How To Create A Phone Pen

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A pen stylus is a great way to improve your accuracy when drawing or writing on your touch screen device. Try making your own stylus at home from basic materials. If you have a metal pen on hand, simply remove the ink tube and replace it with a cotton ball. Alternatively, use aluminium and foil to turn any pen into a stylus. These methods are quick and easy, and work on any device that has a touch screen.

1
Remove the ink tube from a pen that has a metallic body. Unscrew the mouth of the pen to reveal the ink tube. Pull out the ink tube and the spring from the body of the pen and then screw the pen back together. Throw the ink tube straight into the trash once you remove it to stop it from leaking on your furniture.^[1]
- It is important to use a pen with a metallic body, as this conducts the electrical charge from your hand which makes the stylus to work.
2
Push a little cotton ball into the tip of the pen. The cotton ball helps to conduct the electrical current and gives the stylus a padded pointer. Roll up a little cotton ball and push it into the nib of the pen. Try to push as much of the cotton ball as you can into the pen so that it doesn't come loose when you try to use the stylus. ^[2]
- If you don't have a cotton ball, use a small piece of cotton fabric.
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3
Trim off any excess cotton ball that is hanging out of the nib. This makes the stylus easier to use and makes its touch more accurate. Leave about 2 millimetres (0.079 in) of the cotton ball hanging out of the pen so that the tip of the metal pen doesn't scratch your screen.^[3]
- If the cotton ball falls out or gets pushed into the pen over time, simply push a little more of the cotton ball into the nib of the pen.
4

Use your pen stylus in the same way that you would use your finger. Press the cotton ball down on the screen to activate it. Move the stylus around the screen to navigate around the device. Keep spare cotton balls on hand to refill your stylus in case it falls out with usage or in storage.^[4]

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1
Unscrew the pen to remove the ink tube. In order to make this stylus, you need a pen that can be unscrewed. Remove the spring and ink tube from inside the pen and then reassemble the pen.^[5]
- Keep the small inside parts of the pen away from children, as they can pose a choking risk.
2
Cut the middle of a Q-tip on an angle. Estimate where the middle of the Q-tip is and then chop it in half on a sharp angle. This creates a pointy end on the plastic part of the Q-tip which makes it easier to insert into the pen.^[6]
- Throw 1 half of the Q-tip into the trash, as it is not needed for the stylus.
3

Poke the pointy end of the Q-tip into the tip of the pen. Leave the cotton portion of the Q-tip and about 5 millimetres (0.20 in) of the plastic handle out of the pen. Don't worry if the Q-tip is a little loose, simply hold it in place for now.^[7]
4
Secure the Q-tip in place with a piece of tape. Wrap the tape around the plastic portion of the Q-tip and the mouth of the pen so that it stays in place when you are using your stylus. If the Q-tip still feels a little lo0se, simply wrap another piece of tape around it.^[8]
- Both sticky tape and masking tape work for this task. Avoid using washi tape, as this doesn't tend to be as sticky.
5
Wrap a 9 cm (3.5 in) square of foil around the Q-tip and the neck of the pen. Cut out the aluminium foil with a pair of scissors. Wrap the square tightly around the plastic portion of the Q-tip and around the neck of the pen. The aluminium foil helps to transfer the electrical current from your hand to the tip of the Q-tip.^[9]
- Don't cover up the cotton portion of the Q-tip, as this helps to prevent the screen from getting scratched.
6
Moisten the tip of Q-tip with water each time you use it. Wet your fingers and then dab the Q-tip with your damp fingers. This small amount of water helps to conduct the electrical current and makes the point of the stylus more accurate. Use your homemade stylus to navigate your way around your device. If it loses its accuracy, simply place a little extra water on the end of the Q-tip.^[10]
- Avoid soaking the Q-tip in water, as this can leave drops of water on your screen.
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Add New Question

Question

I put water on the end of my stylus and use it on my phone screen, but nothing happens. Please help.

Make sure that the foil is in contact with the tip, and that you are touching the foil at all times. Remember, it's your body's natural electric field that allows you to interact with your tablet screen, and that the foil and wet tip are conducting that field.
Question

Is it important to use only cotton swabs or we can use cotton?

You can use cotton balls if you would rather, they'll work just as well.
Question

Can I use a pencil as a stylus?

No. The eraser is far too rough for the screen and will just dirty it up. The graphite tip will just destroy the screen.
Question

What if I don't have plastic-handled Q-tips?

Regular Q-tips probably work fine, since you are just using the tips as opposed to the actual handle.
Question

Could I make a stylus pen just by putting tin foil around a Q-tip?

No, don't do this. This will scratch and damage your screen. The aluminium foil helps to transfer the electrical current from your hand to the tip of the Q-tip, and you need to wet the tip of the Q-tip to make the pen stylus work.
Question

Is it okay to use a tiny piece of yarn rather than a Q-tip?

Brady Cohen

Community Answer

No, because it has to be hard and firm to press against the screen.
Question

Does it have to be a metal pen?

Nithik Ramesh

Community Answer

Yes, metal is important here because metal can conduct electricity. The way a touch screen works is, when your finger touches the screen, the charge from your finger disturbs the charges on the screen. It reads these disturbances and registers it as a touch. If you use a plastic pen, the charge from your finger will not be able to move to the screen. But if you don't find a metal pen, don't worry. You can just wrap some aluminum foil around your plastic pen. Make sure the foil touches your finger and the cotton.
Question

What if you do not have aluminium foil could you use something else?

Nithik Ramesh

Community Answer

The inner portion of some chocolate wrappers have a thin layer of aluminum. You can use them if you like.
Question

I can't find cotton, what else should I use?

Kaysen Isenhower

Community Answer

If you have a baby wipe, dry it out and you can use that. Or, you can use tissues, or toilet paper will work too.
Question

Which one would be the best for drawing/writing?

Either one would work but method 1 would probably be more comfortable to use for long points of time suck as drawing or writing.