PVC Pipe Gun

PVC Pipe Gun

Can we make a simple fun spear gun from a PVC pipe? Let's find out!



WARNING! APPROPRIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN USING AND MAKING THIS ITEM. I ACCEPT NO LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY YOU MAY CAUSE WHEN MAKING OR USING THIS ITEM. STAY SAFE!

Materials needed:

• Plastic overflow tube
• Plastic coupling
• Rubber Band
• Wooden Dowels (6mm x 30cm)
• Paper Clip

Tools Needed:

• Scissors
• Pencil Sharpener
• Junior Hacksaw 

(Optional)

• Plastic Elbow
• Plastic Tee
• 7mm Drill bit
• Drill

 

Prepare the Pipe

Start by cutting a piece of pipe slightly longer than your hand (mine was approx 13cm), making sure to remove any burred edges.

Next we are going to add a stopper that we’re going to make from a paper clip. We’ll start by putting four small holes in one end of the pipe. You can do this by using a small drill bit or by heating up a paper clip to burn through a hole.

Put the four holes across from each other. If you slightly stagger the holes then it will accept wider ammo. Now simply feed your paper clip through the holes until it looks like mine.

Band Up

 

Select your rubber band to use, whether your cutting it from a strip or the tradition loop type.

Next feed your rubber band over the stop by putting the two ends through the two gaps. You should end up with the rubber wrapped around the paper clip, with other two ends of the band dangling free from the pipe. You can pull the paper clip tight to the pipe if you haven’t already and bend the ends out of the way. Now simply take a coupling and add it to the pipe trapping the ends of the rubber band.

Ammunition

Now for the ammo I'm going to use a small wooden dowel (6mm in diameter by 30cm in length) sharpened with a pencil sharpener. To load the weapon we feed the spear into the pipe and onto the rubber pushing it out the back and then pinching with our finger and thumb.

Now your ready to test it out.

Conclusion

The coupling fitting offers a great solution to attaching the band with no extra requirements for fixing. But the wide hole affects the accuracy, to improve accuracy you could use an elbow or tee fitting. Simply drill a hole in the centre (7mm in diameter) of either fitting as shown and it will act as a guide.

These are attached the same way as the coupling, but are not as powerful because you can't pull the band back as far. If you pull the band back too far the dowel may get lodged in the pipe.

IF THAT IS THE CASE DO NOT LOOK DOWN THE BARREL AS YOU MAY ACCIDENTALLY FIRE IT CAUSING YOU INJURY. Instead hold it as normal and feed it back through the hole.

Remember stay safe and have fun.