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Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build Implements of Spitball Warfare
PopularMechanics.com selection for one of The Best DIY and Home Improvement Books of 2009
We’ve come a long way from the Peashooter Era: with the advent of modern household products and office supplies—binder clips, clothespins, rubber bands, ballpoint pens, toothpicks, paper clips, plastic utensils, and (of course) matches and barbeque lighters—troublemakers of all stripes have the components needed to build an impressive, if somewhat miniaturized, arsenal.
Toy designer John Austin provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for each project, including materials and ammo lists, clear diagrams, and construction tips, for mayhem-loving MacGyvers. The 35 devices include catapults, slingshots, minibombs, darts, and combustion shooters. Build a tiny trebuchet from paper clips and a D-cell battery. Wrap a penny in a string of paper caps to create a surprisingly impressive “bomb.” Several of the projects even include variations where combatants mount laser pointer sights to their shooters to increase their accuracy.
Finally, once you’ve built your armory, the author provides plans for a Top Secret Concealing Book to hide your stash, as well as targets for shooting practice. Never let your personal space go undefended again!
We’ve come a long way from the Peashooter Era: with the advent of modern household products and office supplies—binder clips, clothespins, rubber bands, ballpoint pens, toothpicks, paper clips, plastic utensils, and (of course) matches and barbeque lighters—troublemakers of all stripes have the components needed to build an impressive, if somewhat miniaturized, arsenal.
Toy designer John Austin provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for each project, including materials and ammo lists, clear diagrams, and construction tips, for mayhem-loving MacGyvers. The 35 devices include catapults, slingshots, minibombs, darts, and combustion shooters. Build a tiny trebuchet from paper clips and a D-cell battery. Wrap a penny in a string of paper caps to create a surprisingly impressive “bomb.” Several of the projects even include variations where combatants mount laser pointer sights to their shooters to increase their accuracy.
Finally, once you’ve built your armory, the author provides plans for a Top Secret Concealing Book to hide your stash, as well as targets for shooting practice. Never let your personal space go undefended again!
241 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
38 people are currently reading
481 people want to read
About the author
John Austin
149 books13 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 11, 2011
Impulse buy with my son at Kepler's Books. Turned out to be marked down to $1, though I found it in the science section.
I bought this book over the objection of the female members of my household, though my daughter flipped her position after she built a crossbow and a Viking-style catapult.
My son was beside himself with joy of course, and we stayed up late Friday turning a mechanical pencil into a BB shooter and making a little paper clip gun out of an old wooden clothes pin I found in the basement. The paper clip shooter can be modified to shoot flaming matches, but I had to draw the line somewhere.
But here's the thing and here's why this book is genius: This book is really a stealth physics book with a little bit of history mixed in. Of course with that unfortunate title it's clearly targeted at hipster office drones, but I'm far too clever to fall for that. (Though if I still worked in an office, I would most certainly have an array of catapults on my desk.)
So here's what the kids learned this weekend: Simple machines: useful and fun; Converting potential energy into kinetic energy: very fun; Making and testing prototypes: fun; Modifying a design and retesting: interesting and fun; Finding alternate uses for ordinary household objects: fun; Pinching one's fingers in a clothespin spring: not fun and generally leading to tears.
Then we built some siege weapons (two catapults), which led to a discussion about ancient warfare in general and Alexander the Great's siege on Tyre more specifically. I found some diagrams of the machines used on Tyre in a history book and talked about how Alexander's engineers swung the balance of sieges toward the siegers and away from siegees. Then I talked about how the necessities of war have lead to many technological advances from the Roman Army to World War II. I'm pretty sure they tuned out 90% of my babbling, but maybe some of it lodged in their brains...
My son slept with the catapult he made (out of less than 10 cents worth of popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and a plastic spoon) on his pillow last night. Take that, Legos!
I bought this book over the objection of the female members of my household, though my daughter flipped her position after she built a crossbow and a Viking-style catapult.
My son was beside himself with joy of course, and we stayed up late Friday turning a mechanical pencil into a BB shooter and making a little paper clip gun out of an old wooden clothes pin I found in the basement. The paper clip shooter can be modified to shoot flaming matches, but I had to draw the line somewhere.
But here's the thing and here's why this book is genius: This book is really a stealth physics book with a little bit of history mixed in. Of course with that unfortunate title it's clearly targeted at hipster office drones, but I'm far too clever to fall for that. (Though if I still worked in an office, I would most certainly have an array of catapults on my desk.)
