This article was taken from the February 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by
Want to try your hand at inking? You can make your own tattoo gun for less than £10 with a razor blade, a guitar string and some basic DIY know-how. Not, of course, that you should use it on
yourself or any living creature -- unless your local Hells Angels chapter stops by.
Warning: Don't use this on humans or animals\1. Prep the rubber
Pull out the rubber from the pencil and cut it in half with the razor blade. Once that's done, drill a small hole through the centre using a screw hook. \2. Arrange a string
Cut 5-7cm of guitar string and use the cutters to bend one end to 90 degrees. Thread it through the rubber so the rubber rests against the bend. \3. Add a motor
Take the brush off the toothbrush and firmly push the rubber on to the metal shaft, so that the side of the eraser sat against the bent string faces down. \4. Attach the pencil
Twist off the top of the mechanical pencil and thread the guitar string through the top's tip. Centre the top of the pencil on the toothbrush. \5. Secure the parts
Fix the pencil and the toothbrush together with electrical tape. Cut the remaining string that is sticking from the tip of the pencil -- it must be sharp. \6. Make some art
The string should disappear below the tip of the lid when the pen is turned on, but stay above when off. Dip the gun tip into your ink and get to work.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK