Make a Stylus

So, you just lost the stylus to your PDA or Nintendo DS and need a new one. Follow these steps and you can use your device again until you go to the store to get a new one.

Steps

 * 1)  Get a knife (open to the large blade) and a popsicle stick.[[Image:1_205.jpg|thumb]]
 * 2)  Make a long point on the popsicle stick about an inch down. This is the point.[[Image:2_736.jpg|thumb]]
 * 3)  Continue carving with the thin blade down the stick, keeping the preferred thickness.[[Image:3_493.jpg|thumb]]
 * 4)  Continue working down the stick until you think it looks like a stylus.[[Image:4_979.jpg|thumb]]
 * 5)  Smooth it out with a knife, file, or sandpaper. You can also wrap it in tape (all except the point) to prevent splinters.[[Image:5_53.jpg|thumb]]

Tips

 * You can always go to your local electronics store and buy a new stylus, which should be relatively cheap.
 * You can also use epoxy or a strong wood glue such as Gorilla Glue to strengthen the wood to prevent breaking or splitting instead of tape. A thin coat is all that's required.
 * Some types of commercially available pens (e.g., Uniball gel impact pens) are designed to serve as a replacement stylus.
 * The wooden chopsticks from your favorite Chinese restaurant (or a deli) makes a decent stylus with a little cleanup. Just run one through a pencil sharpener and you're done. If you've made it too sharp, just cut off the offending point.
 * A 1/4 inch (7 mm) wooden dowel stick from a hardware store can be sharpened (not too sharp) in a small pencil sharpener or by hand with a blade to make a stylus.
 * BIC retractable pens have a nice soft plastic tip and make a good stylus when retracted.
 * Buy a cuticle (orange wood) stick. Decorate or color to taste.
 * You can always paint your stylus with a light paintbrush.

Warnings

 * Watch where you point and how you store this temporary stylus. It can result in a nasty puncture wound.
 * If you press too hard, you might break the stylus.
 * Be careful not to cut yourself with the knife. Always push the knife away from your body when carving or whittling - don't pull it towards yourself!
 * A sharp knife is actually safer for whittling than a dull one.
 * This will not work for the iPod Touch or iPhone.

Things You'll Need

 * Popsicle stick
 * Knife (preferably two different-sized blades)
 * Tape or Gorilla Glue (optional)
 * Sandpaper or a file (optional)
 * Real stylus to compare sizes (optional)

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Get Wifi on Your Nintendo DS
 * How to Repair a Scratched or Finger Printed Monitor Screen
 * How to Adjust Your iPod Screen Brightness
 * How to Clean a Laptop Screen With Household Products
 * How to Start up Your Nintendo DS