Miniature tasers!
This may become completely outdated in the next few years.

If you go to a film processing place, they may have the carcasses of disposable cameras in their trash. (You know, like the Kodak Fun Saver.) The way these cameras work is that when you snap the last shot the film is already wound into a film canister, like any roll of film, so they pry it open and pull out the film to process and discard the cardboard and plastic that makes up the rest of the camera.

Only thing is, this includes (usually) a flash.

Take apart the carcass until the flash circuitry is exposed. You'll note a battery (an AA) and a capacitor almost the size of said battery. Take two wires (such as chunks of paperclip) and solder them to the leads of the capacitor so they extend out a ways. Make them the same length. Then poke around and find the two connections you have to short out to make the capacitor charge (you will hear the characteristic high pitched whine) and short them out with whatever metal you have (such as a coin) until it stops whining.

Do NOT touch the two wires you've soldered on. It will hurt. But if you touch them to a penny you get this:


( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 10 Aug 2012, 5:32, 7 replies)

Let's just add that
you shouldn't touch the capacitor terminals or connections at any time, before or after soldering the wires on, as it's the capacitor that is storing the charge that will make you think your fucking arm has been bitten off by a shark . . .

just out of curiosity, what is a safe and reliable way to discharge a capacitor?
(username failed moderation, Fri 10 Aug 2012, 9:07, closed)

Safe discharge
Use a power resistor, i.e. one with a power rating high enough to handle the current sent thought it by the voltage in the capacitor. Use Ohms law and it all works. Too high a resistance and it will take hours, too low and there will be hotness. C x R gives time to 37% discharge in seconds.


Well you asked...
( jagwap, Fri 10 Aug 2012, 13:39, closed)

I came up with this because of a friend who did exactly that.
He was just trying to get it to flash, and touched two parts of the circuit board with his finger. His jumping and cursing was nowhere near as amusing as when he did it a second time...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 10 Aug 2012, 14:25, closed)

Hmm
wonder how many people will try this now, especially after seeing the photo
(mon bison powered by magnets, Fri 10 Aug 2012, 9:44, closed)

Hang on, how did you take the photo if you'd already ripped up your camera?

( Dr Preference AjcuiVd289, Fri 10 Aug 2012, 14:13, closed)

My son shot this, actually.
He used my digital camera to record the results of his playing with the thing when I happened to not be home. I didn't yell at him for it, as he did no damage, but I did tell him that the thing was not to leave the apartment.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 10 Aug 2012, 14:27, closed)

I wish he'd shot you instead.

Not really!!!! x x x
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 14 Aug 2012, 16:43, closed)