So here's what the kids learned this weekend: Simple machines: useful and fun; Converting potential energy into kinetic energy: very fun; Making and testing prototypes: fun; Modifying a design and retesting: interesting and fun; Finding alternate uses for ordinary household objects: fun; Pinching one's fingers in a clothespin spring: not fun and generally leading to tears.
Then we built some siege weapons (two catapults), which led to a discussion about ancient warfare in general and Alexander the Great's siege on Tyre more specifically. I found some diagrams of the machines used on Tyre in a history book and talked about how Alexander's engineers swung the balance of sieges toward the siegers and away from siegees. Then I talked about how the necessities of war have lead to many technological advances from the Roman Army to World War II. I'm pretty sure they tuned out 90% of my babbling, but maybe some of it lodged in their brains...
My son slept with the catapult he made (out of less than 10 cents worth of popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and a plastic spoon) on his pillow last night. Take that, Legos!
October 9, 2009
Very cool how-to book for making little launchers and other weapons out of office supplies. Well done, with some projects that actually could do some serious damage.
April 28, 2019
I’ve been reading an excellent fantasy story elsewhere involving siege warfare. It reminded me of this book that I’ve used previously in children’s science/technology workshops. You can make all manner of models of old fashioned siege weapons, as well as catapults, etc., using stationery equipment, or lolly sticks and elastic bands, etc. I remember that the trebuchet (with a domestic battery as the counterweight) was surprisingly effective and instructive. There’s a strong temptation to scale it up.
Marvellous diversion for a bored adult on a wet afternoon, or even curious kids with supervision.
There are more advanced ping pong ball ‘guns’ towards the end of the book involving barbecue lighters and solvent containing hairspray as a propellant, which I’ve scaled up and made. Those are definitely an adult projects!
Fun but be careful with some....
Marvellous diversion for a bored adult on a wet afternoon, or even curious kids with supervision.
There are more advanced ping pong ball ‘guns’ towards the end of the book involving barbecue lighters and solvent containing hairspray as a propellant, which I’ve scaled up and made. Those are definitely an adult projects!
Fun but be careful with some....
December 27, 2015
Amazing Small Projects ! Am going to definitely Try some of these :)
April 26, 2018
I checked this out thinking cubicle warfare. I suppose this would be a cool book for someone else, just not me. Why would I try to do this in the office? Just make a slingshot from your fingers and a rubber band. If I wanted to make a projectile weapon, I don't need this book. My mind can come up with just as plausible devices with office materials. On the other hand if you have time to kill and just want to goof off, I guess this is for you. With all this effort I'd rather build a potato gun, or a larger trebuchet or catapult. It would be cool to build a functioning crossbow, but a mini one made of kitchen/office stuff? For what purpose? If I just want to launch an item at a co-worker? I mean some of the stuff described here is downright dangerous!
November 8, 2021
Mini warfare has never been so fun. This little guide shows detailed blueprints for creating a small arsenal. There is humor in the book from certain puns to tales of man-eating cardboard birds. This little guide has a lot of fun potential.
Overall, decent read and fun to implement. I’d recommend for anyone looking to have a little fun on a budget.
Overall, decent read and fun to implement. I’d recommend for anyone looking to have a little fun on a budget.
August 16, 2019
Great as a gift for kids or people who want to build and create awesome stuff to pass the time. Brings out your creativity and imagination.
September 16, 2022
A great book for a rainy afternoon!
February 24, 2024
Fun book with a lot of great ideas for STEAM library programs with Teens. They had fun putting together a catapult and flinging small items down the hallway.
August 18, 2024
Great fun for school kids
December 9, 2010
Middle School Booktalk:
Does anyone in the room have an ordinary pencil on their person or in their backpacks? How about Rubber Bands? Paper Clips- good- at least someone’s prepared. How about pens? Now, to the untrained eye, these may seem like your innocent, everyday implements of writing and attachment. But! To the MiniWeapons expert, these are the building blocks of your arsenal.
In MiniWeapons of Mass Destruction you will find instructions on how to construct everything from your basic clicky-pen, laser-guided, spitball shooter, to the more intricate paper clip and D-cell battery trebuchet. My favorite chapter in this book is the section on catapults.
