Conductive materials, suggestions?

[[email protected]]

I'm sure you've seen those "shock buzzer" novelty items. Push the
button on a retractable pen, pull the trigger on a toy gun, try to use
the remote...you get a mild electric shock. The components are so
small that I'd like to take them out of existing (cheap) products and
put them inside new ones. There's a problem, though.

I know I can find metal buttons/triggers/parts at the flea market or
junkyard, but what if I want to make my own? I don't know how to melt
metal and mold it. So, my question:

Is there a conductive sculpting material--something like sculpy or
repair putty-- that conducts electricity?

Also--and this is totally secondary to the main question; are there any
plans online for one of these "shocker" circuits that can be hooked up
to a AAA battery? It looks really simple. I just don't know that I
would save enough money making my own to bother with it. So, this
second question is only out of curiousity.

Thanks.

 

[Don A. Gilmore]

I'm sure you've seen those "shock buzzer" novelty items. Push the
button on a retractable pen, pull the trigger on a toy gun, try to use
the remote...you get a mild electric shock. The components are so
small that I'd like to take them out of existing (cheap) products and
put them inside new ones. There's a problem, though.

I know I can find metal buttons/triggers/parts at the flea market or
junkyard, but what if I want to make my own? I don't know how to melt
metal and mold it. So, my question:

Is there a conductive sculpting material--something like sculpy or
repair putty-- that conducts electricity?

Also--and this is totally secondary to the main question; are there any
plans online for one of these "shocker" circuits that can be hooked up
to a AAA battery? It looks really simple. I just don't know that I
would save enough money making my own to bother with it. So, this
second question is only out of curiousity.

If it's a true "conductor", meaning you want it to really carry electricity
like a metal and not just dissipate static charges, like resistive
materials, then it will probably be loaded with silver and thus pretty
expensive.

Don
Kansas City

 

[Mark Fergerson]

If it's a true "conductor", meaning you want it to really carry electricity
like a metal and not just dissipate static charges, like resistive
materials, then it will probably be loaded with silver and thus pretty
expensive.

Yep. There's this stuff called "Art Clay" that's basically fine
silver (or gold) particles in a paper pulp binder. You sculpt what you
want then fire it in a kiln, and as the binder burns away the metal
fuses leaving solid metal. Shrinkage around 10% IIRC. Google for it if
you're interested, but it ain't cheap.

If I was going to do it I'd prolly just cut/grind/file/polish
whatever metal I wanted to use for the conductive parts. Stainless is
cheap, and fairly easy to work with frinst a Dremel for the fiddly bits.

If it's that simple just copy it directly or gut one of these gizmos
and put the guts into your "custom" package. While you're at it, post
pics in alt.binaries.schematics.electronic.

I found a cached Google page of somebody else's similar effort by
Googlong "shocker lighter" +schematic, but the original page with pics
is apparently gone.

Or you could go the KISS route:

http://www.getoffmynuts.com/view.php?id=32

Mark L. Fergerson

 

[[email protected]]

Yep. There's this stuff called "Art Clay" that's basically fine
silver (or gold) particles in a paper pulp binder. You sculpt what you
want then fire it in a kiln, and as the binder burns away the metal
fuses leaving solid metal. Shrinkage around 10% IIRC. Google for it if
you're interested, but it ain't cheap.

If I was going to do it I'd prolly just cut/grind/file/polish
whatever metal I wanted to use for the conductive parts. Stainless is

cheap, and fairly easy to work with frinst a Dremel for the fiddly bits.

If it's that simple just copy it directly or gut one of these gizmos
and put the guts into your "custom" package. While you're at it, post

pics in alt.binaries.schematics.electronic.

I found a cached Google page of somebody else's similar effort by
Googlong "shocker lighter" +schematic, but the original page with pics
is apparently gone.

Or you could go the KISS route:

http://www.getoffmynuts.com/view.php?id=32

Mark L. Fergerson

Awesome. Thanks!

