How-To ~ Making a Mini

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STHORNE
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:28 pm

HOW-TO ~ MAKING A MINI
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In this tutorial, I will tell you how to make your very own miniature spud gun!

This step-by-step guide is perfect for beginner-spudders or kids who's parents aren't too fond of loud/dangerous guns. And best part is, its made from stuff you can find laying around your house! So lets get started....
Attachments
This is the Supply List. The Items needed are also shown in the picture below... The numbers labeled on the items in the picture below match those on this list.
This is the Supply List. The Items needed are also shown in the picture below... The numbers labeled on the items in the picture below match those on this list.
-supplies needed1.PNG (9.36 KiB) Viewed 4923 times
This is the stuff you'll need to make your Q-Tip launching machine!... Click on the picture for a better view of the pictures.
This is the stuff you'll need to make your Q-Tip launching machine!... Click on the picture for a better view of the pictures.
First, remove the components of the pen and set the pen tube aside. The rest may be discarded if desired.
First, remove the components of the pen and set the pen tube aside. The rest may be discarded if desired.
Use your 5/16" drill bit and drill a hole in the bottom of the pill bottle and remove burs.
Use your 5/16" drill bit and drill a hole in the bottom of the pill bottle and remove burs.
Use your 9/64" drill bit and drill 2 holes in the side of the pill bottle about 1.5-2" apart (depending on the length of your screws).
Use your 9/64" drill bit and drill 2 holes in the side of the pill bottle about 1.5-2" apart (depending on the length of your screws).
Use your 9/64" drill bit and drill a hole through the end of the barrel as shown and set aside.
Use your 9/64" drill bit and drill a hole through the end of the barrel as shown and set aside.
Flatten the paper clip and push through the holes in the barrel. This will create a stop for your ammunition so you don't have to watch while you push it down the barrel. Then wrap the paper clip ends around the end of the barrel, securing it.
Flatten the paper clip and push through the holes in the barrel. This will create a stop for your ammunition so you don't have to watch while you push it down the barrel. Then wrap the paper clip ends around the end of the barrel, securing it.
Wrap electrical tape around the paper clip to secure it, seal the holes, and create a "back-stop" for where the barrel/chamber meet (explained in next step).
Wrap electrical tape around the paper clip to secure it, seal the holes, and create a "back-stop" for where the barrel/chamber meet (explained in next step).
Push the barrel through the 5/16" hole with the "paper clip-side" on the inside of the chamber.
Push the barrel through the 5/16" hole with the "paper clip-side" on the inside of the chamber.
Pull on the barrel (assistance may be needed) and wrap a fair amount of electrical tape at the base of it (where the barrel and chamber meet) to keep it from moving.
Pull on the barrel (assistance may be needed) and wrap a fair amount of electrical tape at the base of it (where the barrel and chamber meet) to keep it from moving.
Use your Flat-headed screw driver to insert your screws in the two 9/64" holes. They should create a 1/16"-1/8" gap, but if its too big/small, move them until you reach the desired gap and secure with electrical tape.
Use your Flat-headed screw driver to insert your screws in the two 9/64" holes. They should create a 1/16"-1/8" gap, but if its too big/small, move them until you reach the desired gap and secure with electrical tape.
Attach two pre-stripped sections of wire to each of the screws and secure with electrical tape. Make sure none of the stripped wire is exposed, it may touch your hand and disrupt the circuit (it won't hurt, but you'll know...).
Attach two pre-stripped sections of wire to each of the screws and secure with electrical tape. Make sure none of the stripped wire is exposed, it may touch your hand and disrupt the circuit (it won't hurt, but you'll know...).
11. Take apart your long-nosed lighter and retrieve the piezo igniter. The two points where you will connect the leads include the wire coming out of the igniter, and the metal base. We will call these &amp;quot;connection points&amp;quot;.<br /><br />12. Attach the wires (connected to the screws) to the connection points on the igniter.
11. Take apart your long-nosed lighter and retrieve the piezo igniter. The two points where you will connect the leads include the wire coming out of the igniter, and the metal base. We will call these &quot;connection points&quot;.

12. Attach the wires (connected to the screws) to the connection points on the igniter.
Place the igniter where ever it feels comfortable for you and secure it with electrical tape. I decided to place the igniter beside the barrel facing up. It makes it easier and more comfortable for me to use. It shouldn't matter where you put it, as long as the wires stay intact.
Place the igniter where ever it feels comfortable for you and secure it with electrical tape. I decided to place the igniter beside the barrel facing up. It makes it easier and more comfortable for me to use. It shouldn't matter where you put it, as long as the wires stay intact.
Congratulations!! You've made your very own miniature combustion cannon.<br />Some of the better fuels include:<br />*&amp;quot;Axe&amp;quot; body spray<br />*Hair Spray<br />*Butane (which can be obtained from the butane tank from the long-nosed lighter).<br />*Lighter Fluid<br />*etc.<br /><br />Some common ammo:<br />*Q-Tips<br />*Potato Plugs<br />*Spit-Balls<br />*Etc.<br /><br />Please post pics of your mini if you used my tutorial to make it and tell me how I did on explaining how to make it. Enjoy, and Happy Spudding!
Congratulations!! You've made your very own miniature combustion cannon.
Some of the better fuels include:
*&quot;Axe&quot; body spray
*Hair Spray
*Butane (which can be obtained from the butane tank from the long-nosed lighter).
*Lighter Fluid
*etc.

