Make:

is make liable for any damages that some jackass does to himself?

well... at least it preaches recycling old blades instead of just throwing them away.

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And if you are stopped with one of those in your car? [Insert innocent explanation here.]

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And tommorow on MAKE, how to make a tournequet from an old leather belt, how to make bandaids from old t-shirts and duct tape, and how to do your own sutures the quick and easy way, using a bent sewing needle and unflavored dental floss! (Do not, I say again, DO NOT do this with the cinnamon flavored floss!)

Just throwing some ideas out there...
(and some bad puns too)

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Ouch.

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As much as I think this is a cool little project, and that If I were 15 again, I'd be trying to make this myself, I agree, that I think you've crossed a line in teaching people how to make a weapon. "With great Maker power, comes great Maker responsibility"

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Hey, it's not as if they posted a link to a site showing the scratchbuilding of an AR-15 or anything

http://www.warpedairsmithing.com/arblog/main.asp

But I will....

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When I was about 13 I made throwing stars out of box cutter blades by putting a pair of blades together in opposite directions (if you're visualizing it correctly there are now 4 pointy bits instead of 2), putting another pair crosswise and binding the whole thing up with telephone wire. They were pretty vicious, but this design is much cooler.

And of course the real moral of the story is that kids don't need instructions on a website to figure out how to make something cool and dangerous.

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there aren't many posts like the throwing star post, it's actually a welding project - so, there's a barrier of entry (i think) to do the project. if someone has a welder, and welds i don't think they're likely to do anything not safe. when i was a kid, i welded stars and threw them at targets and trees. i never got hurt and no one else did either, i was an only child however

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"well... at least it preaches recycling old blades instead of just throwing them away."

It's still throwing them away...just more awesomer.

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Yeah, I made those myself too, but hurt myself with one as well. The thing stuck in my leg and the fun was over imediately.

For one thing. Kids can grab a knife from the kitchen and hurt themselves. Parents having tools like this within reach of kids are most responsible for any damage. You can buy darts around the corner and throw ones eye out in a second.

Having that said, a throwing star is not lethal, but should be carefully balanced. Otherwise the path of throwing is unpredictable and can have unintended results. Such thing can wobble a couple of inches easily.

Ever had a frisbee that wobbled? So the frisbee was unbalanced? Same for this.....

- Unomi -

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I agree that this doesn't seem to belong on Make. Not only is it dangerous and rather stupid, it isn't very useful or interesting like some of the other posts.

Make should have some sort of block for anything half the readers made when they were stupid and 14 as not being worthy. Another block for "dumb weapons more likely to hurt the attacker than the attacked" would be a start as well.

Or, failing that next week I suggest the following blog entries:

-HOW TO make an impact grenade from CO2 cartridges and a primer without the DHS knocking on your door

-HOW TO make a bomb out of a bottle, aluminium, and drain cleaner (again without a DHS investigation)

-HOW TO use dry ice to blow stuff up with pressure (not even the DHS thinks this is cool anymore)

-HOW TO use up your part-time after school money paying for damages to property

-HOW TO get used to being on probation

AND

-HOW TO close a wound without Mom finding out with super glue and a fond hope you are up on your tetanus shots

Next month watch for specials on mailbox bowling and pumpkin smashing.

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Yo thats freaking sweet man im gonna make some next year when i go into shop class

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