This started off as a list for a project page but has morphed into a one-stop resource list for me. I’ll probably have a number of these that I’ll juggle and use to keep semi-related links grouped together.
I’ve taken on the task of helping to design a bag of tricks for some fellow steampunkers. The projects are still in the brainstorming phase, but we’re exploring various options.
The cane prototype possibilities include:
Laser pointer or LED targeting device
Conductive cane and a solid state violet wand zapper (the zapper is probably better left as a separate unit for more versatility and to put a heavy batter pack on a bandoleer or belt)
Confetti cannon (Some sort of reloadable party popper)
Flame thrower – probably just the stage magician variety. Flash paper and an electrical source for ignition
Small plasma globe with onboard power supply (Seems easy enough and requires only a 9 volt battery)
Stun gun (the cheesy $10 guns are worthless for anything but naughty fun and pranks)
CO2 powered bb gun- this seems the most complex of all the variations, but looks like a fair bit of fun
Pneumatic gun – this one would be a monster for me, so I think its out. I’m pretty sure I’d need a machine shop and a lot more knowhow than I currently possess.
Net gun – there seem to be some instructables for this. They’re variations on potato cannons.
Minigun – Nerf gun with some brass-looking barrels should suffice for this
I’ll add some links to Instructables I might well be using for these or other projects here just so I can better keep track of them.
Cane Fightin’
A Victorian gentleman and his walking stick are a formidable fighting force. A Victorian Lady and her parasol are equally deadly…especially when she’s packing a hidden pistol in a spring sleeve.
Flash Paper Shooter Stuff
http://www.instructables.com/id/Handheld-Fireball-Launcher-Magic-Trick/?ALLSTEPS
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fireball-Shooter/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Incline-activated-Fireball-Shooter/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Special-Effects-Fireball-Shooter/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Flash-Paper-Magic-Trick-Fireballs-N/
Flamethrowers
http://www.instructables.com/id/Pocket-sized-Multicolored-Flamethrowers-Easy-Refil/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Wrist-Mounted-Flamethrower/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Pyro-glove-wrist-mounted-flamethrower/?ALLSTEPS
Motion Sensing Fun
http://www.instructables.com/id/Hacking-a-PIR-motion-sensor-for-use-as-a-triggerin/
Fun Lights
http://www.instructables.com/id/Old-Tyme-Glass-Lights/
Phony Victrola
http://www.instructables.com/id/Gramophone-dock-AKA-Shiny-Metal-Papercraft/
Spring sleeve stuff
https://www.youtube.com/user/imdeepainreborn/videos
Potential Power Sources:
http://www.instructables.com/id/12-Volt-Battery-Hack!-You_ll-be-Surprised…/
Iris Door/Vault
http://www.instructables.com/id/Stargate-Privacy-Vault/
Pneumatic Guns
http://www.instructables.com/id/Intro-19/?ALLSTEPS
Cane Ideas
http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8004.150.html
Other sources/inspiration/emulatable mad geniuses:
http://www.instructables.com/member/Kipkay/
http://www.instructables.com/member/NightHawkInLight?show=INSTRUCTABLES
http://www.instructables.com/member/Random_Canadian/?show=INSTRUCTABLES
http://www.instructables.com/member/The%20King%20of%20Random?show=INSTRUCTABLES
http://www.instructables.com/member/randofo?show=INSTRUCTABLES
http://www.wolfsprojectfiles.com/index.php
https://sites.google.com/site/steampunkretrofuturedesignsmd/
https://www.youtube.com/user/imdeepainreborn/videos
Static Electricity Fun
http://www.instructables.com/id/350kv-Van-de-Graaff-Generator/?ALLSTEPS
http://www.instructables.com/member/nickademuss/?show=INSTRUCTABLES
http://nighthawkinlight.wonderhowto.com/how-to/make-static-electricity-generator-shock-anything-and-fry-electronics-with-just-touch-0137807/
http://www.examiner.com/list/lightning-a-jar-how-to-make-a-leyden-jar-with-kitchen-materials
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-A-Water-Leyden-Jar/
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/fun-fly-stick-static-generator.html
Machine Shop tools
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Three-Axis-CNC-Machine-Cheaply-and-/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Metal-Lathe-1/
Sources
I welcome other ideas and sources.
The Obsession Engine 
It may or may not be of much use to you, but a friend of mine at university crafted a gun that fitted party poppers. Kind of fun in itself, but he then carefully modified the party poppers to fire jam instead of streamers. Handy if you want to make a mark on your target, or for ballistic preparation of toast.
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That’s a fun idea! I’ll keep in mind that the poppers can be modified to launch a number of different payloads – with or without jam.
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Awesome! What a fantastic list of projects – thanks so much for sharing these 🙂
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Thank you! I’ll doubtless be adding more.
I’m not sure if I should keep lists like these roughly grouped by page or just have one page with projects grouped in various ways on it. Whatever proves less cumbersome and more useful for idea-mining, I suppose.
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Alas, you are asking the wrong mad inventor there! Organisation not my forte in the least – however you decide to do it I shall definitely be checking back it’s a veritable treasure trove!
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Great list of projects/resources. It’s always difficult to organize them for best effect, so I usually don’t even try and end up searching again for things that I’ve found. Regarding small plasma globes, I’ve built a pistol incorporating one–the smallest one that I could find, <2 inches diameter. I'll post pictures and a description on my blog soon. They are a bit fiddly to work with once you've taken them out of the housing, but a great effect.
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That’s pretty awesome! The smallest I’ve found thus far is 3″ which I just ordered. I’ll have to renew the search and get a couple of the smaller ones as well.
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