DIY Rubber Band Guns

A ball of ammunition...who would have thought?

Rubber band guns are a great way to teach children the respect a firearm deserves without actually having to put a real one in their hands. Popular designs for rubber band guns include single shot, double-barreled, or fully-automatic weapons capable of slinging rubber projectiles at impressive speed and accuracy. Luckily, these clever, entertaining toys can be created at home, in their simplest one-shot form, with basic tools and materials and in a very short time period.

Things You'll Need

• 12-inch by 6-inch by 4-inch wood plank
• Black marker
• Wood saw
• Sandpaper
• Clothespin
• Hot glue
• Rubber bands

Instructions

1. Trace a right angle measuring 10-inches long and 5-inches wide on the wood with the black marker. Make smaller 90-degree right angles at either end, each 2-inches long, and connect them with an arcing line to form the underside of the pistol.

2. Cut out your design with the wood saw. Be careful to stay outside the black marker lines.

3. Sand down the edges of the pistol with the sandpaper to remove any splinters or uneven edges.

4. Saw a small horizontal line into the flat surface on the front of the gun, where a real gun barrel's opening would be.

5. Hot glue the clothespin mouth-up at the opposite handle-end of the pistol. The pinching mouth of the clothespin should be positioned just below the edge of the top side of the gun.

6. Stretch a rubber band from the tip of the gun (wedged into the cleft you sawed there) to the back of the pistol. Open the clothespin and shut it on the other end of the rubber band.

7. Take the pistol into your dominant hand and site your target down the flat top of the gun. Squeeze your hand to open the clothes pin, releasing your rubbery bullet.

Tips & Warnings

• Although they are toys, rubber band guns are still capable of doing damage to sensitive areas, like eyes. Be cautious.

References

• Rubber band Guns
• Demo: Rubber Band Gun
• Backyard Artillery: Rubber Band Shooter Kit