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Build Your Own Gatling Rubber Band Machine Gun

Posted by timothy on from the must-prepare-for-the-sesquicentennial dept.

New submitter melarky (3767369) writes This is a fun weekend project that most nerds will appreciate. Step by step instructions and also a handy video will make the construction of this project fast and easy. I have seen lots of plans for sale (or actual guns/kits for sale), but couldn't seem to find any plans for free. I played around with a few different designs (even cut my first few on a homemade CNC machine) and finally landed on this design. I made the guide more accessible to the general public (no need for a CNC machine here), so if you've ever dreamed of ending friendships because of hundreds of rubber band welts, now's your chance! We'd like to see your home-made projects, too.

39 comments

  1. I couldn't finish the video by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The video was like watching Battlestar Galactica when the cameraman had too much cocaine and had a pot or three of coffee.

    I think I'm gonna puke.

  2. Let the.... by bobbied · · Score: 4, Funny

    Office supply closet raids begin... Better tell the admin to order more rubber bands...

    --
    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    1. Re:Let the.... by timrod · · Score: 4, Funny

      Office supplies nothing. A couple years ago, there was a guy who posted instructions on how to make a working AK-47 out of a shovel, turning the wooden shaft and handle into a stock and cutting up the handle to make some of the metal parts. The rest of it had to be ordered in, but from what I remember, he was able to fire it once it was done. Don't fear the rubber bands.. fear the mighty Kalashnishovel.

    2. Re:Let the.... by timrod · · Score: 1

      Sorry, quick correction. He turned the shaft and handle into the stock, and the shovel head was cut up and turned into some of the metal parts. I can't remember specifically which ones, but I think he said at the time that they were the ones that were hardest to legally import.

    3. Re:Let the.... by Intrepid+imaginaut · · Score: 2

      http://thechive.com/2012/12/06...

    4. Re:Let the.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's called the reciever.

      It's also nothing whatsoever to do with DIY, this guy was a very skilled gunsmith and was simply showing off a very cool project.

      It's also nothing to do with 'hardest to legally import', you can get these parts anywhere you like; of course the reciever is that part that is considered a 'gun' and is controlled and you will need to fill out forms and pass background check, all normal.

      And yes, you can build your own if you so desire, if you have the skills and the machinery.

      And last but not least, he posted no instructions; this page simply showvcased what he did, which was very very cool. But no one could possibly use this information to go on to build their own. As I said you need serious skills and the machinery.

      Let me guess, Obama voter who is against the 2nd amendment? Just a guess I know, but a fair one.

      I encourage you to actually learn something about guns as you obviously know very little. You'd be surprised at what a little knoweldge can do to your outlook.

    5. Re:Let the.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Let me guess, Obama voter who is against the 2nd amendment? Just a guess I know, but a fair one.

      Pet peeve of mine is the "Let me guess" thing, IMO if you were really interested in his opinions on the 2nd amendment to the constitution or his voting you'd just ask. I mean this is an forum right? Typically when I see the Let me guess type of comments I think the person who said that really has no interest in the original posters opinions and just wants to put words in their mouth or characterize them a certain way.

      Also the "against the 2nd amendment" phrase is so vague as to be meaningless, to some any one who supports laws that limit guns in anyway is "against the 2nd amendment." To me you aren't against the 2nd amendment unless you want to repeal it which I don't think is that large of a segment of the population. Again you'd be better served by asking what the original posters thoughts on guns and gun laws are.

    6. Re:Let the.... by melarky · · Score: 1

      I love this comment. I had to buy my rubber bands at a craft store, but if my work had them I would totally have raided the supply closet :)

    7. Re:Let the.... by bkmoore · · Score: 1

      ...there was a guy who posted instructions on how to make a working AK-47 out of a shovel....

      Beating a plowshare into a sword.

    8. Re:Let the.... by bobbied · · Score: 1

      It's called the reciever.

      It's also nothing whatsoever to do with DIY, this guy was a very skilled gunsmith and was simply showing off a very cool project.

      It's also nothing to do with 'hardest to legally import', you can get these parts anywhere you like; of course the reciever is that part that is considered a 'gun' and is controlled and you will need to fill out forms and pass background check, all normal.

      And it was the receiver that he hammered out of an old shovel. I got to admit, that was impressive work, but I don't think the builder is extremely skilled or well equipped. A bit above average I suppose. He purchased the rest of the components off the shelf.

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    9. Re:Let the.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The profit margins of corporations all over the world are taking a dive now that hey are supplying rubber bands to all the "shooters" out there on SlashDot..

  3. 12 pages in one... by HybridST · · Score: 4, Informative

    Link to single-page version:

    m.instructables.com/id/Gatling-Rubber-Band-Machine-Gun-Easy-Weekend-Proje/?ALLSTEPS

    --
    Ever notice that Cobra Commander sounds an awful lot like Star scream?
  4. First new category post. (not really) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I will certainly like this category. I never even realized it got added, I tend to ignore the sidebar.
    Hopefully there are some good compact machine builds and portable-izing non-portable hardware.
    Maybe one day I will have my arm-band computer up here whenever I bother getting around to doing it. One day...

    That Gatling gun is amazing though. Such an elegant and simple design. Even better that it is purely mechanical.
    The launching mechanism was one thing I couldn't understand from before viewing how it worked. That is so stupidly simple, I don't know how I never thought of that.

    1. Re:First new category post. (not really) by WillAdams · · Score: 1

      Anyone know how to add this new category to those which one follows?

      I don't see it listed as a slashbox under Account options....