Some common ammo:
*Q-Tips
*Potato Plugs
*Spit-Balls
*Etc.

Please post pics of your mini if you used my tutorial to make it and tell me how I did on explaining how to make it. Enjoy, and Happy Spudding!
Last edited by STHORNE on Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:51 pm, edited 18 times in total.
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STHORNE
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:35 pm

ENJOY! :thumbup:
Last edited by STHORNE on Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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JDP12
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:55 pm

very nice writeup sthorne...

definitely sticky material for all the noobs out there who ask," pleez help me i'm a n00b and n3w PL4NZ pleez!?!?!

maybe a bit of dramatization but you get the idea.

how bout this nice weather finally?!
"Some say his pet elephant is pink, and that he has no understanding of "PG rated forum". All we know is, he's called JSR. "
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STHORNE
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:59 pm

Thanks man...took me like 3 hours to take pics, make mini, and post but i did it!

yeah, finally some nice weather....got to like 45's today, it was nice.
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MaxuS the 2nd
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:03 pm

You forgot to put 'boredom' on your list of things needed.
Badman
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STHORNE
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:05 pm

MaxuS the 2nd wrote:You forgot to put 'boredom' on your list of things needed.
lol, you might find it boring but for those who are just entering the spudding world, its the one project that pretty much gets you hooked (at least its what got me hooked lol).
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brogdenlaxmiddie
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:07 pm

here in NC it got to almost 70 :D but nice write up :D
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MrCrowley
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:18 pm

STHORNE wrote:Can a mod or PCGUY put step 11 where it's supposed to be. For some reason, it messed up the order when uploading the pics... I thought maybe because the name but when I changed it, it was put right back on top....
We can't change the order. Sometimes it just messes up by itself. Nothing we can do. You could delete them and re-upload them if you're that way in mind though.
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STHORNE
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:20 pm

MrCrowley wrote:
STHORNE wrote:Can a mod or PCGUY put step 11 where it's supposed to be. For some reason, it messed up the order when uploading the pics... I thought maybe because the name but when I changed it, it was put right back on top....
We can't change the order. Sometimes it just messes up by itself. Nothing we can do. You could delete them and re-upload them if you're that way in mind though.
Thanks, working on it right now, I think I know how I can fix it....
Last edited by STHORNE on Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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bigbob12345
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:36 pm

Haha cool how to
And you seriously think the 45s is nice :shock: here its like 60-65 and I think its kinda chilly
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STHORNE
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:38 pm

thanks. not even a week ago it was low 30's and we had a huge rain storm with like 40 mph winds. it was crazy, i went outside and when i came back in, my coat weighed 6 lbs more from the water...
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bigbob12345
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:45 pm

We hardly ever have weather like that around here
We just have a lot of light rain
It seems to always be raining lightly over here during winter, fall, and spring.

And about the step 11 thing you could just upload it on photobucket and place it were you want to.
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STHORNE
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:47 pm

bigbob12345 wrote:We hardly ever have weather like that around here
We just have a lot of light rain
It seems to always be raining lightly over here during winter, fall, and spring.

And about the step 11 thing you could just upload it on photobucket and place it were you want to.
Fixed it! I just decided to remove the step 11 pic and verbally describe it in step 12. It's the closest I can get..
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Spedy
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:39 pm

I applaud this mini tutorial. Imagine me clapping so hard my hands turn into two huge blisters.

I'm going to make me another mini, got a pill-bottle laying around here somewhere....

Combining the "back-stop" and ammo blocker is original, I wouldn't have thought of that. Personaly, I use Bic "Crystal Clear" pens, and the tapered end of the tube keeps stuff from falling through. Gotta try that sometime.
My current mini is at the odd size that makes it extremely hard to fuel. I can't seem to wrap my mind around the obscure time needed to fuel the darned thing, seems something around 7 seconds....


10/10 On the Tutorial. *votes to sticky it*
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JDP12
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Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:44 pm

wow... people obviously don't know wisconsin!!!!!!!! They've never sat for hours in a deer stand when its way below zeroo... no... they will never know wisconsin.

aaaahahahaha
"Some say his pet elephant is pink, and that he has no understanding of "PG rated forum". All we know is, he's called JSR. "
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