Transform a Damaged Heat Gun Into a Light Gun!

My good old heat gun. Together, we melt and bend plastics. Together, we made a Cyborg costume. We laugh, we cryed. I used it for impress a beautiful lady when I taught her how to use tools.

But one day, I pushed it too hard. Smoke and a burning smell come out from my heat gun. And It stop working. Forever.

So, as final homage to my good friend, I turn it in a weapon prop with light and sound. Enjoy!

MI HEAT GUN IS DEAD. LONG LIFE TO MY HEAT GUN!!!

Step 1: Tools, Stuff and Warnings

First, remember M.C. Langer building rules:

1. If you don't have it, replace it!
2. Use protective equipment (dust mask and goggles)
3. Beware of drilled and soldered hot surfaces
4. Work in a good ventilated area.
5. Always have junk in stock
6. Enjoy!

MATERIALS:

1 damaged heat gun
3 big LEDs
1 220 ohm resistor
1 100 ohm resistor
1 3V Buzzer
A lot of plastic junk (I use 2 bender glass buttoms, 2 industrial cylinder, 1 plastic box, 2 feet deodorant caps, vacuum cleaner nozzle, two toy plastic pieces for the sides, part of a video cam, 1 industrial lever and part of a toilet tree)
1 9V battery
small iron angles
Wire (red and black)
screws and nuts
tin soldering

TOOLS

Dremel Rotary Tool
tweezers
screwdivers
scalpel
pliers
Wire cutters
Screwdriver kit
Soldering Iron
Super Glue
OPTIONAL: metallic sink conduit if you want to connect it to any belt device or cyborg costume.

A moment of silence for my fallen comrade...

Well, let's kick butt!!!

Step 2: Visualize and Play!

First, dismantle the heat gun, but left the switch in its place.

Now, why do you need a lot of junk? Because is good to have a bunch of options for "pimp your gun".

I use two criteria for choosing the junk pieces:

1. They have to look good in a prop weapon. That's why you have to put together all the stuff, and looks how it will look when you screw the pieces. Put more junk, remove junk, use different junk until it looks great.

2. A lot of pieces fits very well to another, and you will need screws only for extra-fixing. That's because designers have the trend of using the same patterns in different objects. Look the pictures for examples.

Step 3: Making the Barrels

Attach the two barrels to a plastic case. I use fax plastic pieces and screws. Don't forget to pass the wires across the barrels, case and the metal pipe, and solder the LEDs. Now, fix all with screws.

Step 4: The "Sight"

Open the damaged viewfinder of a video cam, remove the circuit and adapt a LED inside. Then, mount the viewfinder over a plastic pice. It will be over the gun.

Step 5: Electronic Diagram (you Will Need It for the Mess of the Next Step ;-)

I was in a hurry (I only had two hours for make a prop, because I had a public demonstration about junk art), so I made a very simple circuit. I'm the ecodesign guy, you are the electronics guys, so I expect you make a much better circuit. OK?

Fine. This was my circuit.

SUGGESTION: Separate the "sight" LED from the gun LEDs and use two switches, one for the sight, the other for "fire" the weapon.