Make Your Own Throwing Darts From Household Materials

this instructable will, uh, instruct you on how to make a functional throwing dart from a drinking straw, nail, electrical and regular tape, blu-tac and a memo pad.

Step 1: Get This Stuff

for each dart you will need:

a single drinking straw (the larger the inner- diameter the better)

a 50mm (2 inch) nail (i used zinc-plated because they are shiny)

a pad of square paper (you will only need one sheet, but only square will work)

a lump of blu-tac (i used a cheaper brand)

scissors

electrical and regular (clear) tape.

Step 2: Making the Fletching

take a sheet of memo paper, then:

(for origami-ists, fold a preliminary base)

1. fold the diagonals (photo 2)

2. on the other side of the paper, fold the horizontals (photo 3)
(fold so that the crease from the horizontals "points up" and the diagonals "down"

3. hold as shown in photo 4 (use both hands, one at each side)

4. move held points together to form fins (photo 5 and 6)

5. tape fins closed at open end (photo 7)

Step 3: Making the Shaft

to make the shaft:

1. cut the straw at the bendy part so you have the longer section uniform

2. cut four opposite slits in one end to fit the fins you just made

Step 4: Joining the Shaft and Fins

to start putting it together:

1. insert the fins, point-first into the slits in the shaft

2. tape each cut section of straw to the crease between two fins.

Step 5: Making the Head

to make the business end:

1. roll a small amount of blu-tac and insert into the straw

2. insert the nail about halfway into the blu-tac (it will be difficult to grip the straw while you push the nail in, i reccomend holding the straw by the part with blu-tac inside)

3. shape a head onto the straw out of blu-tac (experiment for balance, penetration and smoothness of flight)

4. cover in whatever you see fit, i used electrical tape because it was close at hand. (experiment for functionality, aerodynamics and aesthetics)

5. throw at something! (note i said something not someone)