How to Make a Laser – Assisted Blowgun An Effective Weapon and Hunting Tool
It is hard to track when and where blowguns actually originated but historians believe that it was already used by primitive tribes during the old times to hunt small animals and to protect themselves from bigger wild animals. It is a good weapon for hunting small games like birds and rabbits because it is silent and will not alert your target. Many types of blowguns can be purchased in the market but you can also make your own for a cheaper price. You can even make a laser-assisted one which gives both power and accuracy. Making your own laser-assisted blowgun is quite easy and the materials you will need can be found in your household. Do you want to try and make your own laser-assisted blowgun? Let me help you with that. In this article I have made easy step by step instructions on how to make a laser-assisted blowgun. But before we proceed let us first know some basics.
What is a laser-assisted blowgun?
A blowgun is a simple ranged weapon which consists of a pipe and a projectile like darts, seeds, or pellets. It works by putting the projectile inside the pipe and blowing into it. How powerful your blowgun can be will depend on the strength of your respiratory muscles and the vital capacity of your lungs. For the laser-assisted blowgun, you will just need to attach a laser into your pipe that will point to your target so that you will fire with more accuracy.What is a laser-assisted blowgun?
The basic parts of a laser-assisted blowgun
Knowing the basic parts of your blowgun will make it easier for you to understand how to make a laser-assisted blowgun. Here are the parts and some simple descriptions.
Pipe
This is the main body of your blowgun where your projectile will go into and out. In the ancient times, it is usually made of bamboo, wood, or cane but now, you can also make it using a PVC pipe. When using bamboo or cane, the wood is heated and carefully bent to straighten them while for the woods which are not hollow inside, they are cut in half, carved a hole inside, and then put back together. Blowgun pipes’ length may vary but longer ones tend to propel your projectile faster.
Projectile
This is your blowgun’s “ammunition”. It can be darts, seeds, pellets, or other materials depending on what you will use it for. Smaller darts tend to propel faster and are easier to shoot while longer ones tend to penetrate deeper and do more damage.
Laser
This serves as the pointer of your blowgun which will help you in shooting your target with accuracy. For the laser that you will use in making your laser-assisted blowgun, you can purchase one from an office supplies store. You may also use one with a flashlight so that you can also use it in the dark.
Quiver
This is where you will keep your blowgun’s projectile. It is attached to your pipe so that it can be easily accessed.
How to make a laser-assisted blowgun?
Before we proceed on the steps on how to make a laser-assisted blowgun, here are some materials that you may need:
• PVC pipe/bamboo/cane/any straight, hollow wood
• Laser pointer
• Nails
• Glue gun
• Screw
• Scissors
• Saw
• Party hat or any cone
• Electric tape
• Duct tapes with designs
• Paper
• Reducing coupling
Step 1. Prepare the pipe
Take a PVC pipe with a half inch diameter and cut it to a length that is comfortable for you to carry. Make sure that it is not too long that it will bend because this will affect the route and trajectory of your projectile. Next, get a reducing coupling with a smaller side that is fit to your pipe and attach it to your pipe. Tighten the attachment to secure it down by hammering it down. this will serve as the “mouthpiece” of your blowgun. For a great finish, you may design your pipe by using a decorative duct tape. Just cut a length the same as your pipe, lay the non-sticky side on the table, then place your pipe into the sticky side of the tape and roll the pipe into the tape. Secure the tape by pressing them with your fingers. You may also use paint to design your pipe.
Step 2. Make the darts
For the darts, you may use a party hat or any cone as a shape-reference. Wrap the paper in the party hat making a cone shape and secure it with tape. Cut the cone into a size that will fit into your pipe. Next, insert a nail or a screw through your cone. For the nail, the head must be inside the cone while for the screw, it should be outside since its purpose is for glass breaking. Also, you may use long or short nails depending on your purpose. Secure the nail or screw in the paper cone by applying glue inside using a glue gun. You now have two different types of darts.
Step 3. Create the quiver
For your quiver, you may use a foam pipe insulation that fits your pipe. Cut the foam crosswise to around three fourth of an inch thick. Make two of these doughnut-shaped rings. Next cover the outside part with electric tape to add to its durability. Bore holes on one of the rings using a hot nail. It’s up to you how many holes you want to make. Just make sure that there is enough space between them so that the foam will be able to hold the darts when they are placed.
Step 4. Attach the quiver
Attach the quiver by inserting the two rings into the pipe. Place them a bit more inclined to the side of your mouthpiece and make sure that the one with holes is on top of the other ring in reference to your mouthpiece. Place them around half of an inch away from each other. Lastly, put your darts in your quiver by inserting them into the hole and pinning them into the foam below to secure.