      --
      Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
  5. One Piece Reference? by SailorSpork · · Score: 1

    Gomu Gomu no GATLING! :P

  6. Mostly contribute on the Shapeoko site by WillAdams · · Score: 2

    So the wiki and pages such as: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

    Have made a few things:

      - Wooden Box with hinged lid --- http://www.shapeoko.com/projec... --- cut w/ a CNC machine
      - wooden case for my Bear Custom Kodiak T/D --- http://www.pinterest.com/pin/3... --- done entirely by hand tools, including the dovetails save for drilling the holes for the arrow holder (used a jig and an electric hand drill for that) --- this build was documented on ArcheryTalk though: http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/...

    --
    Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
    1. Re:Mostly contribute on the Shapeoko site by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 1

      You've probably forgotten - ArcheryTalk is one of those forums that doesn't allow you to actually look at JPEGs unless you're logged in - stupid, stupid, stupid. Nice looking case. Gotta say I like the clear coat one better than the dark stained one.

    2. Re:Mostly contribute on the Shapeoko site by WillAdams · · Score: 1

      The clear one was just scraps and poplar craft boards --- I'd love to do it again w/ a nice piece of maple and wrap the grain all the way around, but the red oak was much cheaper, but I found the grain boring enough that I went for the dark, dark finish (which is more delicate than I was anticipating...).

      Here's the project page on Lumberjocks: http://lumberjocks.com/project...

      --
      Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
  7. Latex Assault Weapons already banned in NJ by operagost · · Score: 5, Funny

    Already banned in New Jersey and D.C., and New York and Connecticut have a 7-band magazine limit.

    --

    Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    1. Re:Latex Assault Weapons already banned in NJ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I've been waiting to see someone build:

        - a firearm w/ a magazine of one capacity in a particular caliber, but a larger capacity when used w/ a smaller round
        - a child's toy which has a part which just incidentally happens to be the same size / shape as a lightning link: http://thehomegunsmith.com/pdf...
        - a cap pistol whose cylinder could easily be replaced w/ a sturdier 3D printed one which used steam pipe fittings to sleeve each chamber

      &c.

    2. Re:Latex Assault Weapons already banned in NJ by bobbied · · Score: 0

      Already banned in New Jersey and D.C., and New York and Connecticut have a 7-band magazine limit.

      You are going to put your eye out with that kid.. It's an assault weapon!

      Next, they will put limits on the number of rubber bands you can conceal in your pockets without an office supply distribution permit, and federal background checks when you buy more than 7 bands in a box. Remember that selling office supplies in Chicago, Washington DC and most of the north west is illegal now...

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    3. Re:Latex Assault Weapons already banned in NJ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They banned coin slotless rubber dispensers in NJ?

  8. not Gatling-like, only somewhat Gatling-inspired by mr_mischief · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There's no autoloading from a gravity-fed hopper. This is an interesting thing with the multiple barrels that rotate and it's a cool homage to Gatling. There's no quick reload with this thing, though. One of the neatest things about a Gatling gun is the feed.

  9. Here's another idea: by Type44Q · · Score: 2

    Here's another idea: a DIY glass eye...

  10. plans are everywhere by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This has been done a thousand times, is not news, and you can find plans all over the internet.

  11. Doesn't show anything by bradgoodman · · Score: 1

    Very poor fast-forwarded, un-narreted video of how to load it. No video of it actually working. I'm assuming it did - but kind if think if it really worked well - they'd show that - or show how to use it. I kind of wonder how it worked - and it if it actually did at all.

    1. Re:Doesn't show anything by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought the operation was pretty obvious from watching the video, there is a string connected to the crank and that crank is run under each of the rubber bands so as you wind up the string it gets pulled back and frees the back end of the rubber band "firing" it.

    2. Re:Doesn't show anything by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The first part of the video shows a kid firing it

    3. Re:Doesn't show anything by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And where's the PowerPoint of the projected sales, and the stock options!? There's supposed to be stock options for untested vaporware!!!

      Reminds me of the stock fraud of the Diasensor non-invasive glucometer, and the SugarTrac, and the Dreambeam. All had the same idea, all had prototypes and excited investors, none of them actually worked.

    4. Re:Doesn't show anything by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Da fuq? The video is right there on that page. The first 27 seconds of the video are a kid shooting it. It does work... and you're just a fucking moron.

    5. Re:Doesn't show anything by melarky · · Score: 1

      The video starts out with my son shooting the final gun. I might make a separate video for the loading instructions if enough people complain, but I was hoping it was clear enough from that snippet at the end. You can crank the wheel as fast or slow as you want for your rate of shooting speed. With this type of gun it's 15 minutes of loading for 15 seconds of shooting basically :) But it's a glorious 15 seconds, so it's worth it.

  12. There is a difference between ... by MouseTheLuckyDog · · Score: 0

    being nerdy and being childish.

    1. Re:There is a difference between ... by bobbied · · Score: 1

      being nerdy and being childish.

      Yea? So which is this huh? (sticks tongue out)

      Sometimes I wonder if they are generally the same..

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    2. Re:There is a difference between ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes. And you're not being nerdy with your post.

  13. Re:not Gatling-like, only somewhat Gatling-inspire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah, I was really hoping to see how someone designed an autoloading mechanism for rubber bands. This project looks like fun and was a great thing to do with the kids, but I'm still disappointed.

  14. I used to make and sell these by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Almost exactly the same back in 1999!! https://web.archive.org/web/20010515195839/http://www.mtcnet.net/~hljia/

  15. News ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sure looks a lot like the one I made in grade school over 30 years ago...

  16. Surely not D.C. by RuffMasterD · · Score: 1

    Some freaks in D.C. love their giant latex 'assault weapons'.

    --
    Human Rights, Article 12: Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence