How to Build a Toy Gun
You will be able to quickly assemble a simple toy guy that accurately launches rubber bands around the room. Put your gun together in just a few minutes and test your skills on some empty paper cups or other suitable targets. You will have fun using your new toy rubber band gun and showing it off to friends.
Things You'll Need
- Wood file
- 12-inch long broomstick or wooden dowel
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- One spring-loaded clothespin
- Rubber bands
Instructions
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1
Carve a v-shaped notch with a wood file into one end of the dowel approximately twice the width of the rubber bands you plan to shoot.
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2
Test the depth of the notch by inserting one end of a rubber band into it and stretching it back to the other end of the dowel. If the band does not slip out of the notch, you are ready to move on to sanding.
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3
Use sandpaper to smooth the entire wooden dowel. Round off any edges and remove jagged pieces that could create splinters. The toy gun will be more comfortable in your hand and look better with a smoothly sanded finish.
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4
Affix a spring-loaded clothespin to the un-notched end of the dowel with a rubber band. Face the closed end of the clothespin toward the notched end and wrap the rubber band around it until it is tightly secured.
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5
Load your toy gun by running a rubber band through the notch and stretching it back into the mouth of the opened clothespin. Close the pin onto the rubber band to hold the shot in place until it's ready to be fired.
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6
Extend your arm to aim the loaded toy gun and use the clothespin as a site to line up your shot for optimum accuracy. With your fingers wrapped around the dowel and your thumb on the top of the clothespin, press down slowly to release the shot.
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Tips & Warnings
Decorate your toy gun with wood-friendly paints or permanent markers to personalize it. Set up a firing range by cutting holes of different sizes in paper plates and taping them upright to the edge of a table. Write higher scores next to the smaller holes and lower scores next to the bigger holes. Shoot 10 rubber bands and tally your score. Invite friends to make their own versions of the toy gun for large rubber band gun battles. Make sure everyone wears eye protection when playing so there are no serious injuries.
Never aim your loaded toy rubber band gun at unprotected eyes or faces even as a joke. As the clothespin is used repeatedly to release rubber bands, the spring will lose its strength and may shoot without you intending for it to fire. Replace the clothespin regularly on a well-used toy gun to reduce the incidence of misfire.
