How to make a Portal Gun. by backwards lamb
Featured
IMG_8621.JPG
IMG_8616.JPG
89.jpg
This is how i made my portal gun for halloween 2011.

it is one of many way that you can make a portal gun. i made it this way because my experiances with these materials were higher than any other method. 


Ive entered this to the Hurricane Lasers Contest, if you like it enough could you please vote for me at the top of this page.. Thank you in advance. :D
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Materials

Blue insulation foam for the main shells of the gun.

the barrel and body were made from PVC pipes at 110mm and 70mm  and one clear 65mm tube. also a solid clear acrylic rod at 20mm

plastic acrylic sheet for detailing parts.

three black cables (thick electrical cable is fine) and wire to put inside.  or three wire core foam wrapping strips (like the hair curling things. i found mind at a general store or DIY store)


for the electronics i had two bright blue LEDs and two red LEDs (shoud be orange but i didnt have any) a three way switch, an assortment of wire and a 9volt battery.

emulsion paint, filler primer spray paint, plastic primer spray paint, lots of white spray paint and black spray paint.

car body filler (most commonly called bondo) i used P38 polyester filler.

Glue! lots of glue ranging from two part epoxie and super glue.

also masking tape.
1-40 of 49Next »
sirchewy1 says: Apr 24, 2013. 7:09 PM
Wow
Why pay for neca's is you can do your own.
Congrats!!!!!!!
backwards lamb (author) says: Apr 25, 2013. 1:17 AM
indeed! also i made this well before the official one from Neca came out.
Chldnr says: Apr 22, 2013. 7:56 PM
Hello. Do you mind Telling the Dimensions of the shells?
Ernext says: Feb 5, 2013. 1:17 PM
AWESOME! this is a really good work, I love it
janafekin says: Jan 20, 2013. 2:13 AM
how much would it cost to make if you didn't Have any of the parts already?
backwards lamb (author) says: Jan 21, 2013. 2:59 AM
i honestly couldn't tell you im afraid. as i did have nearly all the stuff or got it from friends as scrap i dont know how much the parts would cost. sorry
Fastndfurious says: Jan 19, 2013. 2:40 PM
wait sorry, where did you buy the acrylic hook connecters?
backwards lamb (author) says: Jan 19, 2013. 4:18 PM
Which parts do you mean? The tabs that have a hole through where the front claws connect to with a bolt? If yes, I made them out of acrylic sheet cut out on a laser cutter
Fastndfurious says: Jan 19, 2013. 2:29 PM
How did you make the claws on the front?
backwards lamb (author) says: Jan 19, 2013. 4:16 PM
They were made from acrylic sheet cut out on a laser cutter.
imdabest says: Jan 13, 2013. 3:14 AM
this is so awesome
backwards lamb (author) says: Jan 13, 2013. 5:04 AM
Thank you.
1_Steve_Jobs says: Nov 30, 2012. 4:25 PM
How much did this cost you to make?
backwards lamb (author) says: Dec 1, 2012. 8:20 AM
im affraid i dont know. i made it a year ago and also used lots of things that i already had in stock
nerd12 says: Oct 6, 2012. 8:22 PM
i really like the look of the main shells. they look just glossy enough. one question though, how strong is the foam? also, is it very porous like other foams?
i have never used insulation foam so if it is easy i just might start.
backwards lamb (author) says: Oct 7, 2012. 4:59 AM
The foam isn't too porous. It's a very hard dense foam. Closed cell I think is a word used to describe it sometimes.

