Introduction: Curiously Strong (How to Make an Altoids Tin Stun Gun)

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Prepare to have hours of fun shocking friends! Everybody loves Altoids and making things out of Altoids tins, so you'll love the Altoids tin stun gun I'll show you how to make. The best thing is that you will have to spend little to nothing to make this.

Materials needed:

    • Disposable camera (you can get for free at film developing places)

    • Altoids tin (better get to eating)

    • Push button (simple on off button that controls electricity, I used a doorbell later on just for easier mounting but it's the same
      principle)

    • Solder (optional but recommended)

    • Wire

    • AA battery (should come with disposable camera)

    • Nails (or other stiff metal objects for the shocking probe) 

    • Electrical Tape (you could substitute this for duct tape if you had to)

    • Silicone or other metal compatible glue (silicone is available at 99¢ only store for $1.00)

    • Toggle Switch

Tools Needed:

• Soldering Iron (optional but recommended)

• Wire strippers (or some other method of removing wire insulation)

• Drill or punch

• Multimeter (recommended)

Step 1: Take Apart the Camera and Remove Flash Bulb

Disassemble the disposable camera by removing the plastic shell until you see something like the picture above.

 To prevent from being shocked connect the two ends of the capacitor (the thing that looks like a battery) with a screwdriver making sure to hold on to the insulated part of the screwdriver while doing so. 

Be sure to make a  note of which terminals or wires the flash charge button is connected to. 

Remove the flash bulb like in the picture.

Step 2: Connect Wires

*Optional* To make your shocker pulse rather than discharge in a single powerful shock remove the capacitor and connect the wires to the 2 terminals where it was located rather than the capacitor leads I mention below.

Connect 2 wires to capacitor as shown, soldering if desired.

If you have a 4 leg button: test your push-button for continuity (resistance) using the ohms setting on your multimeter or a battery a wire and an led. Figure out which legs are not normally connected to each other when the button is not being pushed.

Connect a wire to one of the normally closed sides of the button and connect the other side of the normally closed button to one of the wires connected to the capacitor. Look at the picture for clarity if you are unsure of what I mean.

Connect the wire leading from the capacitor to one of the nails you will be using as a shock probe. Connect the other wire, the one leading from the button, to the other shock probe.

If you would like the capacitor to charge fully before shocking your victim: connect the 2 pads where the charging button was connected to with a wire see pictures for more info.

 If you would like to regulate the strength of the shock your victim gets: Get switch or button of some type and connect 2 wires  one going to each side that connects when the button. It doesn't matter which wire you connect where. I used a toggle switch as seen here.

Step 3: Drill Holes for Buttons and Shock Probes

Find and mark off a good place to put your shock probes. Drill or punch two holes about the same diameter as your shock probe (your nail or other metal object) in the Altoids tin for the the probes to go through. Use a wood block to prevent the Altoids tin from bending. See picture for more help. 

Put your circuit-board inside your Altoids tin to test it for size. Make a note of where the button will fit good and be easily reachable. Mark a place where you want the button hole to go. Drill where you marked the hole.

Step 4: Prep Your Altoids Tin for Electrical Stuff

THIS STEP IS CRUCIAL TO PREVENT THE CIRCUIT FROM SHORTING OUT OR SHOCKING THE USER: Insulate your Altoids tin with some type of insulator. Duct tape or electrical tape is recommended. Once you are done insulating poke holes in the tape where you drilled for your probes and for your button.

Do the same thing for the "Shock Regulator Button" (the button that controls how much the capacitor fills) if you put it.

Step 5: Glue in Your Shock Probes and Button

Important: Wrap your shock probes in electrical tape. 

Glue probes (using silicone or another metal compatible glue) into the holes you drilled. 

Glue your push-button in as well making sure it is in a good place to push.

Wait the amount of time necessary for the adhesive to dry. 

Step 6: Test It Out!

Now here's the FUN part! Gather an unsuspecting friend. (if you have the capacitor regulator button or switch then you must press it first to load up the desired amount of shock power) Push the button and touch them with both probes. Watch the look on their face as they receive an unsuspecting shock.