"Butterfly" Throwing Star

Intro: "Butterfly" Throwing Star

This is my first real throwing star, and i should be making a few more until the end of august (after which i should start cranking a bunch more out), so keep checking. This one is pretty dangerous, very durable and cheap and easy to make.

STEP 1: Materials & Tools

You will need:
2 utility knife razor blades
1 roll tin solder (has to be tin)
1 bottle of flux
1 metal stick of some sort (i used a small flathead screwdriver)
The tools you will need are:

Small blowtorch with butane
Metal tray (Has to be hard, no foil pie tins)
Soldering gun (regular soldering irons will work, but they are much harder to use)
A good work surface that cant be destroyed easily

STEP 2: Setting Up

Put whatever you're going to be working on down on a table with good light and plug in your soldering gun. Put your razor blades in the pattern of the final throwing star, and melt some solder on both edges. This does not need to even hold.You could get a wet paper towel to cool off the project, but wait a bit because it messes up the solder if its still molten.

STEP 3: Linking the Razor Blades

Put both razors back to back as shown, then heat up the razor blades with the torch. While they are still hot, put a drop pr two of flux on the hot solder, then pick up your metal stick, re heat the solder, and smear it around all over the joint. Do the same on the other side.

STEP 4: Go Back and Do It on the Other Side

You dont absolutely have to do this, but it definitely makes it look more symmetrical, much stronger andeasier to throw.

STEP 5: Final Prep

This step is also optional, but it makes it look much better, Take a wet sanding sponge (sorry, not listed in materials) and scrub off the heat damage caused by the torch. I almost like the burm look the metal gets, but not the rust stuff on the outer layer.

STEP 6: Throwing and Safety

This one is easy to throw, but make sure you arent going to hit anyone. And dont put them in cargo pants pockets. One, when you sit down its going to hurt a ton. And two, when you reach in, you get cuts under your fingernails, and it sucks. Especially typing. To throw, grab on one of the points and just fling it. More spin is better, but make sure you put a little power behind it.

And thats about it. Thanks for reading and tolerating my first instructable. My brother has been bothering me the whole time, and i cant exactly work at my peak.

Dont do anything stupid and have fun!

Comments

[Evergladess]

where dd you get the razor blades from?

[mightywombat]

You might consider gluing a penny on either side of the center of the thing to give it more mass and help it to fly straight rather than tumble.

[Goodhart]

This somehow reminds me of a South Park episode where most of the "gang" did not want Butters to be part of their Nija group, so  when he shows up in full ragalia, they each use a "power" against him (all imaginary) until one of them (Kenny?)  throws a star and imbeds it into Butters' head (or neck or somewhere leathal). 

[Kryptonite]

Then he goes to the pound dressed as a dog because they don't want to get into trouble... Nasty.

[Goodhart]

I actually have a much more innocuous use for old razor blades.....I hope, after my current project, to get started on the series I am planning.....

[Kryptonite]

Your hinting makes me curious, stop it!

[Goodhart]

Another hint then, you use them as a component in a simple radio receiver.....

[Kryptonite]

Ferrite rod!

[Goodhart]

no, believe it or not, in place of a "crystal" .... >:-) honestly !

[Kryptonite]

Transistor.

String or nothing! ~Smeogle

[Goodhart]

One can build a "crystal" radio, using a couple of bits of wire, some pencil lead, a semi-rusted razor blade, and a few other parts for the ear phone....it isn't fancy, nor loud, but it CAN be made to work.....ible coming soon.

[Kryptonite]

Niiice, isn't that what they used in POW camps?

[Goodhart]

Yes, I am going to try to replicate that and put out an ible on it

[Kryptonite]

Awesome! I've only ever made a crystal radio with the standard ferrite rod and capacitor.

[Goodhart]

Well, in the past, I had made the so called "Quaker Oats" radio (using a Quaker Oats tube), some wire, a thin strip of metal, and a galena block that I had in my mineral collection.

[Kryptonite]

That's awesome!

[Goodhart]

Well, I HAD the plans for that one, years ago, from Popular Electronics magazine (or was it Electronics Now, or maybe Nuts 'n' Volts?).

[Kryptonite]

I wouldn't have a clue, the only magazine I read is Make: Magazine.

[Goodhart]

Well, those magazines I mentioned were long before MAKE, and so was CQ and QST :-) Pop Electronics and Electronics Now, merged, but I don't know if it is in existance anymore.....Nuts n Volts and the two radio mags I mention, still are I believe.

[Makersauce]

hahaha especially the part when they said ...... protect my balls oh and butters was thrown on the eye :P