Cheap pocket sized iPhone/iPod Touch stylus

The first day I got my iPod Touch, I noticed that it would only respond to bare skin. I thought that was pretty cool, but soon after I wanted to be able to use a stylus. I found out that it takes something that generates energy to use the iPhone touch screen. You could just use tinfoil, becuase your energy travels through it to the device, but I didn't want to scratch the screen of my iPod touch. After some more research, I decided to create my own stylus. In this instructable, you will learn how to make a VERY CHEAP, VERY EFFECTIVE iPhone/iPod touch stylus.
(I beleive instructables user flyingpotato has made an iphone stylus, and i give him credit for that, but mine has a q-tip in it so it doesn't scratch the screen)

Step 1: Materials

All you will need for this instructable is a q-tip,
a 2.5 x 7 inch peice of tinfoil, and a drop of water.

Comments

[phreddd]

Spit actually works with this... who knew?

[TheRealPeregrinus]

Elegant solution. Works great. Going to use this until I find a soft conductive material I won't have to wet.

[NE patsrock]

very cool dude

[jkolins]

what "erks" me is the terminology. Seems as though INSTRUCTABLE can get the NYT attention. I can't. TOUCH screen on the I-Pad or DROID phone is wrong!!!!! it is a capacity screen. If you are in a cold climite and want to access your gaget, you are screwed, without taking off your gloves. NOT SO with a GARMIN GPS unit...thank G--. The Garmin  is a true TOUCH SCREEN.
 CAN YOU GET THAT MESSAGE OUT TO THE WORLD???
thanks for listening,
Jerry

[Glaceon]

Isn't it like the Nintendo DS, in the sense that it's pressure-sensitive? And you don't have to yell. We can all hear (well, SEE) you...

[Caleb Nehrbass]

No, it isn't the same. You can put ALL your fingers on the screen at the same time, and it still registers them. The DS, DS lite, DSi, and 3DS all use a different system. If you go to pictochat or something, then put 2 things on the screen, the line that is being drawn will be in the middle.

[kdiehl]

This is great. I made one and it works well on my Tablet. I also used electrical tape to wrap around the parts that don't need to be touching your fingers. Makes it sturdy and look cool.

[ggg shock]

well i have a styus but it might work take every thing out of a pen so u have the body of the pen the u stuff the tinfoil in the carcous of the penand some tin foil out side then tape it

[ggg shock]

well i have a styus but it might work take every thing out of a pen so u have the body of the pen the u stuff the tinfoil in the carcous of the penand some tin foil out side then tape it

[ggg shock]

working great abslutly love it do you have to wet every time you use it

[wavemaster447]

Worked like a charm! If you're interested in a colored stylus, candy wrappers or gum foil's work also.

[wavemaster447]

Worked like a charm! If you're interested in a colored stylus, candy wrappers or gum foil's work also.

[michaelgohjs]

i tried it and it works but it dries kinda fast


here is my stylus
http://www.instructables.com/id/CHEAP-FAST-AND-STYLISH-IPAD-STYLUS-cost-me-0-aga/

it uses aluminum foil and an antenna as the core conductor
it works for laptop touchpads too

[sarahju]

i tried it and it didn´t work :-(

[goddessofchaos]

 Another 2¢ here after I tried the pencil.  It didn't work.  Then I realized your fingers have to be touching the foil so if you have the foil sticking out far enough that your fingers touch it it should be okay.

[goddessofchaos]

This was great!  I wrapped a bit of copper foil tape (used for stained glass) and didn't even have to come all that close to the tip for it to work a treat.  Am now going to put the cotton  covering over the end of a mechanical pencil with a clip so I can hook it to the cord I put on my iTouch.  I like to read books on it and was afraid I might drop it on a plane if I fell asleep.  Instructables is the greatest!

[poop11346]

The screen of the iphone can not be scratched

[akr34]

It's definitely scratch-able.

[geekazoid]

phf! D'u have an iphone? Unless the screens oof the ipod touch and the iphone are different (i have a touch) yes, they can be scratched. PS: then why would they even make screen protecters if it were unscratchable. PPS: good 'ible.

[Dante-sama]

 Making screen protectors means that they can get more money easily.. :P

[instructors]

Trust me in that the screen can be scratched. The screen is scratch RESISTANT and NOT scratch proof.

[Atlas22]

Trust me on the screen, it isn't scratch proof (sadly, i tested that...)

[soupstreet]

It's not working ! What should i do ? :|

[TricDoc]

Mine works. wrap it to very nearly the edge, lick your finger and rub it onto  the end. 

[nepheron]

This sounds pretty unusual, but i have been able to use jade with touch screens. The strange thing is, it only works if you hold certain axis... maybie jade is magical, huh?

[Halotriple3]

You should check out my other instructable, the Pocket Tacklebox.

[Berserk87]

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