When creating the stylus, a conductive silicone composition is used, which can be used with iPods\iPhones\iPads and other smartphones with capacitive screens. Because the contact portion of the stylus is transparent, you can see the lines you're drawing and draw them more accurately. Read on to find out what to make a stylus for a smartphone from.
The instructions tell you how to make a stylus for your tablet with your own hands:
- Upgrade any pencil or pen and turn it into a standard type stylus for pressing buttons, drawing sketches, while you can use the pen/pencil for its usual purpose - for writing on paper
- Use conductive rubber to create a round tip stylus for drawing and pressing buttons
- Use conductive rubber to create a flat brush for painting and use in graphics programs. This brush will fit in your wallet (this brush is shown in the title picture)
How to replace the stylus
Paper
Paper rolled into a tube and with the tip dipped in water can be used as a stylus.
Cotton swab with foil
An ear stick wrapped in foil can be used as a stylus.
Battery
To use a battery (finger or little finger), it is important to know the main secret - you need to touch it with the blunt side “-“, pressing it evenly against the screen.
Maybe it's easier to buy?
Before you start figuring out how to make your own stylus for drawing on a tablet, think about whether it would be better to buy one? If you think that this is a very expensive and inaccessible device, then we hasten to rejoice: it is not so. The simplest pen for a capacitive screen can be bought for an average of 40 rubles. There are even options on Aliexpress for 20 rubles - and this is cheaper than the materials for making a stylus yourself.
If you can't order a stylus online, go to your local electronics store, even if it's not the "whitest" store. Even in stalls in underground passages you can find a huge number of touch pens - in different colors and sizes, and at a relatively low price.
Of course, you may have a question: if styluses are so cheap, why do branded models like the Apple Pencil cost several thousand rubles? The fact is that all these advanced styluses - for Apple, Samsung and graphics tablets - can not only replace your finger when working with a touch screen. Typically, such models respond to the degree of pressure - for example, the pen of the HUAWEI MediaPad Pro tablet recognizes up to 4096 levels. Smart styluses can also be charged from the device and control applications via Bluetooth (for example, a camera or player).
And these styluses, which you can buy on Ali for 20 rubles or make yourself, will help you control your gadget only with touches and swipes. You can also draw with them, but they don't sense pressure.
From a wet sponge
Another working option would be to make a stylus with a sponge tip. Prepare:
- clean sponge;
- scotch;
- foil;
- plastic bag;
- any convenient stick for the base.
Cut a small piece of soft sponge, no larger than your fingernail. Wet it well. To prevent moisture from evaporating, wrap tightly in a plastic bag in 3 layers.
Wrap the entire base of the feather with foil. It is important that it comes into contact with the sponge, that is, it goes under the bag. Secure the “structure” with tape.
This method has a huge advantage, unlike a foil tip: the sponge will not scratch the display.
Think about whether you need to make a stylus yourself?
Nowadays you can find a huge number of different styluses on sale: in a metal or plastic case, with beautiful patterns, drawings and engravings. Moreover, such a tool is relatively cheap - only 20-50 rubles for a good and high-quality option. To compare prices, let's turn to the well-known trading platform AliExpress.
Selling styluses on AliExpress
Let's go to the site and enter the request “Stylus for phone” in the search bar. We are faced with a huge number of offers from different sellers. The number of options available is truly amazing. After this, the desire to do something with your own hands disappears.
But if you don't want to wait for delivery, you can simply go to a local store that sells phones, cases and other accessories. Most likely, you will find many styluses on sale at normal prices. Of course, you can make a drawing tool with your own hands, but sometimes it will cost even more than the factory version. So keep this in mind.
Cable stylus
The third option for an improvised stylus can be a piece of coaxial television cable, about 10 cm long. From the working end of such a stylus, the central core should be bent or cut off in order not to damage the screen of the device, and the stripped braid should be wrapped around the outer insulation, so as to ensure reliable contact with the screen.
Despite its simplicity, this design option turned out to be the best of all homemade styluses.
How to make a stylus
Aluminum can stylus
Stylus from an aluminum can
To make a stylus using the first method, you will need an aluminum can, water, a cotton swab and a plastic bag. We cut the aluminum can lengthwise, cut off the lid and bottom.
Making a stylus from an aluminum can
Next, we unfold the can to create an aluminum strip. Be careful, the edges of this strip may be sharp. Therefore, it is worth trimming them so as not to cut yourself later.
Making a stylus from an aluminum can
Roll the strip to make a thin tube.
Making a stylus from an aluminum can
Next, cut the cotton swab in half, wet it with plain water and squeeze it out. From a plastic bag, cut out a square with sides of approximately 2 cm.
Making a stylus from an aluminum can
Wrap a cotton swab tightly in a piece of cellophane and insert it inside the tube.
Making a stylus from an aluminum can
Stylus made of ballpoint pen and wire
Stylus made of ballpoint pen and wire
To make a stylus using the second method, take any wire, a ballpoint pen body, water, a cotton swab and a plastic bag. To begin, just like in the first method, cut a cotton swab in half, wet it with plain water and squeeze it out. From a cellophane bag, cut out a square with sides of approximately 2 cm. Tightly wrap a cotton swab with a piece of cellophane and insert it inside the body of a ballpoint pen.
Making a stylus from a ballpoint pen and wire
Now we will unwind as much wire as needed. In some cases the wire is insulated. Therefore, before winding it, you need to remove the protective layer of varnish from it. This can be done using ordinary improvised means: sandpaper, scissors, knife.
Making a stylus from a ballpoint pen and wire
Now you need to wrap the wire around the area where your fingers will be, or the entire stylus. It depends on the length of the wire and your desire. We make the last turn of the wire around the cotton swab.
By the way, read this article too: How to distinguish a copy of an iPhone XR from a fake
Stylus from a radio antenna
Stylus from a radio antenna
To make a stylus using the third method, you will need an old radio antenna, water, a cotton swab, and a plastic bag.
Making a stylus from a radio antenna
If you have an old unnecessary radio or tape recorder, then the third method of making a stylus will be the most convenient and fastest for you. Unscrew the screw that holds the antenna and remove it.
Making a stylus from a radio antenna
Then remove the first two sections from the antenna. Next, cut the cotton swab in half, wet it with plain water and squeeze it out.
Making a stylus from a radio antenna
From a plastic bag, cut out a square with sides of approximately 2 cm. Wrap a cotton swab tightly in a piece of cellophane and insert it inside the antenna.
Resistive, capacitive and thermal shield
If you are eager to make your own stylus, then first of all find out the type of touch screen of your device - this will directly affect the materials for your craft:
- Resistive screen. This type reacts to absolutely any touch - with a finger, a sushi stick, a pencil, etc. Choose what you like best, and your stylus is ready!
- Capacitive screen. This touch display only responds to the touch of conductive objects. A person, to some extent, also relates to them - our fingers, like ourselves, conduct current. All organic substances and beings, as well as most metals, have this quality.
- Heat shield. As the name suggests, the display will only respond to the touch of an object that emits heat. That is why it is difficult for us to work with such screens in Russian frost conditions.
