How To Make A Toothpick Gun: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

Skip to ContentQuizzes

• PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
• QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help ProAbout UsRandom ArticleQuizzes Request a New ArticleCommunity DashboardTrendingForums Arts and EntertainmentArtworkBooksMoviesComputers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games Arts and EntertainmentFinance and BusinessHome and GardenRelationship Quizzes Cars & Other VehiclesFood and EntertainingPersonal Care and StyleSports and Fitness Computers and ElectronicsHealthPets and AnimalsTravel Education & CommunicationHobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and ReligionWork World Family LifeHolidays and TraditionsRelationshipsYouth
• LOG IN

  Log in

  Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. Facebook Google wikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
• RANDOM

• Home
• Random
• Browse Articles
• TrendingNew
• Quizzes & Games
• All QuizzesHot
• Love Quizzes
• Personality Quizzes
• Fun Games
• Dating Simulator
• Learn Something New
• Forums
• Courses
• Happiness Hub
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow

• Log in / Sign up

Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow

• Categories
• Hobbies and Crafts
• Toys
• Toy Weaponry

How to Make a Toothpick Gun Download Article Author Info

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Tested

Download Article

• Preparing to Make Your Gun
|
• Constructing Your Gun
|
• Using Your Toothpick Gun
|
• Video
|
• Q&A

|Show more |Show less X

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 65,848 times. Learn more...

A toothpick gun is made from a few items found at home. It will shoot toothpicks at a high speed when you are done. The toothpicks will be able to pierce many surfaces when shot from this gun. This is a toy that requires adult supervision when using and making it.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Preparing to Make Your Gun

Download Article

1. 1 Wear safety goggles. When making your gun, using your gun, or in the same area with someone using your gun, it is very important that you wear safety goggles. The toothpick can easily injure an eye and have negative effects on your vision.
2. 2 Gather your materials. In order to make your toothpick gun, you’ll need 5 items. If you don’t have them at home, you can find them at any hardware store.
   • Clothespin
   • Steel hand saw or X-acto knife
   • Wire cutters
   • Rubber band
   • Toothpicks
   Advertisement
3. 3 Break your clothespin. Before you start to assemble your gun, you need to break the clothespin into two separate pieces. Rip the two pieces apart and untwist the metal spring. Remove the spring and set it aside. You should have two even pieces of wood.[1]
Advertisement

Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Constructing Your Gun

Download Article

1. 1 Cut a piece of your clothespin. Take one side of your clothespin and hold it with the skinny end in your right hand. The indent closest to your right hand is the guideline you’ll use to make your cut. Place this indent in the mouth of your wire cutters. Squeeze until it breaks off.
   • You may have to move your clothespin piece up and down to give the wire cutters some leverage to break it.
   • Remember to wear your safety goggles!
2. 2 Saw down the second piece of your clothespin. Once again, take the piece of wood with the skinny part in your right hand. The indent closest to you is the one you’ll saw. Take your steel hand saw and saw half way through from the indented side of your clothespin.
   • This will create an indent that will eventually hold your spring.
3. 3 Use your elastic to attach your pieces. Take the side of the clothespin that you used your saw on and hold it with the flat side facing up. Now, take the wider side of the piece that you cut and place its flat side up against this so that it sits flush. Wrap your elastic around the first indent from the wide end.[2]
   • This elastic needs to be securely holding the two pieces together. If you leave it too loose, it won’t hold.
4. 4 Attach your wire spring. Use the spring that you took off of your clothespin before you began. Slide one of the open ends into the crease you made with the saw. The other open end will wrap around this piece of wood and give it a secure hold. It will rest on right in front of your cut piece of wood.[3]
   • The coil of the spring will be on the bottom of your sawed piece.
5. 5 Slide the spring into an indent. Hold on firmly to your spring and slide the smaller piece of the clothespin over it until the first indent envelopes the spring. If you’re elastic is too tight, unwrap it once. If it is too lose and doesn’t hold onto the spring, wrap it one more time.[4]
   • Once you have this part securely in your indent, slide the wooden piece back to its original position. The two ends of the wood pieces should meet up and your spring will still be in your indent. Your gun is now fully constructed.
Advertisement

Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Using Your Toothpick Gun

Download Article

1. 1 Load your toothpick. Hold your gun with the spring on the bottom. This is your trigger. Slide a toothpick in between the two pieces of wood. Slide it back so that it reaches the indent holding your spring.
2. 2 Hold behind the elastic. Use two fingers to hold your gun behind the elastic. Place another finger on the trigger (the coil of the spring). Pull back the trigger and watch your toothpick fly.
3. 3 Set up targets. Apples make great targets and are easily shot into with your toothpick gun. Set up some apples at different distances and try shooting them. Do not shoot the toothpicks at other people. Remember to wear your safety goggles.[5]
Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search Add New Question

• Question Do I absolutely need a rubber band? Community Answer Yes, you do. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 22 Helpful 46

Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

You Might Also Like

How toMake a Clothespin Gun The Best Way to Make a Homemade Air Gun How toMake a Rubber Band Gun How toMake a Pen Gun With a Trigger Wooden Handgun, Click-Clack, or Rifle Plans: Craft Toy Weapons from Wood How toMake a Toy Gun How toFire a Rubber Band How toMake a Paper Blowgun How toBuild a Pen Gun How toMake a Mini Crossbow How toBuild a Basic Catapult How toMake a Mini Catapult How toMake a Paper Gun That Shoots How toMake a High Powered Pen Gun Advertisement

References

1. ↑ http://deuceofclubs.com/randumb/clothespingun/clothespingun01.htm
2. ↑ http://deuceofclubs.com/randumb/clothespingun/clothespingun06.htm
3. ↑ http://deuceofclubs.com/randumb/clothespingun/clothespingun03.htm
4. ↑ http://www.popsci.com/article/diy/how-turn-clothespin-matchstick-gun
5. ↑ http://www.popsci.com/article/diy/how-turn-clothespin-matchstick-gun

About This Article

Tested by: wikiHow Video Team wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 65,848 times. 46 votes - 69% Co-authors: 15 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 65,848 Categories: Toy Weaponry

• Print
• Send fan mail to authors

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 65,848 times.

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Tested by: wikiHow Video Team 46 votes - 69% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 15 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 65,848

Quizzes & Games

What Piercing Should I Get QuizTake QuizWhat Wild wikiHow Article Am I QuizTake QuizThe Paperclip Challenge: Can You Outsmart the Detective?PlayWhat Age Is My Brain QuizTake QuizFinish the Phrase QuizTake QuizRandom Item GeneratorGenerate

You Might Also Like

How toMake a Clothespin GunThe Best Way to Make a Homemade Air GunHow toMake a Rubber Band GunHow toMake a Pen Gun With a Trigger

Featured Articles

How toMake a Paper AirplaneHow toLearn Morse CodeHow toFold an Origami Star (Shuriken)How to Fold and Use a Paper Fortune Teller

Trending Articles

What Female Body Shape Are You? How to Identify YoursWhat Emojis Mean Sex?What Pokémon Am I QuizDo I Have Brainrot QuizSigns a Woman is Sexually Attracted to YouFinish the Lyrics Quiz

Featured Articles

What Animal Am I QuizAm I Gay QuizHow Well Do I Know My Best Friend QuizAm I an Alpha, Beta, or Omega Quiz

Featured Articles

160+ Good Roasts to Burn Your Friends & Family MembersHow to Play the Snaps Guessing Game140+ Wavelength Game Categories & Questions to Extend Your PlayThe Ultimate Collection of Funny, Cheesy, & Romantic Rizz LinesVirtual Truth or Dare Questions to Keep Things Interesting180 Good Comebacks & Savage Roasts to Win Any Argument

Watch Articles

How toEat GuavaHow to Get Yellow Stains Out of White ShoesLeft Eye Twitching for Females: What Astrology Says About Eye Twitching50 First Date Conversation Starters to Spark a ConnectionHow to Make a Mask Out of Paper (for Kids or Adults)How to Put Jibbitz on Crocs

Trending Articles

Do You Agree with These "Hear Me Out" Character Hot Takes?How to Read Face Moles: Lucky and Unlucky PlacementsWhat JJK Character Am I QuizFade Hairstyle Types for Men: A Complete GuideRecessed Maxilla (Upper Jawbone): Symptoms & TreatmentCan Your Finger Length Tell Your Personality?

Quizzes & Games

Am I Funny QuizTake QuizThe Impossible QuizTake QuizWould I Survive a Horror Movie QuizTake QuizPizza CalculatorAm I Smart QuizTake QuizPictionary Word GeneratorGenerate

• Categories
• Hobbies and Crafts
• Toys
• Toy Weaponry

wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.

• Home
• About wikiHow
• Experts
• Jobs
• Contact Us
• Site Map
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info
• Contribute

Follow Us

×

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter

Subscribe You're all set! X --488