

Instructions

1. Find a piece of soft wood like pine that is free from knots or major defects. You may want to choose a harder wood than pine if you need a durable toy gun.

2. Look at reference pictures of the type of gun you want to carve and sketch a rough outline on the piece of wood. Use a pencil and erase if you make mistakes. Don't worry about getting the shape perfect.

3. Use a circular saw to cut straight lines and a jig saw to make curved or tiny cuts. A handsaw works, too, as does a whittling knife, but both take longer than power tools.

4. Smooth the edges with an electric sander or use a hand grinder and sanding disc. This helps prevent splinters while you work.

5. Add the fine details to the gun. You may want to drill holes, add dowels for a barrel or install an aluminum wire trigger and trigger guard. Glue dowels on to make a scope.

6. Give the toy gun a final sanding with fine grit sandpaper. You may want to paint toy guns to distinguish between real guns.

Tips & Warnings

• Stain inexpensive wood to look like expensive woods like cherry or oak.

• Use proper safety when handling power tools or saws.