|

Rubber Band Gun

Naughty Fun

Making a rubber band gun is a bit of a dilemma. Is it an encouragement for naughty behaviour? Is it a precursor for violent solutions to problems?

As a child, the rubber band guns I made were delicious! Mum didn’t like them; that made them more fun! I didn’t shoot dogs or people; the ethics I have were already well entrenched. Do I presume the right to deprive children of the fun I had? Nah, let’s make a rubber band gun.

So, if you trawl the web you will bump into lots of exciting things. But, most exciting is a maker who created a semi-automatic from chop sticks! It is exciting because its simplicity eloquent!!

Here is my version, created for a kids’ woodwork session. It makes a woodwork project out of a post banquet game.

The semi-automatic secret is in the way the bands are loaded. It is REALLY clever.  Do the trawling yourself. The designer deserves to be discovered. You will enjoy your own act of discovery.

The bands seem to be in a bit of a tangle. As each shot is fired, the next band positions itself, ready for launch. I wish I’d had this when I was ten.

Similar Posts

  • |

    Candle Sticks

    Candle Sticks These candle sticks are my response to a gig at a conference for intellectually disabled people, Having a Say.Our activity was to involve ten attendees and their helpers. There were no requests for my work to follow any themes. Attendees could be dexterous, or not. Helpers may be anything from ex-tradesmen to multi-thumbed…

  • | |

    Sam’s Basket

    Sharing with Good People Sam is a wonderful helper in my disability woodwork lessons. This basket is her idea. She rattled her head until the idea came then generously passed it on to me. Woodwork is fascinating and sharing it is rewarding. BUT the reward is doubled when people in the workshop are enthusiastic.  When the enthusiasm is…

  • | |

    Catapult

    My friends wouldn’t stop playing with this toy. For me, that is enough evidence to call the project a success. Most of the workers in my group do not interact easily with other people, so their play didn’t consist of shooting each other. They found enormous satisfaction in the challenge of loading a ball and launching it…