How to Make a Nerf Gun out of Household Items

Co-authored by Amber Crain

Last Updated: September 15, 2022 References Tested

Nerf guns are a blast, but did you know you can build a simple Nerf gun yourself with just a few items? The gun launches Nerf darts and everything! This project is easy to complete and can be a fun way to spend an afternoon. Grab your buddies and plenty of Nerf darts and give one of these guns a try!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Marker Mini Gun

1
Saw off both ends of a Crayola marker. Remove the marker’s cap and cut off both ends of the marker with a hacksaw. On the end with the marker tip, be sure to cut off the narrow plastic part, too, so you’re left with a plastic tube that’s uniform in diameter.^{[1]
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- You can make this gun with ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) PVC pipe, as well. A marker is a great (and cheap) substitute since most people have one laying around the house.^{[2]
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- If you don’t have a hacksaw handy, use a Dremel tool for this.
- Be careful using sharp cutting tools since they can be dangerous. If you're a kid, ask an adult to help you out with this part.
2
Remove the ink cartridge inside the plastic tube. Once you saw off the ends, the cartridge should pop out easily. You can use a screwdriver to pop the ink cartridge out if it’s being stubborn. Watch out, though! Handling the ink cartridge can get a bit messy.^{[3]
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- Do this part outside or over a trash can to prevent any messes.^{[4]
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3
Push a drill bit through the tube to smooth out the inside. You’ll see a few small plastic prongs inside the tubing; those need to be removed so your darts launch properly. Use a drill to quickly file down the prongs so the inside of the tube is perfectly smooth.^{[5]
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- If you don’t have a drill, use a file to smooth out the prongs.^{[6]
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4
Attach a regular balloon to the tube’s narrow end. One end of the marker is slightly narrower than the other end, but you have to look closely to tell! Once you identify the narrow end, slip the round lip of a regular balloon over the end and pull the balloon neck up the tube about 1 in (2.5 cm).^{[7]
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5
Secure the balloon in place with a zip tie. Wrap a zip tie around the plastic tube to hold the balloon firmly in place. One regular zip tie should do the trick.^{[8]
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- If you want to make your gun look cooler, wrap the plastic tube with black electrical tape to hide the white areas and the Crayola logo.
6
Blow a puff of air into the tube’s open end to partially inflate the balloon. Once the balloon is attached, bring the plastic tube up to your mouth. Blow a puff of air into the open end of the tube so the balloon inflates about halfway. You don't need to fully inflate the balloon for this.^{[9]
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- Be sure to load and shoot the dart right after you inflate the balloon! The balloon will slowly deflate on its own.
7
Insert a Nerf dart into the open end of the plastic tube. A regular Nerf dart should fit perfectly into the marker tube. If your dart is pretty new, slide it in about halfway. For older darts, push it all the way into the tube.^{[10]
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- Don’t push the dart beyond the other end of the tube. It won't work if the dart falls into the balloon.^{[11]
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Aim at your target and squeeze the balloon to shoot the dart. Now for the fun part! Point the open end of the tube at your target. Then, just squeeze the balloon with your hand to shoot the dart.^{[12]
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- Try making homemade targets out of paper plates.^{[13]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

PVC Blow Gun

1
Buy ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) PVC pipe and cut it down to 2 ft (0.61 m) long. Nerf darts fit perfectly inside a ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) PVC pipe! Use a table saw, hacksaw, or Dremel tool to cut down the pipe so that it’s 2 ft (0.61 m) long.^{[14]
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- You can buy regular white PVC pipe at any home improvement store.
- Get an adult to help you with tools like saws and drills.
2
Drill a nail-sized hole 3 in (7.6 cm) from the end of the pipe. Use a drill to make a hole through the side of the pipe. You only need to drill through one side; don't drill all the way through to the other side.^{[15]
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- The most common nail sizes are 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) in length.
3
Poke a nail through the hole and superglue it in place. File the end of the nail down so that it fits perfectly into the hole and pipe without jutting out at all. Make sure the nail fits snugly and superglue it in place.^{[16]
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- The nail prevents Nerf darts from falling into your mouth when you’re shooting your blow gun.
- If you're using a nail that's shorter than 1 in (2.5 cm) long, you probably won't have to file it down much (or at all).
4
Sand down both ends of the pipe to make them smooth. Run a piece of sandpaper over both ends of the tube so the openings are perfectly smooth. Wipe away the sanding dust when you’re done.^{[17]
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- You can also use a sanding block for this.
5
Wrap the pipe with electrical or duct tape for a sleek look. You don’t have to do this, but it makes your homemade Nerf gun look a lot cooler! For a black gun, wrap the pipe in electrical tape. If you want a silver barrel, use duct tape instead.^{[18]
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6
Cut 6 pieces of PVC that are each 2 in (5.1 cm) long to add an ammo holder. Use a hacksaw, table saw, or Dremel tool to cut 6 pieces of leftover PVC; make each piece 2 in (5.1 cm) long. Hold the longer piece of PVC about 6 in (15 cm) from the end. Pack the 6 short pieces lengthwise around the long pipe until it's completely surrounded. Then, use 2 zip ties to hold everything in place.^{[19]
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- You don’t have to add the ammo holder, but it looks pretty cool.
7
Push a foam ring over the pipe's end down to the ammo holder. Slice a 1 in (2.5 cm) ring off a foam pool noodle with a sharp knife. Push the long piece of pipe through the center of the pool noodle ring until it’s flush with the ammo holder.^{[20]
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8
Load 1 Nerf dart into the end of the long pipe. Hold the blow gun so the end with the nail is closest to you and the longer end extends out in front of you. Drop 1 Nerf dart into the end without the nail. It should slide easily down the tube and rest against the nail.^{[21]
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- If you added the ammo holder, stick 6 Nerf darts into the short pipes so they’re ready to use.^{[22]
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9
Aim at your target and blow into the pipe to shoot the dart. Find yourself a good target and take aim. Then, put your mouth to the end of the pipe that’s closest to the nail, take a deep breath, and blow to launch the Nerf dart!^{[23]
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- Paper plates are great homemade targets to practice with. If you're in a "battle," try using a cardboard box as a shield.^{[24]
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Community Q&A

Question

Where can I buy PVC pipes?

Community Answer

You can buy PVC pipe at any hardware store, such as Ace, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.
Question

Do I have to use PVC pipe to make a Nerf gun ?

Umid Jabbar

Community Answer

No. You just have to get a hollow cylinder thin enough for a Nerf dart to pass through. A paper tube reinforced with duct tape would also have the right strength to hold the weight and air.
Question

Can I do this with Mega Darts?

Community Answer

If you have a pipe big enough, It should work fine.