I’m going to need two volunteers for this next part. (booktalker is briefly overwhelmed by the hands shooting in the air)
(Choose volunteers, get out catapults) Each of you need to choose a loader. (The ‘shooters’ choose a loader for their catapult, then the booktalker holds up Marshmallows) Now these may look like jet-puffed marshmallows, but they are, in fact, your missiles. (Hold up target- this works best if you put the target in the middle of the crowd so that everyone in the room is pelted with marshmallows in the contest chaos) And this may look like a piece of cardboard sloppily taped on to Tupperware, but it is actually your enemy. We have here before us team Flavored and Team Original. Whichever team can catapult the most of their flavor of missile into the target in 60 seconds will win lollipops for their team. Go!
Does anyone in the room have an ordinary pencil on their person or in their backpacks? How about Rubber Bands? Paper Clips- good- at least someone’s prepared. How about pens? Now, to the untrained eye, these may seem like your innocent, everyday implements of writing and attachment. But! To the MiniWeapons expert, these are the building blocks of your arsenal.
In MiniWeapons of Mass Destruction you will find instructions on how to construct everything from your basic clicky-pen, laser-guided, spitball shooter, to the more intricate paper clip and D-cell battery trebuchet. My favorite chapter in this book is the section on catapults.
I’m going to need two volunteers for this next part. (booktalker is briefly overwhelmed by the hands shooting in the air)
(Choose volunteers, get out catapults) Each of you need to choose a loader. (The ‘shooters’ choose a loader for their catapult, then the booktalker holds up Marshmallows) Now these may look like jet-puffed marshmallows, but they are, in fact, your missiles. (Hold up target- this works best if you put the target in the middle of the crowd so that everyone in the room is pelted with marshmallows in the contest chaos) And this may look like a piece of cardboard sloppily taped on to Tupperware, but it is actually your enemy. We have here before us team Flavored and Team Original. Whichever team can catapult the most of their flavor of missile into the target in 60 seconds will win lollipops for their team. Go!
August 24, 2024
My son Adam found this in the science section at our local independent bookstore, and I said, "This could be a dangerous book in your hands." (Adam has an obsession with wanting to blow things up and dismantle electronics.) We split the cost, and my husband had a blast building this stuff using items in our junk drawer. I found the book absolutely ingenious. The author is a professional toy designer and also wrote Cubical Warfare, another must-read. In the words of writer, William Gurstelle, "One must assert dominion over the desktop. Between the instructions provided in Austin's book and access to your office supply cabinet, you need tolerate no threat to the security of your cubicle."
By Adam: This is my new favorite book. These mini-weapons really work. My friends love them and have paid me money to make them the "Simple Cross-bow" and "Concealing Book." I love the "Penny Bomb!" I did extra chores to get mega-supplies (giant bag of rubber bands, paper caps, etc.), and now I have all I need to create these mini "weapons" in a matter of minutes. See more of my reviews at ChildressInk.com.
Kim Childress, Book Editor, Girls' Life Magazine
By Adam: This is my new favorite book. These mini-weapons really work. My friends love them and have paid me money to make them the "Simple Cross-bow" and "Concealing Book." I love the "Penny Bomb!" I did extra chores to get mega-supplies (giant bag of rubber bands, paper caps, etc.), and now I have all I need to create these mini "weapons" in a matter of minutes. See more of my reviews at ChildressInk.com.
Kim Childress, Book Editor, Girls' Life Magazine
January 8, 2012
Well written,
Good instructions that are easy to follow, many of these projects are things that I remember making as a child out of crazy stuff around the house and around the grade school.
I did have fun reading the book and looking at the plans in it, the person that had the most fun with it was my 10 year old who got me to make most of these projects with her.
Mind you some of these things are a little more dangerous then perhaps little people should be playing with but it is still fun.
Just remember a little blood never killed anyone, and apply pressure to the site if there is more then a little blood.
Good instructions that are easy to follow, many of these projects are things that I remember making as a child out of crazy stuff around the house and around the grade school.
I did have fun reading the book and looking at the plans in it, the person that had the most fun with it was my 10 year old who got me to make most of these projects with her.
Mind you some of these things are a little more dangerous then perhaps little people should be playing with but it is still fun.
Just remember a little blood never killed anyone, and apply pressure to the site if there is more then a little blood.
August 16, 2012
One word... AWESOME! These are easy to build and effective weapons for your office warfare. Or just some fun target shooting (much preferred).
One bit of warning, make sure to have safety glasses for all involved!The ammo on some of these contain things like sharpened pencils, toothpicks, BBs, beans, erasers, pins... well you get the idea. A mother's worst nightmare. And yet I still let my boys build some of them (with strict instruction to only shoot the targets and no people!) We will see how long that lasts.
