# How to Make a Homemade Taser? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 30, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773 "2013-01-30T03:20:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/1 "2013-01-30T03:20:09Z")
How to Make a Homemade Taser? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/2 "2013-01-30T03:27:32Z")
This will end well. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/3 "2013-01-30T03:56:41Z")
Are you asking us or telling us? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/4 "2013-01-30T04:10:05Z")
If he tells us, he’ll have to tase us. ---
**Author:** ![efyou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4da419/32.png) [@efyou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/efyou)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/5 "2013-01-30T04:12:19Z")
Don’t tase me bro. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/6 "2013-01-30T12:10:16Z")
**shengdanjie** : I’d guess you found us because of his column by Cecil from a few years ago: > **[How dangerous are Tasers?](https://www.straightdope.com/21343962/how-dangerous-are-tasers)** I’m not sure whether you’re asking how to make a home-made taser, but this ain’t the place. I believe it would be illegal, and certainly dangerous. On the assumption that you are a possibly a legitimate poster (rather than a spammer), I’m leaving this alone to see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/7 "2013-01-30T12:26:15Z")
Do you mean a rustic pre-Civil War type taser? Made from articles form the forests and fields. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/8 "2013-01-30T13:25:28Z")
I think he means a 1920’s style taser. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/9 "2013-01-30T13:31:35Z")
Homemade Taser? Simple. Just take a fork and stick it in an electrical outlet. You will most definitely be tased right in the comfort of your own home. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/10 "2013-01-30T14:00:29Z")
Making a home made taser is easy. First you need to get some hard to find parts. The best place to find these is in tasers. So buy several tasers for parts. Get new ones, used taser parts are often already broken and you’ll just have to buy more new ones to replace those. You will also need some additional parts and specialized tools; duct tape, crazy glue, lots of wire in several gauges (some solid, some stranded, some insulated some bare), a set of jewelers screwdrivers, x-acto knife, wire cutter, wire strippers, needle nose pliers, two vice grip pliers, an oscilliscope, logic analyzer, vacuum plastic molder, bench grinder, wire wrap tool, electrical tape (in several colors to help identify different parts), soldering iron, hacksaw, drill with several fractional drill bits, angle grinder, heat shrink tubing and a heat gun (a hair dryer will do, but not as well), small propane torch, pop rivet tool and rivets, wire brush, dremel tool with several grinding bits and a a couple of cut off wheels, several small c-clamps, small metal file, rat tail rasp, small nuts and bolts and some wrenches to match, several crimp on electrical connectors and crimping pliers, sandpaper, a couple of perfboards to mount parts, several alligator clips, one of those helping hands things with the magnifying glass is indispensible, measuring calipers, and a hammer. The rest of the instructions are complicated, let me know when you have gathered up all the materials and tools and I’ll give you the assembly instructions. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/11 "2013-01-30T14:12:25Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > logic analyzer A basic requirement for all Dopers. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/12 "2013-01-30T14:18:34Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > …vacuum plastic molder… Ok I have all of the other components, but can I use a plastic **injection** molder or does it have to be **vacuum**? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/13 "2013-01-30T14:21:11Z")
> [@The\_Surb](#): > > Ok I have all of the other components, but can I use a plastic **injection** molder or does it have to be **vacuum**? I suppose if you’re clever you can use an injection molder. Also, in addition you’ll need some masking tape (approx. 1" width) and a felt tip pen. I prefer Sharpies. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/14 "2013-01-30T15:39:11Z")
i like to give my projects that professional look with a Dymo labeler. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/15 "2013-01-30T15:54:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I suppose if you’re clever you can use an injection molder. > > Also, in addition you’ll need some masking tape (approx. 1" width) and a felt tip pen. I prefer Sharpies. What color Sharpie? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/16 "2013-01-30T16:24:04Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What color Sharpie? Hot pink Sharpies have the most gigabytes and also make the voltage higher. And your car run faster. I recommend that. Also, did you forget to mention the Monster Cable ™ brand 100% virgin oxygen-free glass optical fiber? Your tazing won’t have the full warmth and dynamic range of a live tazing without it. Too much quantization noise otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/17 "2013-01-30T16:39:39Z")
Jesus. Fuck it. I’m sticking with the fork in the socket. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/18 "2013-01-30T16:52:40Z")
Am I the only one here old enough to remember when taser-equivalent devices were a common schoolboy science project? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/19 "2013-01-30T17:10:34Z")
> [@John\_W.Kennedy](#): > > Am I the only one here old enough to remember when taser-equivalent devices were a common schoolboy science project? I don’t recall those, but my high school electricity teacher had a hand-cranked generator on his desk (about the size your typical wall-mounted pencil sharpener) that would zap the bejeezus out of you. It wasn’t uncommon for him to indoctrinate you to his class and the wonders of electricity by saying “here, hold these wires.” ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773/20 "2013-01-30T17:11:56Z")
I apologize for asking a serious question in this thread, but… Is it in fact illegal to build and/or possess a home-made taser? Assume no projectiles, or at least propelled by something legal, like a modified Nerf gun. I imagine this could vary by State, but does anyone know the answer for most states? Or any state? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-homemade-taser/648773.md?page=2)