I found Art Clay Silver, 10g for $15. That is really expensive,
considering I couldn't get more than two or three projects out of one
package.

I probably will have to grind metal at some point. I've used a dremel
on plastic, so it shouldn't be too hard. Just need to invest in new
tips and a vise.

 

[Rich Grise]

I'm sure you've seen those "shock buzzer" novelty items. Push the
button on a retractable pen, pull the trigger on a toy gun, try to use
the remote...you get a mild electric shock. The components are so
small that I'd like to take them out of existing (cheap) products and
put them inside new ones. There's a problem, though.

I know I can find metal buttons/triggers/parts at the flea market or
junkyard, but what if I want to make my own? I don't know how to melt
metal and mold it. So, my question:

Is there a conductive sculpting material--something like sculpy or
repair putty-- that conducts electricity?

Also--and this is totally secondary to the main question; are there any
plans online for one of these "shocker" circuits that can be hooked up
to a AAA battery? It looks really simple. I just don't know that I
would save enough money making my own to bother with it. So, this
second question is only out of curiousity.

Sculpt your button-shape in Sculpy, and embed a little metal plate with
wire from the bottom, into the top of the button-shape, with the wire
going down through and out the bottom.

Making a shock box is almost trivially easy - I've seen them with no
electronic parts at all - the little fake book had a weighted spring with
a little magnet glued to it, so that when you opened the fake book, the
little metal strip would get pulled up until the magnet lets go, then it
whaps down and bounces off the other contact. What the contacts do is just
interrupt the current from a 1.5V battery to the primary of a flash
trigger transformer. For full-auto, wire a relay as a buzzer.

Do not build or use this because lethal voltages are present. I take no
responsibility whatsoever for any action taken by any one based on my
suggestions.

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[Mark Fergerson]

cheap, and fairly easy to work with frinst a Dremel for the fiddly

Awesome. Thanks!

Not so sure about "awesome", but it was kinda fun to watch ol'
fumble-fingers working on that poor camera, wasn't it?

I found Art Clay Silver, 10g for $15. That is really expensive,
considering I couldn't get more than two or three projects out of one
package.

I did mention it wasn't cheap. But if it _has_ to be a precious
metal, I'd go for it rather than try to cast it. I happen to know a
woman who does that, and I'd rather be soldering SMTs!

I probably will have to grind metal at some point. I've used a dremel
on plastic, so it shouldn't be too hard. Just need to invest in new
tips and a vise.

And safety goggles. Ask me how I know...

Mark L. Fergerson

 

[Gary Helfert]

Radio Shack sells a pen that dispenses conductive ink. $12 per pen.

 

[[email protected]]

Sculpt your button-shape in Sculpy, and embed a little metal plate with
wire from the bottom, into the top of the button-shape, with the wire

going down through and out the bottom.

I wasn't sure about this until now. It seems like the odds on finding
a standard part that I can mold inside sculpy is just as remote as
finding one that would be perfect as is. I got my newest shock toy in
the mail today, though, and it's perfect for this method.

It also seems conductive paint is more versatile than I'd thought.

Making a shock box is almost trivially easy - I've seen them with no
electronic parts at all - the little fake book had a weighted spring with
a little magnet glued to it, so that when you opened the fake book, the
little metal strip would get pulled up until the magnet lets go, then it
whaps down and bounces off the other contact. What the contacts do is just
interrupt the current from a 1.5V battery to the primary of a flash
trigger transformer. For full-auto, wire a relay as a buzzer.

Do not build or use this because lethal voltages are present. I take no
responsibility whatsoever for any action taken by any one based on my

suggestions.

Good Luck!
Rich

I'm just gonna stick with the pre-made shockworks. I actually found a
kit online, for $10. Then I found just one of the components at Radio
Shack and it was more expensive than a whole shock toy.

Thanks again to all contributors.