Here are steps and tips to help you make your own pen gun. To get started, all you need is a suitable pen and an elastic band.
Step
Step 1. Use a pen that still works
Not all pens can be turned into weapons easily. Look for inexpensive ballpoint pens that use a thumb click mechanism to push and pull the nib. You should also be able to remove the pen around the center for easy access to its contents.
Inside the pen, you should look for an ink tank (usually clear plastic with a metal tip), some plastic pieces that make up the click mechanism, and a small metal spring. When finished, the pen gun will fire an artificial projectile made of an ordinary ink tank and rubber band
Step 2. Twist and open your pen
Get rid of the ink tank. The pen spring may be attached to the ink plastic case – if so, you can leave it alone. If not, look in the pen. If the spring is difficult to pick up and stay in place, slide it onto the iron end of the pen and wiggle it or pick it up with tweezers.
Step 3. If the spring is not attached to the ink tank, replace it
Gently slide it on the nib until it reaches the small margin of most ink tanks. The spring will provide extra mechanical power to fire your rubber band projectiles.
Step 4. Insert the ink tank “upside down” into the “click tip” of the pen
Insert the iron tip of the ink tank first. The ink tank must be in the plastic housing of the click mechanism. When positioned correctly, the back end of the plastic case should protrude from the pen.
Before inserting the ink tank, you can add a small roll of paper. This can help hold the spring on the pen body
Step 5. Attach the end of a rubber band to the pen
Do this using clear plastic tape, electrical tape, or duct tape to keep the rubber band on the end of the ink tank protruding from the pen. Make sure the rubber band is firmly held in place – if you fall, you could misfire and injure yourself!
Step 6. Pull the rubber band behind the rubber
Find a suitable target (not a person or an animal) and pull on the rubber to prepare your projectile. Hold the rubber so that it is parallel to the body of the “gun”.
Step 7. Release the rubber to shoot
This rubber must be jerked forward to fire the ink tank at your target. The nice thing here is that you can reuse the projectiles. Just take the ink tank, put it back in the pen, then aim and shoot again!
