Introduction: Quick and Easy Office Darts
*****DISCLAIMER -- THESE DARTS CAN BE DANGEROUS....THEY ARE DARTS!*****
Okay they are darts, they are great for throwing. Please don't throw them at anyone. You will probably hurt them.
They are really easy to make and discrete to use. By discrete, I do not mean that you can sneak up on a friend or enemy, I mean that they will stick into loads of stuff while leaving behind very little evidence. The wall won't be covered in discernible holes.
They are about as accurate as a regular dart-board dart, which is to say as accurate as you are.
Step 1: Stuff You Need
- 4 toothpicks (Check the cafeteria)
- 1 business card
- a sheet of paper (for the dartboard)
- a needle and thread (ask around, one of your coworkers might have a small sewing kit on their person)
- a small piece of tape (not required...helpful)
Step 2: Shafted
To make the shaft of the dart you need to connect the four toothpicks together lengthwise very tightly.
Begin by positioning the toothpicks together and putting a small piece of tape just to hold them while you get the thread started.
Tie the thread around the cluster at around 1/3 of the way up the toothpick, and then wrap it as tightly as you can for a bunch of turns. (30 or more). Once you are satisfied that it is secure, tie off a knot without allowing the thread to loosen.
Step 3: Eye of the Needle
Now on to the other end. Remove your tape, and start another thread wrap up close to the end. If you are using rounded toothpicks, as I am, then go to the point where the toothpick begins to taper. Just a few turns at this point. We want it snug, but not too tight yet.
Leaving it a little loose, stop winding and set your sewing needle into position. You want it to be held in the center of the four toothpicks. It should be inserted only a little ways, just past your initial winding.
Once you are satisfied, continue winding, now as tightly as you can without snapping the thread. As before 30 turns or more, and then tie it off.
There, you already should have a decent looking harpoon. I bet this would shoot nicely out of a marker tube with some elastics too.
Lets go on to make the fins.
Step 4: Fishy...erm...Finny
Cut your business card to a square, roughly will do fine.
Fold it in half to create a triangle.
Fold that triangle in half.
Fold that triangle in half, again.
Unfold it all and work each second segment into the center, creating a beautiful set of fins for your new dart.
Slide it into position on your dart, just like a real one.
Go on then give it a toss.
Step 5: Play!
Your dart is finished, now go play with it. These little beauties will stick into a lot of stuff, they are sharp and well balanced Getting a game set up is as simple as drawing up a board, taping it to almost any wall and throwing darts. Make a set of three and get an office tournament going.
16 Comments
6 years ago
cool!
7 years ago
Will plastic toothpicks work?
:)
7 years ago
Wonderful!
12 years ago on Step 4
its also known as a waterbomb base in origami (the way you folded the fins)
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Cool! Thanks for the information! Cheers.
Reply 7 years ago
htjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjrkdgfjhiryu
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
your welcome, glad i could help
8 years ago on Introduction
works perfect
10 years ago
Epic!! I made a bunch of blunt tipped ones that i can just chuck at people. These fly incredibly straight. Never buy darts again!
11 years ago on Introduction
i may adapt this to fit into my blowgun :D it looks awesome cant wait to shoot it
3:D
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
the gaps between the toothpicks could also store poison for hunting
11 years ago on Step 4
For a much easier way of making the fins you can use a post-it note, because they are square and fold easier than business cards.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
but they are softer so deform when thrown so are less accurate
11 years ago on Introduction
Sorry to hear that
12 years ago on Introduction
Awesome job! Though I would use a bit of corkboard to hide the holes... I mean hold memos :P
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
lol