How to Make Pepper Spray at Home!

Intro: How to Make Pepper Spray at Home!

In this instructable, I will be showing you how to make your own Pepper spray at home!

Commercial Pepper spray is made using capsaicin, the active chemical in chillies. We will be extracting capsaicin from chillies using acetone solvent extraction. We will also add a pepper extract for coughing and sneezing effect.

DO NOT WORRY, there is no complicated chemistry involved in this instructable.
I am not responsible for any harm you cause to yourself, or others, in the process of making, or using, these chemical solutions.
Be very careful with this as it causes coughing, sneezing, temporary blindness, and severe pain.
Please note this is illegal in certain countries and should only be used where it is legal. Only for use in self defence.
The effects will only last for 30 seconds, but the pain may last longer.

STEP 1: Equipment and Ingredients

First, you will need to get a few pieces of equipment and ingredients together.

Equipment:
Coffee filter papers
3 small glasses
A funnel
250ml acetone

Ingredients:
10 chillies (scotch bonnet chillies or hotter. hotter is better!)
About 50g of ground black pepper
Food colouring of your choice (I used red)

STEP 2: Preparing Chillies

Now, we will prepare the chillies so we can extract the capsaicin from them.

First, chop up the chillies as finely as possible. Put them in one of the glasses. Try to compact them down a bit.
Mash them with a fork until the are in a pulp. Make sure there are no large lumps or the extraction will not work well.

STEP 3: Extracting Capsaicin

Pour enough acetone into the glass to cover all of the chillies. Then cover the top with cling film to stop the acetone evaporating and put in a cool place for 24 hours. Shake the glass every hour or so. After 24 hours remove the clingfilm and  pour the liquid through the filter paper and funnel into a glass. Leave the glass in a warm place for the acetone to evaporate.

When all of the acetone has evaporated, you should be left with a red sticky substance or small crystals, depending on the water content in the chillies. Smell the liquid and if it smells of acetone leave it for another 24 hours. Put this to the side for now. 

STEP 4: Making the Pepper Extract

To make the pepper extract, pour the pepper into one of the glasses and repeat step 2, substituting pepper for chillies. 

You should be left with a grey-brown syrup. Put that to the side.

STEP 5: Making the Pepper Spray

Take all of the extracts from both the chillies and the pepper and mix it in a glass. Add in about 20 ml water and mix thoroughly.
If you want to colour it, add in your choice of food colouring until it reaches the colour you want.

Transfer the liquid to a small bottle or a small spray bottle. I would recommend the spray bottle, so you can spray it. Pepper spray is meant to be sprayed!

STEP 6: Finished!

You have now made your own pepper spray!
Be very careful with this as it causes coughing, sneezing, temporary blindness, and severe pain.
Please note this is illegal in certain countries and should only be used where it is legal. Only for use in self defence.
The effects will only last for 30 seconds, but the pain may last longer. I am not responsible for any harm you cause to yourself or others, in the process of making, or using this pepper spray.


HAVE FUN!

Comments

[ArtisanEclectic]

I find it hilarious that one of the Related 'ibles on the right side column is one called, "How to make a man fall in love" lol

[oolala170]

yeah:)

[rimar2000]

This is good to deter dogs, when you are biking. Some weeks ago one of them bit me.

[thedigi321]

this would be awesome

[oolala170]

thanks!

[Yueh YingL]

I don't know if you still read comments, but can I use chilli powder or flakes instead of fresh peppers (I don't know if I have access to those where I live). Would that affect the strength of the pepper spray?

[Delaney]

this is an old instructable but an improvement to this would be take a highlighter and soak it in the water before adding the pepper extracts. it will add a phosphorescent effect under UV light so you could possibly identify an attacker.

[MetinK1]

damn..some serious idea..they should use it in the commercial products

[tman.phoenix]

Could I use nail polish remover instead of straight Acetone?

[SamN2]

yea but the pepper spray would smell like the perfume. but you can get acetone easily at any paint store

[pieterc1]

Yes, Acetone is nail polish remover. Buy a tin of acetone it is cheaper.

[matt.carrasquillo]

Will the acetone remain in the finished product at all?

[Jesse-pinkman]

10

[Jesse-pinkman]

10 chillies is alot it did not look like you had 10 chillies in that cup

[oolala170]

I didnt use 10 chillies in the photo as I had already done this step, and I was just repeating it for the instructable. Ten chillies should be the right amount:)

[Jesse-pinkman]

10 chillies

[Techno Boy]

I don't understand step 4 , what do you mean by repeat step 2 ....? what do i do with the pepper (powder)

[oolala170]

Mix the pepper and acetone. Mix it and filter it. Wait until the acetone evaporates.

[Techno Boy]

Ok , Thanks .. Now it's clear , You can also you may add bleach or soap to make it more effective

[thehbird]

color not colour