How to Fire a Rubber Band

Last Updated: June 6, 2024 Approved

Rubber bands were made to be fired. Well, okay, maybe they were made to "hold stuff in place," but come on. It's just too tempting. If you've got an itch to fling a rubber band into your sibling's backside, you can learn to fire a rubber band using your hand and other objects, as well as how to make yourself a rubber band firing mechanism that will have all the others jealous. Have fun and be careful. This may also work with hair ties.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Your Hand

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1
Fire the rubber band off your index finger. The easiest way to fire a rubber band off your finger is by hooking it on the tip of your index finger, pulling it back and lettin' it rip. To fire the band off your index finger:
- Place the rubber band on the tip of your index finger, pointing your finger where you want the rubber band to go.
- Pull the rubber band back with your other hand, past your raised thumb.
- Let go of the rubber band to let it fire, or hook the rubber band onto your thumb.
- If you hook it onto your thumb, move your thumb forward and let it slip off to fire.
2
Fire the rubber band off your thumb. Firing rubber bands off your thumb is a good way of making sure that the band won't catch and snap against the back of your hand when you're firing. You can also get a lot of power out of it. To fire a rubber band off your thumb:
- Hook the rubber band around the tip of your thumb, pointing your thumb in the direction you want the rubber band to go.
- Point the tip of your thumb forward so it will slip off the end of your thumb easily.
- Grab the other end of the rubber band with your other hand, pulling it back as far as it will go.
- Release the rubber band with your other hand to let it fire.
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3
Use your index finger like a slingshot. One creative way of firing a rubber band involves using your index finger to create a pivot, from which you can pull the band back and release it with your other fingers. To fire a rubber band this way:
- Place your hand with your palm facing up.
- Hook each end of the rubber band around your middle finger and thumb.
- Use your index finger to stretch the rubber band forward a few inches, pointing it in the direction you want the band to travel, and pulling it tight.
- Let the rubber band slip off your middle finger and thumb simultaneously to release it.
4
Make your hand into a gun. The most-complicated, but also most-classic way of firing a rubber band is by shaping your hand into a gun and wrapping the band around to really let it fly. To fire a rubber band this way:
- Make your hand into a gun shape, with your thumb as the hammer and your finger as the barrel. Point your index finger in the direction you want the rubber band to go.
- Hook the rubber band around your pinkie, pulling it back toward the inside of your wrist.
- Hook the rubber band all the way around your thumb.
- Secure it on the very tip of your pointer finger.
- To release the rubber band, let go with your pinkie.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Other Objects

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Tired of the rubber band catching the back of your hand and leaving you with a welt? Get your hand out of the way! Hook a rubber band on the tip of your pen or pencil, pull it back and let it fly. For the best possible accuracy, point the tip of the pen in the direction you want the rubber band to go.
2
Use what you've got. If you want to get creative, use rulers, the corners of books, and other objects to fling your rubber band. Think outside the box. The tip of your glue bottle? Perfect rubber band launcher. The head of a WWE wrestling action figure? Now you're thinking.
- Ideally, you want to use something firm enough to stay steady when you pull the rubber band back on it, but you could also experiment with bendable objects if you want. See what works.
3
Use the rubber band to launch other things. The rubber band works just as well as a launcher as it does a launchee. Use the rubber band to launch:
- Wads of paper
- Paperclips
- Skittles and other candy
Bummer alert: Be very careful any time you fire rubber bands or other things and make sure that you don't aim them at anyone's face. It's better not to aim rubber bands at someone at all, especially if you're in class. Firing things around the classroom in general can get you into a lot of trouble with the teacher, so be careful.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making a Rubber Band Gun

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If you want to build a simple rubber band gun, you'll need to find a great stick to do it. The best sticks will be hefty and gun-shaped, with a slight curve that you can hold like a handle. So, look around for a good stick about 6–8 inches (15.2–20.3 cm) long in total, and about an inch wide, if possible. If it looks gun-shaped, you've got a good one.
Get an adult to help you, if necessary, to remove the bark and other junk from the outside of the wood. Whittle it away so you've got the clean wood underneath and spend some time sanding it down with some sandpaper. If you're going to go to the trouble to make a gun, you might as well make it look awesome.
3
Glue a clothes pin on the top of the “gun.” To fire the rubber band, you'll want to glue a rubber band to the top of the "barrel" of the gun, preferably right where you'll be able to activate it with your thumb while you're holding it. To attach the clothes pin:
- Set the clothes pin on the side, so the flat side of the pinchers will be flat against the top of the barrel.
- Use wood glue to run a long line of glue along that side of the clothes pin.
- Secure it in place and hold it while the glue dries.
Again, get an adult to help you, and use a knife to cut a small notch in the front of the barrel of the gun, big enough to seat the rubber band in firmly.
5
Hook a rubber band between the notch and the clothes pin. To fire the gun, you'll hook the rubber band on the front of the barrel, then catch it in the clothes pin on the top of the gun. When you're ready to fire, aim the gun where you want it to go, and push the top lever on the clothes pin down. The rubber band should come loose and go flying.
- While it might be cool to paint your rubber band gun, you need to be extremely careful to make sure it doesn't look like a real-enough gun to get you into trouble. The last thing you need is someone to call the cops about a kid running around with a gun. Have fun, but be safe. ^{[1]
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When I tried, the rubber band went sideways. How do I make it go straight?

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Re-read the instructions in the article. Aim carefully, and make sure you don't let the rubber band get out of your range.

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Would a hair tie work?

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Yes, but there would be less power, as hair ties typically are smaller and have less possible tension.

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Are rubber bands necessary?

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No, you could use something similar. However, rubber bands work the best.

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Tips

The more you pull back, the longer it will go.

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Use your two fingers in firing so it is semiautomatic.

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Try not to have one too big or too small.

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Make sure the band is close to the tip of your finger where the pad of the finger flattens, or the rubber band could snap at your cuticle.

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Warnings

If it falls off your index finger, it will come back and sting you.

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Do not aim directly at people or animals.

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How to Fire a Rubber Band

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Using Your Hand

Using Other Objects

Making a Rubber Band Gun

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