It's a very easy material to work with. You can get good results with it if you spend time on it.
generaldidsy says: Jul 23, 2012. 4:24 AM
Please can anyone tell me where you got the foam from?
backwards lamb (author) says: Jul 23, 2012. 4:45 AM
i got this foam from ebay, but model shops and DIY shops have it.
baterman says: Jul 20, 2012. 8:49 PM
How or where did you get your Logos?
backwards lamb (author) says: Jul 21, 2012. 1:52 AM
I made them my self. I got the logo from the Internet and traced round it and then cut it out from vinyl sticker sheet.
Mrspott says: Jul 8, 2012. 11:43 AM
Just need to strong enough to put a potato with an Led on the spokes
backwards lamb (author) says: Jul 11, 2012. 1:47 PM
I do plan on making a glados potato but it's on the back burner for now.
RitaMeetHerMaid says: Jul 11, 2012. 1:33 PM
sweeet!
ravenking says: Jul 11, 2012. 9:53 AM
Cool project. I went to your flicker site. Your Fallen Angel paintings on skateboards are excting to look at! Wow!
mr monoply33 says: Jul 10, 2012. 3:35 PM
I've got the main part done...I just can't find something good to build the white part. How's the paint holding up on the insulation?
backwards lamb (author) says: Jul 11, 2012. 1:22 AM
very well, if you get enough sealing done with acrylic paint and filler it will hold up.

it wont hold up to being smashed about. but they are pretty strong.
mr monoply33 says: Jul 11, 2012. 9:18 AM
I've begun looking in to plaster castings. I've used play-dough for wax castings...considering that method here. I'm just going to need much more play-dough. I ended up buying enough PVC for two, just because I couldn't get smaller increments. Should I feel like making a second one, it should speed things up.

I do, also, have to ask...Where did you find this acrylic bar? I've been to several hardware stores, craft stores, glass & plastics...nothing. I'm currently using a piece of frosted vinyl tubing, but it doesn't glow as well. I'm probably going to compensate with some extra LEDs.
backwards lamb (author) says: Jul 11, 2012. 9:27 AM
i got the bar from a website. its a uk website. www.clearplastictube.co.uk

its in the ROD section

they carry alot of cool acrylic stuff.
lolpota says: Jul 10, 2012. 11:22 PM
thats awesome
alanabs says: Jul 10, 2012. 4:55 PM
I found one for sale, and its on sale too. Only $139

http://www.brand-name-coupons.com/valve-portal-device-replica.html
theqwertman says: Jul 8, 2012. 9:12 AM
How much did this cost and how long did it take?
backwards lamb (author) says: Jul 10, 2012. 8:19 AM
i dont have a Cost for this as i wasnt really keeping track of cost, also i got a lot of free bits , like the pipes were from a plumber friend as they were ofcuts.

it took around a month of working two or three nights a week. i could have taken longer to get a better finish but i rushed it to get it ready for halloween.
alanabs says: Jul 8, 2012. 4:18 PM
Was this you who made the video too?

Portal: Terminal Velocity from Jason Craft on Vimeo.

TRIGUN-X says: Jul 9, 2012. 1:10 PM
EXCELENTE MUCHACHOS...................BIEN HECHO !!!!
backwards lamb (author) says: Jul 9, 2012. 1:18 AM
oh and nope i didnt make the video .
ATimeForHeroics says: Jul 8, 2012. 5:16 PM
Doubtful. The Portal Gun in that video is totally CGI.
backwards lamb (author) says: Jul 9, 2012. 12:44 AM
They did actually release a limited edition portal gun earlier this year. http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/portal/ed41/
backwards lamb (author) says: Jul 9, 2012. 12:45 AM
Thank you all for your kind comments. I would have to learn how to cast from this to be able to sell them for a reasonable price.

This took about a month of work two or three nights a week and a good few hours at the weekend.
smcfly jr. says: Jul 8, 2012. 12:55 PM
What the .... DUDE! make these ... SELL these ... they will still make U a few $$$ !!!

Holy hell man! These will so sell for Halloween 2k12!

Now .... where's my imitation flux capacitor ....
ATimeForHeroics says: Jul 8, 2012. 5:17 PM
If he does start selling these he'd better be careful. The NECA Toy Company just released that they'll be selling replica Portal Guns very soon. Don't want the 5-0 knocking on your door with a new shiny pair of silver bracelets for ya. ^_^
1-40 of 49Next »
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!