How to Make a DIY Gel Blaster Gun on a Budget?

Gel blaster guns are toy guns that fire small water-filled gel beads or balls using spring or electric mechanisms. They provide a safe, painless alternative to airsoft guns for recreational combat simulation games. With some research and basic skills, it’s possible to make your own DIY gel blaster at home on a budget.

This comprehensive article will walk through the entire process of planning, constructing, and testing a customized DIY gel blaster gun using affordable materials. Key steps covered include researching needed parts, sketching out designs, building a sturdy frame, installing firing components, troubleshooting issues, and using the blaster responsibly. Supplementary information on gel blaster types, safety laws, and maintenance is also provided.

With the help of this guide, readers can discover the satisfaction and savings of creating their own gel blaster from scratch. The instructions and tips will enable anyone to build a fully functional, customized toy weapon optimized for safe recreational fun. Let’s get started with gathering the required components while keeping within a tight budget.

Gathering Materials on a Budget:

The first step is researching the various gel blaster designs and components to determine exactly what you’ll need. Helpful resources include YouTube tutorial videos and online guides. Take notes on the different types of parts and how they work together. Some essential components are:

• PVC pipes – Form the main body and barrel of the blaster.
• Power source – Batteries or a motor to power firing. Rechargeable batteries are economical.
• Firing mechanism – Usually a motor and spring. Pulls back and releases gel balls.
• Trigger – Lever that actuates motor when pulled. Can be custom made.
• Hop-up bucking – Adds backspin to gel balls for better flight stability.
• Barrel – Tube that balls pass through before firing. Brass tubing works well.

Once you know what’s needed, it’s time to gather the materials while staying within a budget. Check hobby shops, hardware stores, and online retailers for deals and discounts on bulk quantities of parts. Many components like PVC pipes, springs, and tubing can be purchased cheaply.

Reusing household items is another great money-saving tactic. For example, old electric toothbrush heads can be repurposed as vibrator motors to power battery-operated blasters. Plastic bottles, tubing, and pipes may also be recycled into useful parts. With some creativity, you can build most of a gel blaster from reused materials.

Designing and Planning the Gel Blaster:

Before starting construction, it helps tremendously to sketch out designs and plan how components will fit together. Consider the overall size and weight of the blaster for easy handling and transport. Smaller lightweight designs around 24 inches long work well.

The firing mechanism is a key consideration. Spring-powered pistons are simplest, but electric motor drives allow automatic firing. The firing force must be strong enough to shoot gel balls 60-100 feet, but not overpowered. Review motor and spring options to choose an optimal mechanism.

Figure out how all components will be positioned and attached within the frame. Make sure to allow space for batteries, wiring, and ammo feeds. Having a well-developed plan before building will ensure parts fit together properly and allow functions like ball firing to operate smoothly.

Constructing the Frame:

The frame forms the foundation that holds all other blaster components together. PVC pipe works perfectly for DIY gel blaster builds, being affordable, rigid, and easy to cut and join.

Start by measuring and cutting lengths of 1/2 to 1 inch PVC pipe to size. Use PVC connectors like T-joints, elbows, and couplers to join the pieces into a complete frame.

Solvent glues like PVC cement permanently fuse joints for maximum strength. Follow glue instructions carefully. Allow time for the structure to fully cure before adding components.

Double check that the completed PVC frame is rigid and sturdy. The frame must be able to securely support attached parts during operation. Reinforce joints with additional glue or brackets if needed before moving on.

Installing Firing Mechanism:

With a solid frame built, it’s time to add the components that enable the blaster to shoot gel balls. This requires properly mounting a motor, connecting batteries, attaching a trigger, and routing an ammunition feed.

Powerful vibration motors used in personal massagers work perfectly to drive most DIY gel blasters. Mount the motor securely on the frame. Make sure extra wiring allows the motor to cycle back and forth. Connect rechargeable batteries like 18650 cells to power the motor.

The trigger mechanism actuates the motor to fire balls when pulled. Bend and attach a length of wire to act as the trigger lever. Mount a switch onto the frame that the trigger can press to complete the motor circuit.

Feed gel ball ammo into the firing chamber using a length of tubing or cut PVC pipe. Position the chamber opening near the front muzzle so balls can load correctly. Test the firing function repeatedly to verify smooth operation.

Testing and Adjustments:

Before using your completed DIY gel blaster, extensive testing and fine tuning any issues is absolutely vital for safety. Verify that the firing mechanism loads, chambers, and shots gel balls properly without jamming. Fix any misfeeds immediately by adjusting parts alignment.

Confirm that the muzzle velocity is within safe ranges, ideally 200 to 350 fps. Increase motor power or use a lighter spring if shots are too weak. Add padding inside the barrel if fps is excessive. Always wear eye protection, and avoid shooting at people or animals.

Try firing many rounds continuously to check for durability and overheating issues. Make sure wiring connections stay secure. Tighten any fasteners that may vibrate loose over time. Apply thread lock compound as needed to ensure screws stay fixed under repeated firing forces.

Only operate the blaster once completely satisfied with its performance and safety. Having patience during testing is crucial to working out all possible problems beforehand. Always store gel blasters securely and supervise children if allowing them to use.

Safety Tips and Responsible Use:

DIY gel blasters create no regulated licensing issues since they shoot water beads rather than airsoft pellets. However, common sense safety practices should always be followed, including:

• Wear eye protection like ANSI-rated goggles when firing.
• Avoid aiming at eyes, faces, or unprotected skin.
• Treat the blaster as you would any firearm.
• Secure it away from children when not in use.
• Follow all local ordinances regarding gel blaster ownership and use. Many legislate them like real firearms.
• Use blasters only in safe areas or designated fields. Never brandish publicly.
• Maintain reasonable muzzle velocities and supervise use if allowing others to fire your blaster.

Building and operating a DIY gel blaster properly and safely will ensure it provides hours of recreational enjoyment. Handle it with the maturity of any potentially hazardous device. The diligent testing and care put into creating it will go a long way toward preventing issues if common sense prevails while in use.