Step 5. Attach the laser
Using a hot glue, attach the laser on top of your pipe placing it slightly closer to the opposite end of the mouthpiece. Make sure that the laser is pointing away from the mouthpiece and it is aligned well with your pipe to ensure accuracy. Next, fasten the laser with plastic zips to make sure that it is steady. You may also use electric tape but remember not to cover the switch. Also take into consideration that your laser may ran out of battery after some time so attach it in such a way that you can easily change its battery.
Conclusion
A blowgun can be a good and effective instrument for hunting small game animals and attaching a laser to it is a good way to greatly improve its accuracy. Although blowguns can easily be purchased in the market, it can also be a good decision to make your own because it is cheaper and it is just very easy to make. To add to that, looking at your own piece of work can be very rewarding especially if it is well-made. So why not try? In this article, I have written steps on how to make a laser-assisted blowgun to guide you. I hope this helps!
Did you like this article? If so, please leave a comment below and share this with your friends. Thank you for reading!
2
How to Make a Crossbow from Scratch
One of the weapons that you can use for hunting is a crossbow. It is a very good weapon especially for novice hunters since it is fairly easy to use and does not require much upper strength. However, accuracy, efficiency and practice are still needed to put a crossbow in its best use. One good thing about a crossbow is that it is inexpensive and is easy to make. So, if you are someone who wants to make his own crossbow just for the fun and satisfaction of it, or if you happen to be in the wild, and for whatever reason, you have no weapon in you that you can use in hunting for food then this article will be very helpful for you. Here are very easy steps on how to make a crossbow from scratch. In this article we are going to make a simple crossbow from readily available materials. But before we proceed to that, let’s have a short discussion of some things that you need to know first.
2
What You Need to Know About the Types of Bows for Hunting
Hunting is a continuous learning process, just like any other aspect in life. After you master one skill in hunting, you must move on to another skill and master that as well. In this way, you are maximizing the time that you have as an able-bodied hunter while learning as many skills as you can. If you’re a hunter who wants to try out the joys of bow hunting, this article can tell you all about the different types of bows for hunting.
9
Learn How to Aim a Slingshot with This Quick Article
When you think slingshot, then you probably remember all the good old days of your childhood when you used to use the slingshot to hit cans or birds. Although it seems like a childish thing, a slingshot is also a useful hunting weapon. Now, you probably weren’t expecting that, were you? Well, maybe it’s time to lay down the hunting rifle or bow for now and try your hand at a classic slingshot. In this article, I’m going to teach you how to aim a slingshot.
2
Shoot with Consistency – The Best Archery Release
It is hard to use your fingers to shoot a bow especially when your bow is too heavy. Because of this, it is good to use an archery release aid so that you can shoot more consistently and accurately. Putting aside your shooting skills into consideration, using an archery release can give you better results than traditional methods from the mechanical and operational standpoint. Whether you are a beginner who aspires to learn to shoot cleanly, or a professional archer who wants to improve his shooting skills, an archery release is a good equipment to try. With all the models of archery release out in the market, it is easy to get confused on which archery release to choose. To help you with that, I have listed in this article the best archery release that I have gathered after careful considerations.
How To Carry A Bow In Proper Way?
A hunting trip with the bow has never been out of date. It is one of the fascinating amusement for every people in the whole country. If you often go hunting with the arrows instead of the bullets, you will want to know the best way to carry a bow to prepare for an enjoyable trip.
2
How to Shoot a Compound Bow
Whether you're a wannabe archer or a veteran bow hunter, if you're going to be successful with a bow and arrow you need to know how to shoot it. One of the easiest but seemingly difficult weapons to shoot is the compound bow. There are basically six steps to follow to learn how to shoot a compound bow. Below we will go over each step in detail.
Want to Be a Bow Expert in Hunting Turkey?
Killing turkey with a rifle is as popular as hunting turkey using a bow. When using a bow, a killing zone of a turkey is so small. It is considered to be a traditional method and it requires a diverse set of skills. Since it is quite difficult, hunters should know where to shoot a turkey with a bow. The location is important in order to effectively execute the kill.
1
When do bow sights work best? (And why you need one)
Bow hunting is something to be considered as an exquisite art. The combined skills of precision and accuracy are what you need in order to be a good bow hunter. And sometimes, experienced bow hunters employ the help of a bow sight to increase the accuracy and effectiveness of their shot. However, bow sights aren’t recommended at all instances of bow hunting, so how do you know when do bow sights work best?
1
How to Build a Tree Stand | Perfect Bow Hunting Experience
Planning a bow hunting trip? Do not confuse it with simple hunting method. It’s different! Bow hunting requires a particular strategy in terms of area and positioning of the hunter. Hunting in the wild requires a clearer view and a hideout where you are least likely to get detected by the bucks. As it can take hours in waiting for the target, nothing could be a better option than a tree stand. Being a novice hunter, if you don’t know how to build a tree stand for bow hunting, no worries. Here is all that you need to know about hunting from a treestand.
