Obviously, the next step is making a rubber-band machine gun loader.
It's always the arms suppliers that get rich in war. posted by Malor at 9:54 AM on August 9 [1 favorite]
Definitely a clever design, but it looks painful to load. posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:09 AM on August 9
That Lego one is awesome! So too the others. posted by Mister_A at 10:16 AM on August 9
It seems that the smart entrepreneur would sell the loaded unit without the drill handle, and then would offer some kind of Blue Rhino exchange service where empties could be turned in and a full unit received for a small fee. A well-armed rubber band warrior would want 2 or 3 of these units ready-loaded. posted by hippybear at 10:24 AM on August 9
I've seen rubber band gattling guns before, but this one has a really clever (and simple) design. The only thing that would make it better would be if he could use some of the rubber stretch to ratchet the mechanism so that he could claim the first "self-powered" automatic rubber band machine gun posted by Popular Ethics at 10:34 AM on August 9
Great concept but WAY underpowered.
No kidding. You'll never put someone's eye out with that. posted by louche mustachio at 11:29 AM on August 9
You'll never put someone's eye out with that.
Which means it will remain fun and games forever!!! posted by hippybear at 11:40 AM on August 9
Very clever design. And really, how long could it take to load? Two, three hours max? Bah... posted by odinsdream at 11:54 AM on August 9
When I was in elementary school my friends and I would take our three-ring binders, stretch a small, thick rubber band around the top and bottom rings, nestle a wadded-up shred of paper behind one of the ends, then wait for the signal. When the teacher wasn't looking, we'd all open the rings, sending paper balls going thwick-thwick-thwick across the room, in all directions. It was like a sideways hail, a brief blizzard of papery death.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that my fellow paperballistae operators maintain a pre-WWI-Europe-level of skepticism for this so-called "machine gun", and will continue to respect the understated (if cumbersome) power of our elegant weapons from a more civilized bored age. posted by Rhaomi at 1:00 PM on August 9
Japanese rubber bands are pink! posted by longsleeves at 1:31 PM on August 9
The inventor's dad must be so proud, while his mother is very likely to be so puzzled. posted by Cranberry at 1:47 PM on August 9
That's awesome.
I wouldn't even really want to buy one, but it would be a hell of a thing to make. Fun. posted by koeselitz at 2:38 PM on August 9
Wow...they...almost knocked those paper cups over :)
I am probably a very bad person for thinking how much fun it would be to aim that at a person who is tied up and naked.
However, finding all the damn rubber bands afterward would be a real nuisance compared to my collection of whips. posted by localroger at 3:12 PM on August 9 [2 favorites]
Wow, I never realized how severe were the limitations on Japan's Self-Defense Forces. posted by dhartung at 4:57 PM on August 9 [2 favorites]
What an incredibly elegant design. I went rapidly from "eh, whatever, I'm bored and it's short" to flat-out admiration for the designer when they showed the mechanism in action. posted by nebulawindphone at 6:04 PM on August 9
Though it would have been a lot cooler with a 90-degree gear mechanism and a crank handle. posted by odinsdream at 6:12 PM on August 9
Wow, I never realized how severe were the limitations on Japan's Self-Defense Forces.
You should see what they use sporks for. posted by armage at 6:19 PM on August 9
Subscribe
posted by Scoo at 9:15 AM on August 9 [1 favorite]