How to Make a Blowgun

Last Updated: June 27, 2021 References

No need to spend money on a factory-made blowgun -- you can make one yourself in a matter of minutes. Method 1 below will outline a large blowgun made out of conduit (or PVC pipe) and method 2 will tackle the simpler, smaller blowgun made from a straw. Whatever materials you have at your disposal, you'll have a veritable weapon in no time. Start with Step 1 of your preferred method below.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making a Blowgun with Conduit

1
Gather your materials.
- 4 or 5 feet (1.2 or 1.5 m) piece of conduit with 1/2" inside walls
- Ring shank nails
- Small piece of typing paper (2" x 3")
- Scissors
- Masking or painter's tape
  - If you don't have these, consider using method 2 below.
2
Wrap the head of a nail in your small piece of paper. Place it in the corner and wrap it -- what should form is a cone. This is your dart. The cone-shaped end centers the dart in your gun, giving it direction and speed.^{[1]
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- Once it's tight around the head of your nail, tape it in place. You'll want the first piece of tape to catch the nail and the paper. One or two pieces of tape will ensure it's sturdy and won't fall apart.
- The heavier the dart, the more penetration you'll have. So, if you'd like, add more and more tape to make it heavier.
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3
Place your dart snugly into the conduit to measure and cut. Don't worry -- it's not supposed to fit at this point. You just want to place it in to the point where a light line forms on the paper -- where the conduit stops. This shows you how long your dart should be.
- Cut the paper at this slight indentation. You'll be left with a dart that fits perfectly in the hollow of your conduit tube.
4
Place the dart in your conduit, aim, and fire. That's it! With the dart in the tube and a big breath, that dart will go flying for a solid 50 feet (15.2 m). Experiment to see how powerful yours is.^{[2]
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- Make a whole bunch of darts so you have plenty of ready-to-fire ammo.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making a Mini Blowgun

1
Gather your materials.
- Small pieces of paper, about 1" x 3"
- Tape
- Toothpicks
- Scissors
- Straw
- A sharpened pencil
2
Wrap the paper around the end of the pencil. Start in the corner so it forms a cone shape. Get it nice and tight, lining up with the very tip of the lead.
- Once you have the cone tip formed, tape it together. Don't worry -- it won't be a perfect cone. You should still have the edge of the paper sticking out at the top.
3
Cut the tip of the cone. You want it the size of your toothpick. To do this:
- Insert the tip of your toothpick through your cone.
- If you cannot, make a snip ever so small at the tip of the cone.
- Reinsert the tip of your toothpick. If it fits snugly, you're good to go.
4
Place your cone into your straw. Most of it will still jut out. Place it in snugly so a crease or indentation forms lightly where the edge of the straw hits the paper.^{[3]
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- At the top of the straw, where this indentation is, cut off the rest of the cone. This will leave you with a tiny cone that'll fit the tip of your toothpick, giving it direction, speed and the ability to fly.
5
Tape the small cone onto the end of the toothpick. You want the end of the toothpick sticking out just slightly. Make sure the tape is securely attached to both the toothpick and the paper cone.
6
Slide the dart into the straw and fire away! That's it. Take a big breath, blow in, and shoot whatever target you're aiming for. Try a piece of fruit or some balloons. Definitely not your brother or sister.
7
Carry extra darts on your straw. If you want to get fancy, you can create a makeshift dart holster on your straw. This way, you can reload and fire with swiftness and ease. Here's how:
- Cut pieces of straw about half the length of the dart.
- Place some double-sided tape toward the end of the straw.
- Place the pieces of straw in a circle on the tape.
- Put more tape on top of the straw pieces, securing them in place.
- Insert your darts. They should stay right in place!

Community Q&A

Question

I don't have a tube, what can I use instead?

Zac Blumenthal

Community Answer

You could take out the inside of a windup pen and use that instead. And use pencils for bullets.
Question

I want a blowgun that won't hurt if it hits someone, but will still fly straight and fast.

Zigzaglist1357

Community Answer

Use the same type of darts, just stick something like a piece of felt on the sharp end, or use an earbud instead of a toothpick.