Clothespin Match Gun

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A simple match gun from a clothespin.

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Step 1: What you need

This small guide will show you how to make the simplest and most elegant clothespin match gun ever!

What you need:
1: Clothespin
2: Rubber band

Tool: Knife

Step 2: The first cut

Cut away a small part. I like to just cut a small notch on each side and then break and trim with a knife.

Step 3: The second and last cut

The rounded cut originally for the spring must be "squared."

Step 4: Assembly

Mount the spring as first image show. Sorry about the focus.
Then attach the other part with the rubber band.

Step 5: Loading and safety

You load by lifting the top, small part over the spring and push it forward until the spring is caught in the notch. Then just press the top part backwards and the gun is ready when a match is mounted.

Remember to wear protective eyewear just like the contributor!

Step 6: Video

person%2 years ago

thats cool
it'd be even better if it lights when it shoots :)

james42 years ago

Cool, I will defiantly make this.

âchâpman103 years ago

I used Strike Any Where Matches :D

ondejens3 years ago

This is exact the same my dad taught me when I was a kid!
Fun to see that other people know it as well. :)

NE patsrock3 years ago

this is on youtube a vid like it and you can achally use it to shoot airsoft bebes instead of maches

Air_Assassin3 years ago

I think you got that from mini weapons of mass descuction

SirNoodlehe4 years ago

kool, thanks
5/5

knex_mepalm4 years ago

I put one of those match lighter things for safety matches under it and when it shot it shot a flaming ball...awesome...definetly..making another one tomorrow!

CaseBoy5 years ago

i made 1 but I used "creatures of the sea manatee" or super tiny rubber bands for braces and it works amazing!!!!

JavaNut13 CaseBoy5 years ago

Now I know what to do with my massive pile of braces elastic bands!

sheepborg5 years ago

I made one that was almost exactly the same... I used some strike anywhere matches and put it in the opposite way and it flings a now flaming match ant people! :D

sheepborg sheepborg5 years ago

sorry, i meant to say "at the target"

xZCodmaNZx sheepborg5 years ago

lololololololololololollolololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol

CameronSS7 years ago

My dad used to make these when he was in school. Yes, when he was IN school. He said that he used the Strike Anywhere matches, and that they would occasionally light themselves on impact with concrete.

CameronSS CameronSS7 years ago

I lied...I talked to my Dad, and he said that you managed to circumvent his copyright. He did it the other way, and by using a Strike Anywhere match, the impact of the spring would light it. He also sold them to classmates, who then shot soybeans at his teacher (they where all farm kids). He really shouldn't tell me these things.

legoman CameronSS6 years ago

your dads works better:)

RedneckAsian legoman5 years ago

Soybeans???

CameronSS RedneckAsian5 years ago

Soybeans.

RedneckAsian CameronSS5 years ago

I know what they are I just didn't know they could be fired out of these

arveasheim (author) CameronSS7 years ago

Nice gun. But the neatest thing with my gun is the loading. It is smooth and just lik a ordinary gun. Arve

CameronSS arveasheim7 years ago

Actually, thet load exactly the same, they're just assembled differently.

Kaiven CameronSS6 years ago

arveasheims is pull-back

paulm Kaiven6 years ago

the advantage of cameronSS's gun is that it holds the match quite well and makes full contact with the head of the strike anywhere match = perfect result

manmelvin arveasheim7 years ago

does the trigger/spring build up pressure agaist the rounded part where the spring coil went or do you have to just pull the trigger really fast?

arveasheim (author) manmelvin7 years ago

The spring builds up pressure, you just have to release it ...

Kaiven CameronSS6 years ago

you should post it :P

plasmaspy CameronSS6 years ago

lol i made the gun and sold few to my friends a couple days ago!

budmc77 CameronSS7 years ago

how do u shoot this gun, cameron?

CameronSS budmc777 years ago

See the trigger hanging down on the bottom? Pull it.

Jupitane5 years ago

OMG that is flipping aweome.. i just made it!

mcxznbv Jupitane5 years ago

holy shoot really? that is frickin amazing but besides, i made my own, it is kinda hard to get it t work. im sure it will come with time

superhornt5 years ago

i made 2 today- they are awsome! these are way better than penguns that shoot the same ammo- homemade bb's(glops of hat glue or anything else I can use for pellets) i managed to add a handle, but i can't get any sights. (the top would make any sights useless) these are perfect for the classroom- small,yet with a good range(around 5-10 ft). also, they are just strog enough to annoy people and not hurt them(don't want to get suspended for hurting someone)

superhornt5 years ago

I will try to make one soon- i think i can add a handle and maybe sights, too!

ratnator886 years ago

hmmmm good instructable but i have an idea instead of using strike anywhere matches why dont you just light the match on fire and then shoot it. it should work shouldnt it

johndoe5595 ratnator886 years ago

if u did that the whole gun would probably catch on fire seeing as it's a wood clothespin.