If you've lost your stylus, are looking for more precision when using your tablet, or are having trouble using a touch screen while wearing gloves, there is no need to spend money on a new stylus when you can easily make one yourself using just a few. common household items.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Learn About Your Touch Screen
Step 1. Find out what type of touch screen your device has
There are several different types of touchscreens, and your homemade stylus may not work with all of them.
- Many brands of smartphones and tablets such as iPhone, iPad, Android and Kindle have a capacitive touch screen, which needs an electrical conductor (like the human body) to register the area where contact is made.
- Some phones and e-readers like Nintendo DS, The 3Ds, and The Nook feature resistive or infrared touchscreens that only require pressure to register contact, so you can use almost anything like a makeshift stylus to use them (just be careful not to scratch the screen).
Step 2. Test the screen if you are not sure
Touch the screen with the tip of the cap of a pen. If the device is responsive, then it has a resistive or infrared touchscreen. Otherwise, the screen is inactive.
Method 2 of 5: Use a sponge (for capacitive screens)
Step 1. Gather your supplies
Get a clean, smooth dish sponge (not a scouring pad) and a pen.
- An inexpensive plastic ballpoint pen works best, as long as you can easily remove the plastic tip and extract the ink.
- If you use a slightly transparent pen, you can easily see what you are doing.
Step 2. Cut a piece of sponge the width of the pen
You can approximate this measurement by holding the pen against the sponge and marking the measurement with a marker, or you can simply calculate it by eye.
Step 3. Cut the sponge if it has an abrasive side (like Scotch-Brite brand)
Any abrasive element can scratch and damage the screen, so you should only use the spongy part.
Step 4. Wash and dry the sponge
Some sponges come with added detergent, so to be safe, you should rinse it off with lukewarm water. Squeeze out all the water and let the sponge dry.
Step 5. Remove the plastic nib and the inside of the pen (the nib, ink tank and spring if you are using a click pen)
You should be left with the base of the pen empty.
You should be able to remove the tip just by hand. If you are having difficulty, try using needle nose pliers
Step 6. Insert the sponge into the pen
Squeeze the sponge to make it smaller and push it towards the base of the pen.
Step 7. Allow approximately 3 to 6 mm (1/4 to 1/8 inch) of the sponge to protrude from the pen
Use your finger to stabilize and break the fibers of the sponge.
Step 8. Hold the stylus close to the tip to make it work
Your fingers should touch the base of the pen that is in contact with the sponge. If you hold the hollow part of the pen, the electromagnetic current will not go through the sponge and the touch screen will not register the touch of the stylus.
Method 3 of 5: Use Aluminum Foil (for Capacitive Screens)
Step 1. Gather your supplies
You will need about 1 foot (30 cm) of aluminum foil, tape of any kind, and a blunt pencil. You will also likely need a sharp knife to cut through the pencil.
If you don't have a pencil, you can substitute a pen, toothpick, peg, or anything in the shape of a pen. However, pencils or other wooden objects work best, as you may want to cut the stylus so that it has a slanted point
Step 2. Use a sharp knife to carve the tip of the pencil at a slight, flat angle
Avoid cutting the tip of the pencil as if you were going to write with it. The slanted tip should still have a surface area of at least 4 ml (about the size of a pencil eraser or fingertip). Many capacitive touchscreens don't register the touch of anything smaller.
- The stylus can still work without this step, but you will have to hold it up and down. This procedure will make it more comfortable to hold.
- You should always be careful when handling a knife. Remember to move it away from your body and never move it towards you.
Step 3. Wrap the entire pencil in at least two layers of aluminum foil
Gently fold the aluminum over the ends.
If you use a pen, you should keep the cap on when you wrap it
Step 4. Smooth the aluminum foil over the slanted tip of your pencil
It should be smooth and flat on the tip. Avoid leaving wrinkles or lumps.
If the tip is not flat, your stylus may not work
Step 5. Wrap a piece of masking tape around the center of the pencil
This will keep the aluminum in place.
Step 6. Wrap the tip of the stylet with masking tape
This will prevent the screen from being scratched by the aluminum foil.
Step 7. Test the stylet to see if it works
Try to further flatten the tip if it doesn't work. Remember that the goal is for the tip to be at least the size of a pencil eraser, or the screen may not recognize it.
Method 4 of 5: Use a wooden toothpick (for rugged or infrared displays)
Step 1. Gather your supplies
You will need a single toothpick, sandpaper, and something to carve the wood. Using a manual pencil sharpener is the easiest method, but you can also cut the tip with a sharp knife if you don't have a pencil sharpener.
Avoid using an electric pencil sharpener, as it can break the wood
Step 2. Use a pencil sharpener to carve the tip of the toothpick (the narrow end that touches the food)
You should carve it less than you would with a pencil. The goal is to make it look more like a blunt tip.
Step 3. Smooth the tip with sandpaper
A sharp tip can scratch the screen (or hurt you). Rub the tip on sandpaper until it is blunt. If you press it on your skin, it shouldn't cause you pain.
You should also sand the rough edges of the toothpick to prevent chipping
Step 4. Decorate the stiletto with Washi tape or paint
A few layers of tape around the stylet can make it more comfortable to hold.
- Remember this stiletto no It will work on an iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire or other device that has a capacitive screen.
Method 5 of 5: Use water
Step 1. Gather your supplies
What you need is quite simple. Find a sharpened or blunt pencil, cotton swab, tape, scissors, water, and aluminum foil
Step 2. Cut the swab in half
Next, take the masking tape and stick the Q-tip to the side or top of the sharp end of the pencil. You should stick the swab on the side of the pencil with which it is written.
Step 3. Cut a triangle out of aluminum foil
Then wrap it around the cotton swab and pencil. Place a long piece of tape starting from where you finished wrapping the aluminum foil around the pencil.
Step 4. Take the stylet to the sink and apply a drop or two of water on top
Now, you can use it and test it. If you apply too much water, the stylet will not work, so you only need to apply a few drops.