How to Make a Blow-Gun

There are a number of more and more toys coming out with multiple projectiles, yet the toys of yesterday are bad because they could hurt someone. But what about the homemade weapons that were only used to shoot cans or cardboard because they couldn't do anything else? I saw a toy the other day that shot pieces of hard plastic that were so strong and small that it pierced my skin. The toys of my childhood were never good enough to actually pierce my skin. So, if we can let our children play with spring loaded stiletto launchers wrapped up in a Spiderman toy, why not the old homemade blowgun?

Find a long pipe. The pipe should be about the length of your arm. This gives a good projectile enough power to fly, and you don't need a lot of breath to get it out of the tube. You can decorate the tube or pipe however you want to. Be as creative as you'd like. Now take a piece of construction paper and cut it into a small square. Roll it up tightly and slip it into the tube. If there is any room in the tube for "air" to get through, you'll need a larger piece. There is a mathematical equation to figure this out, and those math people out there probably know it off the top of their head, but I never did, nor do I now. So, if it's too small, cut a bigger piece of construction paper. You're going to need some heavier paper for this. Card stock would work well for this as well. When you get the right size, cut out a few dozen of these squares.

Decide what you're going to use for a puncture item. There are many things you can use, I suggest using something you have on hand. When I was a kid I had my mom's thin sewing needles. You can use cactus needles if you have them, nails, sharpened little sticks, anything, it all depends on what you have. Place about 2-3cm of your item on the corner of the square. Attach this piece to the square. You can use good old white glue, that's what we always used. but of course super glue would work better, and you can even use tape.

Wrap up the little square extremely tight. So tight that no air can be blown through the cone that you have just created. It is extremely important that no air can get through this cone. Now do the same thing with all of the other little squares you've cut out. Unfortunately, you can only make as many as the resources you have.

Your blow gun is ready to use. Place a "dart", your cones with the sharp point away from you. Blow slightly to allow it to go into the tube a little more. Move the pipe away from your mouth and take a deep breath. Point the pipe at the wall or a can, and blow into the pipe as hard as you can. The dart will fly out of the pipe and into the can. The power of the gun is dependent on the force of your blow.