How to Make Nunchucks

Whether you want to make them to practice martial arts, as part of a costume or for a decoration, you can build your own nunchucks with a few tools and materials. Nunchucks are a martial arts weapon made famous by Michelangelo of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and consist of two stick-like devices held together by a chain. When you hold one of the sticks, you can swing the weapon while practicing martial arts techniques.

Things You'll Need

  • Dowel
  • Bandsaw
  • Sandpaper
  • Ruler
  • Punch
  • Drill
  • Drill bit
  • Eye hooks
  • Chain
  • Side cutters
  • Pliers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a length of dowel into two equal-length pieces using a bandsaw. If you want long handles on your nunchucks, cut the dowel into two 1-foot-long pieces. If you want each handle slightly shorter, cut the dowel accordingly.

    • 2

      Sand any burrs or imperfections off the dowel using a piece of fine-grit sandpaper.

    • 3

      Locate the center of one end of one dowel by measuring it with a ruler, then mark the location with a punch. Repeat this process on one end of the other piece of dowel.

    • 4

      Drill a hole into the end of each dowel in the location you marked with the punch. The drill bit you use should be slightly smaller than the eye hook you'll use in the following step.

    • 5

      Screw an eye hook into each hole until it is tight, then cut a piece of chain to your desired length with side cutters. The chain runs between the two pieces of dowel and can be up to 1 foot in length, depending on your preferences.

    • 6

      Pry open the end link on each end of the chain, loop each link through its respective eye hook and pinch the chain links closed again.