How to Make a Toy Rifle Gun
Making a child his own toy rifle allows him the job of having a toy made specifically by a parent especially for him. Incorrectly crafting the toy rifle can create something not very much fun to play with. Worse, if you use too much precision, the toy might look too real and create embarrassing or harmful situations. Done correctly, you can build a toy rifle that works like it should -- in conjunction with a child's imagination in any imaginary shooting games.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 plank of wood, 2-inch-by-48-inch
- Masking tape
- Permanent marker
- Newspaper
- Any picture of a rifle
- Scissors
- Wood clamps
- Work table
- Jigsaw
- Belt sander
- Orange lead-free spray paint
- Power drill
- 1/4-inch drill bit
- 1/4-inch round sander extension
Instructions
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1
Wrap the 2-inch-by-48-inch plank of wood with the newspaper, holding it in place with a couple strips of masking tape.
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2
Draw a rough outline of a rifle using the picture of a rifle as a reference and the permanent marker to make the general outlines of the stock, the trigger area, the forearm and the barrel.
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3
Cut out the newspaper outline stencil using the scissors.
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4
Trace the rifle outline onto the wood using the permanent marker.
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5
Clamp the plank of wood onto your work table.
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6
Cut the rough shape of the toy rifle using the jigsaw.
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7
Clamp the rough, cut-out shape of the toy rifle to the table.
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8
Sand the rifle into a smooth shape using the belt sander.
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9
Drill a hole into the trigger section using the power drill fitted with the 1/4-inch drill bit.
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10
Cut a hole large enough for a child's finger using the jigsaw.
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11
Sand the trigger hole using the power drill fitted with the 1/4-inch round sander extension.
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12
Paint the rifle with orange lead-free spray paint. Any bright color will work to ensure adults do not confuse it with a real rifle. Make sure the paint dries for 24 to 48 hours before you allow children to play with it.
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Tips & Warnings
Many wood rifles come with an actual metal barrel. Do not use a metal barrel for toy guns because the barrel can make it seem real. A toy rifle should approximate the shape of the rifle. It should create the idea of a rifle to a child. A rifle that too closely resembles a real rifle through exact measurements or a barrel does not make a better toy for an imaginative child. Instead, it creates unnecessary risk.
