Simple CPVC Blowgun and Darts

Intro: Simple CPVC Blowgun and Darts

This blowgun is very simple in theory and can be built in less than 30 minutes for under $5 using a 3 foot section of CPVC pipe with a female adapter as a mouth piece on one end and a piece of foam insulation to hold the darts.

There are three basic designs for blowguns. First is the standard one-piece gun which usually comes in lengths from 24 inches to 48 inches. There's the two-piece gun, which is usually 48 to 72 inches and finally you can buy a breakdown or backpacker style blowgun. The backpacker style blowgun usually breaks down into 3 or 4 pieces so you can store it in your backpack.

Modern blowguns tend to be made out of aircraft aluminum tubing.

You will need the following materials:

- 3 feet of 1/2" CPVC pipe (Home Depot/Lowes/hardware store)
- 1/2" CPVC female adapter (Home Depot/Lowes/hardware store)
- Ball point straight pins (Size/No: 20-1 1/4") (sewing store/Walmart)
- 2 inches of 1 1/2" pipe foam insulation (Home Depot/Lowes/hardware store)
- sheet of notebook paper
- superglue
- gluestick

STEP 1: CPVC Blowgun Construction

1. Cut a 3' section of 1/2" CPVC and sand down any burs around both ends on both the outside and inside. This forms the blow gun tube.

2. Press on, but do not cement, a 1/2" female adapter onto one end of the 3' section of 1/2" CPVC. Try to find the female adapter's that have a rubber washer on the inside of the wide end. If you can't find one then purchase one. It should be 3/4" OD and 1/2" ID and 1/8" thick. The washer helps to prevent the dart from coming out. This forms the mouth piece.

3. Cut a 2" wide section of foam and wrap it around the CPVC tube 1' from the female adapter. This forms the dart holder.

STEP 2: Dart Construction

1. Draw 1" diameter circles on a sheet of paper. Draw a "+" inside each circle from end to end. Cut out each circle then cut in half along one diameter line. Roll up one half of the straight edge to the line down the middle and release.

2. Apply the glue stick on 1/4" of the half-circle in a pie-shaped segment. Roll the non-glued edge around to the remaining line on the paper and roll the glued side around forming a cone shape. Allow to dry.

3. From the inside of the cone, push through a straight pin until the head rests at the bottom of the cone. Make sure the pin is straight. Allow one drop of super glue to drop into the cone. Allow to dry.

4. If the base of the cone is too large to fit into the blow gun, set the cone into the end of the pipe and note how much sticks up. Using a pair of scissors make many small cuts around the base of the cone down to the level of the dart gun opening.

5. Stick your supply of darts on both sides of the foam around the blow gun tube.

STEP 3: Operating Procedures

1. Remove the mouth piece, slide a dart into the tube, and replace the mouth piece.

2. Grip the blowgun with one hand behind the mouthpiece and about midway down with the other.

3. Take a deep breath. Place your lips against the mouth piece forming a tight seal. Aim your blow gun and quickly and forcefully blow. DO NOT INHALE! The mouth piece and rubber washer should not allow the dart to move backwards but never inhale with your mouth against the mouth piece.

Comments

[skippy00]

After I had been shooting the blowgun for a while I realized it was very inaccurate. If you use 1/2 inch copper pipe it is much more accurate. The copper pipe is not very heavy and is definitely straighter. And for darts I use nails and then I make the cones on the back out of duck tape because they are basically waterproof

[freeza36]

Hey i just wanted to know your input to the question that Higgs Boson, myself, and another one of our friends are all asking. What can be done to make the blowguns better at this point? Yours and ours are practically identical, except for the darts. Even with the best darts we can make, they still only ever shoot accurately at a max 35 feet. What do you think?

[wajahat_911]

Check this out ;)
https://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-Blowpipe-and-Dart-/?ALLSTEPS

[jbb3141]

Hey, very nice! Definitely a step up and a lot more "lethal" than mine! :)

[wajahat_911]

Thank you for the appreciation.. BY THE WAY.. I learned to make pin darts form your instructable!!.. THANK YOU :)

[freeza36]

i use nail darts

[FrenchCrawler]

You forgot to list the sources that some of your text came from:
(Cached) http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:CJWh-xXJmD8J:www.doingfreedom.com/gen/0301/ht.blowguns.html+There+are+three+basic+designs+for+blowguns.&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

Mirrored Listings:
http://www.billstclair.com/DoingFreedom/index.html
http://www.billstclair.com/DoingFreedom/gen/1202/blowgunsdarts.html

Around here we call that plagerism.....

[FrenchCrawler]

http://www.billstclair.com/DoingFreedom/000419/df.fairuse.html

[dom104]

it dont matter lossen up

[crayzclown1]

use skewers for the darts, the added weight gives it more power

[dom104]

im just trying every dart i see

[crayzclown1]

But less accuracy.

[scottmiller]

 using nails seems to work well and it doesn't get blown around in the wind. Also I use index cards instead of paper and duct tape the outside it makes a really strong durable and waterproof dart that hit much harder than pins or skewers.

[ManchesterUtd.]

use wire hangers. they have more weight and i can get mine trough a fourth inch piece of plywood

[ilpug]

i use aluminum roofing nails, they are metal, but lightweight.

[vruiz3]

the epic debate

[3500]

i'm putting a 4x32 magnification scope to my blowgun. it should be the most accurate weapon i've had.

[jbb3141]

lol, that's awesome! Please post a picture :)

[3500]

thanks i will but i have to buy it first. i'm also painting it with red scorpion camo and the paint jobs arent going well so i have to keep trying. in a few weeks it should be done.

[max_x]

Very good job!  Keep up the good work! xD