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How to make a coilgun.

This tutorial will show you how to make a coil gun. I WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF YOU HURT OR KILL YOURSELF! This coil gun does work but is VERY weak. It does shoot, but not very far ( 2-3 ft). I mainly made it to see if the charging circuit works.

PARTS:
1 disposable camera- you can get them from places that develop pictures. I used a FUJIFILMS camera.
enamel-coated magnet wire. I used 22-gauge wire.
1 momentary push-button from Radioshack
1 DPDT Toggle switch from Radioshack
some tape - I used scotch tape.
wires.
AA battery holder ( the one that holds 2 batteries )
BIC pen

TOOLS:
soldering iron
solder
flat head screwdriver with a plastic handle
wire strippers

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Step 1Taking apart the camera.

1st- Take the wrapper off of the camera.
2nd- Remove the battery.
3rd-Open up the camera. This is where the screwdriver can come in handy. * ONCE OPEN DO NOT TOUCH THE CAPACITOR ( the thing that looks like a battery)*
4th- Touch the metal end of the screwdriver to the 2 leads of the capacitor. If you don't know where to touch it look in the pics. This will create a large spark.
5th-Remove the circuit from the camera housing

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31 comments

Apr 26, 2012. 9:54 AMberkaysam says:

hi i want make a coilgun but its must be more powerful than this.and must be simple.if u can help me what i use and how much use for example 680 UF 400 V like this. thank u.

Apr 27, 2012. 4:08 PMPyrofan (author) says:

You should be able to remove the capacitor from the board and put the ones you have in there. Check some other instructables on here and they my be able to help you more. Take some pics and post them here please.

Nov 27, 2011. 3:02 PMsanagol says:

what those it shoot??

Nov 27, 2011. 6:02 PMPyrofan (author) says:

it shoots nails, small metal rods, wire scraps( pretty much any thing you can fit in the barrel thats metal )

Sep 30, 2011. 6:45 AMliddleLOL says:

I need help:

I am making a charging circuit for a coilgun, but i accidentally bought non polar caps. I was wondering if i could still use these with some sort of circuit adjustment, or if i need to purchase all new polarized caps? Can you help?

Sep 30, 2011. 1:17 PMPyrofan (author) says:

I think they would work if you wired them up in parallel but dont quote me on this. Try to ask some other people with instructables on coliguns.

Sep 30, 2009. 2:12 PMliddleLOL says:

thanks!

Aug 15, 2011. 4:04 PMeveryday im shuffling, except fridays, i got to get down on friday says:

rephrase " I WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF YOU HURT OR KILL YOURSELF!" to "I WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN THE EVENT OF OF DEATH ON INJURY INVLOLVING THIS INSTRUCTABLE" that way people other then the person who got hurt cant sue you

Jul 17, 2011. 6:13 PMMetaRidley2 says:

Ummm... I am very very very new to this so what is the relay for?

Jul 18, 2011. 9:01 AMPyrofan (author) says:

I don't have a relay in this version. If your question is from Electroinnovation comment then the relay from what I understand is like a switch but can handle more amps.

Jul 14, 2011. 6:54 PM

Electronics Man says:

On step 2, you said: Solder one wire to pin 3 and solder a new wire to pin 2. What pins are you talking about? the ones on the transformer???

Jul 15, 2011. 7:55 AMPyrofan (author) says:

If you are using the switch I am using. The pins on the bottom are numbered.

Jul 15, 2011. 4:04 PM

Electronics Man says:

Oh ok that makes more sense. Thanks

Jul 9, 2011. 10:14 AMMetaRidley2 says:

Do all the capacitors(if you have more than one) have to be the same type and size?

Jul 13, 2011. 4:16 PMPyrofan (author) says:

hey sorry i couldn't reply earlier. I had my wisdom teeth removed. To answer your question i believe that only the voltage has to be the same but don't quote me on this.

Jul 15, 2011. 11:28 AMMetaRidley2 says:

ok thanks, i will keep that in mind...

Jun 30, 2011. 6:50 PMStartedBullet says:

I can't seem to find the point where you "Push a button or flip a switch", I'm cannibalizing a FujiFilm camera and I'm new to circutry. May I have some help?

Thank you for the execellent tutorial.

Jul 1, 2011. 12:10 PMPyrofan (author) says:

Thanks for the complement! There should be a button or switch that you push on the camera case to engage the flash. Once you find that button or switch find on the circuit board the place where that button or switch would be and solder a wire on to the metal leads after you remove the metal. If that doesn't work then tell me and will try to help you more by posting some pics or a video. I will be glad to help in any way possible. ( I also am VERY new to circuitry). If what I said works and you finish it please post some pics in the comments.

Jul 4, 2011. 12:48 PMStartedBullet says:

Hey Pyrofan, do you know how to create a repulsive magnetic force with diamagnetic materials? I was thinking you could rig up one such field behind the bullet triggering at the same time as the pulling coil, causing the bullet to be pushed in the same direction as pulled.

Jul 5, 2011. 8:50 AMPyrofan (author) says:

No, I don't. Maybe some other people might. Sorry

Jul 5, 2011. 1:28 PMStartedBullet says:

Hey no problem, thanks for responding.

Jul 5, 2011. 6:41 PMStartedBullet says:

Hey, I finished the main part. It doesn't have a charging switch ATM ( just one nasty shocker until then ). Just one question, does this thing eat single AA 1.5 volt batteries? Becuase I only got a single flash of the light from one of these batteries ( used ), it was used and I can't buy new ones atm.

Anyways.... Pics!

Jul 8, 2011. 8:13 AMPyrofan (author) says:

Looks good! To answer your question about the batteries. I got 1 shot with the battery that it comes with. I'm still using the new battery I put in it. It seems to be that the "cheap" batteries they come with don't last as long as a Energizer or a Duracell battery.

Jul 5, 2011. 6:45 PMStartedBullet says:

For some reason, there are copy images I can't get rid of, and I really wish there was an edit button for replies.

Jun 25, 2011. 7:27 PM

.Unknown. says:

Does the push button switch have any problem handling the current?

Jun 26, 2011. 5:11 PMPyrofan (author) says:

No but when I start to make a more powerful one I will need a relay according to some other people.

Jun 26, 2011. 12:10 PMElectroinnovation says:

I doubt it that capacitor is pretty tiny (hence the 2-3 ft range) but once you start making huge capacitor banks thats when you should be using a relay instead of a simple push button.

Jun 26, 2011. 3:15 PMvbexpressrocker says:

You would still have to make sure the relay would handle the current!

Jun 27, 2011. 4:13 AMElectroinnovation says:

Yeahh but even the smallest of relays are usually capable of 5A+ at 120v. I pulled one out of some stupid "as seen as tv" thing and found a 10A 240v relay and that one could be used in even the strongest of coilguns...But it never hurts to double check.

Jun 26, 2011. 3:13 PMvbexpressrocker says:

When I was reading, I skimmed over the first and second step and only read the "TOUCH THE CAPACITOR ( the thing that looks like a battery)*", It sounded really stupid until i went back and read it again............ :D

Jun 26, 2011. 5:09 PMPyrofan (author) says:

Haha I did the same thing when I was typing it up.