How to Test the First Body Contact for Circuit Bending

Circuit bending is a popular hobby that includes "bending," or short circuiting, an electronic toy or instrument to utilize the circuit board to create new and strange sounds controlled by additional switches you install. You can also install audio jacks to allow you to run the toy to an amplifier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Electronic toy
• Heat-resistant surface
• Jewelers screwdrivers
• Batteries
• Metal tacks
• Drill
• Drill bits
• Tape
• Wire
• Wire cutters/strippers
• Soldering iron
• Solder

1. Decide on the electronic toy you are going to bend and set up your work station. This should include a heat-resistant surface. If you do not have a heat-resistant surface, purchase a heat-resistant mat from a hardware, home improvement or craft store.
2. Gather the other tools you will need. You may find along the way you need to add tools to your circuit bending kit, such as needle-nose pliers or other handy items.
3. Explore the circuit board with the alligator clips to find different bends you can create and attach to installed switches, buttons and body contacts. Once you have found a bend to use, install the switch, then decide how the wire is going to connect the two.
4. Install a body contact by drilling a pilot hole and soldering a small metal tack in that place. Connect the back of the tack to the place on the board that will become common ground, then install another body contact to a bend you like.
5. Test the body contact by turning the toy on and moistening your fingers and touching both of the body contacts at the same time.