| Back in the days when kids made a lot of their toys, | | | | Now drill a hole through the end of the clothespin, |
| some devious little mind came up with a way to fire | | | | with a bit that is slightly larger than the width of the |
| rubber bands off more than their own thumbs. Thus | | | | nail. Make sure you drill through both sides of the pin. |
| was born the rubber band gun. Today, they're | | | | Apply glue to one narrow side of the clothespin, |
| enjoying such a resurgence of popularity, that you | | | | from the open end, down to the drilled hole. Don't |
| can even buy guns carved from wood, that replicate | | | | get glue in the hole. Now place the clothespin on the |
| actual weapons such as repeating rifles, pistols and | | | | piece of 1x2", making sure it's got the nail fitted |
| more. | | | | through the hole. You might want to try the fit, |
| But for a simply weapon to give your friends a | | | | before applying the glue. |
| snapping good time, try this. Gather up a piece of | | | | Cut a notch in the end of your wood, just below the |
| wood, such as a short section of 1x2" lumber, a | | | | top, so you can hook one end of the rubber band |
| wooden clothespin, some Crazy Glue, a nail and a | | | | there. Now pull it back, and hook the other end over |
| hammer. | | | | the protruding nail. To fire, just open the clothespin. |
| You're going to want to glue the clothespin at the | | | | There should be enough motion to allow the upper |
| rear of the 1" side, which should be on top. But first, | | | | part of the pin, to push the rubber band off. |
| take a nail no more than 2" long, and 1/8" thick, and | | | | For more zing to your gun, cut a second shorter |
| cut the flat head off, and file it down. Mark on the | | | | piece of wood and glue it underneath at a 90-degree |
| piece of wood, where the end of the clothespin will | | | | angle, to approximate the shape of a pistol. Insert |
| be, and drive the nail into the wood, sharp end down, | | | | your nail and glue your clothespin to the back of the |
| about 1/3" from where the mark is. Leave about 3 | | | | "grip". This will make for a longer stretch to the band, |
| 4" of the nail sticking up. | | | | and more snap when you fire. |