How To Build a Mini Matchstick Shooter

Is there no limit to the clever and creative but ultimately useless things people can come up with? Case in point, the mini matchstick shooter. This is an invention created by Grant Thompson, who calls himself “The King of Random.” Using some wood glue, a utility knife, and a simple clothespin, Thompson has developed a way to create a miniature shooter that can launch a matchstick over 20 feet and fire a toothpick fast enough that it can stick in an apple. Practical jokers and pranksters can now rejoice.

It’s difficult to think of a good use for this mini matchstick shooter invention. I can imagine a time-wasting coworker thinking that this invention is the greatest thing ever and shooting toothpicks and matchsticks all day over the top of his cubicle. That could get pretty annoying, but not nearly as annoying as it could get for school teachers, who would have to deal to six or seven hours of class clowns bringing these cheap and easy to make shooters to school day in and day out. There may not be a legitimate practical use for these creative little shooters, but they look like a ton of fun, and the internet agrees. Since posting his mini matchstick shooter video to YouTube a little over a week ago, Thompson has already attracted over 750,000 views to his creation. There are going to be a lot of annoyed coworkers and school teachers in the coming months. Checkout the video below for step-by-step instructions on how to build the matchstick shooter.