create a powerful dart from a BIC mechanical pencil. easy to do and takes less than five minutes!!!

WARNING: THIS INSTRUCTABLE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. DO NOT POINT AT ANYTHING YOU DO NOT INTEND TO PUNCTURE! (SUCH AS: EYES, SKIN, FURNITURE, ANIMALS OR SMALL CHILDREN)

Step 1: MATERIALS

Again I feel the need to point out how potentially dangerous this Instructable can potentially be...

WARNING: THIS INSTRUCTABLE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. DO NOT POINT AT ANYTHING YOU DO NOT INTEND TO PUNCTURE! (SUCH AS: EYES, SKIN, FURNITURE, ANIMALS OR SMALL CHILDREN)

Okay. To start this Instructable you will need the following items:

-BIC mechanical pencil
-Knife
-Paper clip or safety pin or any other thin, sharp, lightweight object
-Tape (optional)

Step 2: REMOVE TOP PART OF PEN

Take the knife and use it to pry the top portion of the mechanical pencil. (SEE PICTURE)

This shouldn't take much effort. Be careful not to pry too hard or you may break the plastic body of the pencil. You can take this time to clean out the pencil's interior of lead and remove the eraser.

Keep the eraser for later! you can use it as a stopper for the end of the pencil to keep everything together.

Step 3: TAKE THE PENCIL APART

Next we need to take the cylindrical black piece (SEE PIC) off so we can remove the center part of the pencil. Take out the center piece...

Step 4: CUTTING OUR PARTS TO FIT

.... and cut it in half. I usually cut it just in front of the holes in the middle. Don't push too hard! If you bend the plastic out of shape it most likely will not fit the tube anymore! Keep in mind that the shorter you cut it the lighter it will be. This will cause it to launch faster and further but will give you less accuracy and because it will weigh less it will not have as much force behind it.... meaning it will do less damage.

Also at this time cut / break your paper clip to be slightly shorter than the center piece.

Step 5: INSERT THE DART

We have now reached the point where we get to put it all together. Push the paper clip in through the top of the dart at least 1/2 to 3/4 of the way.

Now we can load the dart, take a big breath and shoot our homemade contraption at whatever we choose.

WARNING: THIS INSTRUCTABLE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. DO NOT POINT AT ANYTHING YOU DO NOT INTEND TO PUNCTURE! (SUCH AS: EYES, SKIN, FURNITURE, ANIMALS OR SMALL CHILDREN)

Step 6: MAKE DART STRONGER (OPTIONAL)

Use your tape to hold the paper clip in place. Wrap it around 2x MAXIMUM on the front part of the dart! If you overdo it with the tape your dart will be too thick and will not work in the tube!

Step 7: ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES....

Just to prove a point and show the dangers of this homemade weapon I modified it slightly and from five feet away shot a dart through 1/4 inch cardboard. I modified the tube to be longer in order to give me more accuracy and power and found a sharper tip. THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULDN'T SHOOT ANYBODY WITH YOUR DARTS!!!