One bit of warning, make sure to have safety glasses for all involved!The ammo on some of these contain things like sharpened pencils, toothpicks, BBs, beans, erasers, pins... well you get the idea. A mother's worst nightmare. And yet I still let my boys build some of them (with strict instruction to only shoot the targets and no people!) We will see how long that lasts.
September 30, 2010
As a former youth minister, I'm not sure I want teenagers with access to office supplies anywhere near this book - it's a veritable Anarchist's Guide to Impaling Your Youth Pastor With Small Pointy Things.
That said, it's a lot of fun to read & has some very creative ideas. (There are plenty of "you'll shoot your eye out" warnings throughout the book, most likely so the publisher can avoid any kind of legal entanglements.)
That said, it's a lot of fun to read & has some very creative ideas. (There are plenty of "you'll shoot your eye out" warnings throughout the book, most likely so the publisher can avoid any kind of legal entanglements.)
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February 19, 2013Originally posted at http://postdefiance.com/literary-gift..., written by Sweet Pea Flaherty.
Toy designer Austin guides you step-by-step as you transform paper clips, pencils, rubber bands, toothpicks, and other household miscellany into catapults, darts, and all variety of shooters! The second volume helps you to build your secret agent arsenal. Please build and annihilate responsibly.
Toy designer Austin guides you step-by-step as you transform paper clips, pencils, rubber bands, toothpicks, and other household miscellany into catapults, darts, and all variety of shooters! The second volume helps you to build your secret agent arsenal. Please build and annihilate responsibly.
February 18, 2014
j to review; I loved this book because it had tons of mini weapons of mass destruction that you can make. I made a couple but my faveorite is the bb pencil which is small light and dependable. Also I plan on making the maul gun but i haven't yet. I think this book is great because you truely can find everything you need in your office. I also love 2 and 3.
July 2, 2015
"Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build Implements of Spitball Warfare" by John Austin is a really cool book on making fun weapons from around the house items. Such as popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and a spoon, this book has easy step-by-steps with some pictures. Your boys (including girls) will have a blast with this book. There are so many neat and awesome things to make in here!
2015-Summer-Reading-Review
2015-Summer-Reading-Review
August 28, 2012
I bought this book as leader of my sons' cub scout den - such a big hit! You can't necessarily let them choose on their own, but we built catupults together and had loads of fun launching with them. At home my boys built a few more things and loved it. The Eagle scout who sold it to me commented that he never built anything so cool when he was in webelos.
October 9, 2012
my thought on this book...
You will die if you take any of the ammo to the face- that is what the book is telling you...
and i kid you not you will die from takeing some of these things to the face
or a arrow to the knee
yes they have good constructions in said book. but you should not shoot this in or near someone. it will most likely hit them
You will die if you take any of the ammo to the face- that is what the book is telling you...
and i kid you not you will die from takeing some of these things to the face
or a arrow to the knee
yes they have good constructions in said book. but you should not shoot this in or near someone. it will most likely hit them
December 29, 2012
My 10 year old nephew got this book for Christmas with a box full of supplies. He, his sister, his friends, and a number of adults (like me and his mom) have been having a great time making their mini weapons and testing them out. We found a number of the weapons to be very useful for launching dog treats for his two dogs.
March 2, 2011
A fun quick read about things to do when you are bored in the offece or classroom. The only things required to build these fun little creations are household items like paper clips and toothpicks. Great book, anyone would like it.
October 3, 2012
What a fun book. Joseph saw it and was so excited to make something out of it. I can admit that after perusing it, I was thinking up reasons I might have to make something and use it. Very creative and tons of fun. :)
February 15, 2012
Awesome fun. If I had this book in high school, I'd STILL be in juvie! :D Basically a collection of building little weapons out of common household objects - mini crossbows, catapults, trebuchet - in easy instructions with clear illuistrations. It's wonderfully ingenious.
October 24, 2013
Awesome! I wish I was brave enough to actually use these at work. Making them at home is such a great time though. There are so many ways to fire a spitball! This would be a fun book to give as a gift.
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April 28, 2010Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build Implements of Spitball Warfare by John Austin (2009)
May 21, 2010
This is hilarious! Carry a whole arsenal in your pocket. :)
January 26, 2011
This [book] tells you how to build everything from darts to bows to catapults to ping-pong ball bazookas.
March 18, 2011
This is childish, prankish, and guarenteed to take the eye out of someone before bedtime. Mandatory stuff.
June 7, 2011
I have got to try some of these...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews