Last Updated on September 17, 2022
You may be asking yourself, “How to make a blowgun mouthpiece.” The answer is actually easier than you might think. If you have access to some materials, like river cane, bamboo, piano wire, or pipes, you can make a blowgun mouthpiece. In fact, there are so many different types of mouthpieces out there that you can use to create one of your own. Here are some tips to help you get started.
River cane
The Cherokee have a long history with the blowgun. According to the Cherokee blowgun makers, their ancestors drilled their blowguns with flint tipped drills and dropped hot coals down the barrel to burn out the joints. However, there are no archaeological remains of prehistoric blowguns, and the cane does not preserve well in the Southeast. In addition, Hernado De Soto did not mention blowguns among the Cherokee tribe when he recorded the area in 1540.
For a good blowgun, river cane must be straightened and shaped by heat. To achieve a straight cane, cut the cane at least three to four feet longer than you need. Make sure that you cut the cane past the joint on both ends of the cane. This is to help it retain its shape once it has dried. The next step is to make a mouthpiece out of it.
Aside from the blowgun, a cane can also be used as a paint brush, a fire brush, and a craft item. For example, a cane vial is made from the hollow portion of the cane clum. It is hollow and can be used for medicine or liquid. It also makes a great container. Danny McCarter is a champion blowgun shooter and has won both the Cherokee National Holiday and the United Ketoowah Band Holiday.
Bamboo
A bamboo blowgun can be made by using a number of simple materials. It should be at least two feet long and have a diameter of at least 1/2 inch. You’ll need two or three sticks that are between two and three feet long. Using green sticks makes the process a lot easier. Any type of wood will work though. Once you’ve got a few sticks, begin splicing them together.
A good bamboo material to use is one that is hollow. River cane, a large grass native to the southeastern United States, is also hollow. Once you’ve cut the bamboo into a tube, you’ll need to remove any solid nodes. You can also use a piece of steel rebar or a piece of half-inch PVC pipe. Once the tube is hollow, you’ll have a blowgun mouthpiece that can be used for many years to come.
Bamboo can be a difficult material to work with, but a small amount of research will reveal that this material has great potential as a blowgun mouthpiece. By carefully shaping a bamboo blowgun mouthpiece, you can create a truly unique blowgun with just a few simple materials. Once you’ve mastered the art of shaping a bamboo blowgun mouthpiece, the process should be simple and enjoyable.
Pipe
Using a pipe, you can create a blowgun mouthpiece. Cut the pipe to a suitable length. Use a 3/4″ to 1/2″ reducer. This will allow you to purse your lips when blowing into the blowgun. The smaller diameter allows you to build up air pressure more easily. Next, add a small bit of silicone and glue the pipe to the pipe. You are now ready to shoot!
The blowgun can be about three to seven feet long. Longer ones have more range, but are difficult to handle and aim. Beginners should start with shorter blowguns. A three-foot blowgun is the most convenient. If you don’t have one yet, consider using a piece of bamboo or river cane that’s half an inch wide and about five feet long. Cut the pipe one foot longer than the bamboo piece.
The blowgun mouthpiece is made by inserting a Nerf dart into one end of the pipe. The “business” end of the pipe should be facing upward. Holding the pipe to your face, aim at an unsuspecting target. Blow sharply, and a blowgun can hit a target sixty feet or more away. The pipe can also double as a hiking stick.
Piano wire
Rather than purchasing a blowgun, you can easily make one yourself at home. This weapon is inexpensive, silent, and highly effective, and the dart is made from a small piece of sharpened steel piano wire. The dart was tested by the FBI crime lab for harmful substances, but results are not available. The dart costs $12, and you can load one into your blowgun’s mouthpiece and blow into it forcefully.
Coat hanger
To make a coat hanger blowgun, cut a piece of 1/2-inch PVC pipe approximately 4.5 to 5.5 feet long. You can adjust the length of the pipe according to your own comfort level and the length of your arms. The wide end of the pipe can serve as the mouthpiece. Cut another piece of pipe into two equal halves. Attach a female 1/2-inch threaded adapter to each end of the pipe with PVC glue. This will add rigidity to the blowgun.
Now, cut a cone-shaped piece of wire from a soda bottle. The sides should be angled at the top and bottom. Wrap cotton balls around the ends of the cone to make it more comfortable to wear. Place the dart inside the top end of the blowgun, and put your lips together around the blowhole. Then, quickly blow out the dart by releasing the pressure from your mouth.
Bamboo skewers
If you’ve always wanted to learn how to make a blowgun mouthpiece, there are several quick methods you can try. Bamboo skewers can be used informally for this purpose, or you can use a more formal method such as carving hardwood splinters. Informally, you can use bamboo skewers for the dart shaft, which also acts as a fletch, stabilizing the dart in flight. If you’re looking for a quick, inexpensive way to make a blowgun mouthpiece, use rabbit fur.
To make the darts, simply drill a hole in the center of each wooden skewer, and add some tape to the front. The dart’s front needs extra weight for distance shots, but for short range shooting, you can leave the dart without the broadhead. Once you’ve added tape to the front of the dart, you’re ready to test your new blowgun!
About The Author
Mindy Vu is a part time shoe model and professional mum. She loves to cook and has been proclaimed the best cook in the world by her friends and family. She adores her pet dog Twinkie, and is happily married to her books.