regressing...

May 4, 2007 11:14 AM

How can I make slap-bracelets? (you know, the fad from the 80s/90s).

A little random, I know, but it's for a bunch of geeks in my theater group. I can figure out everything except the most important part: what to use for the snapping part inside the bracelet. I've heard mention of metal tape-measures, but I'm not sure if that will work...and my google-fu is weak today.

Any ideas?

posted by azriel2257 to grab bag (11 comments total)

I think this is one of those products that will be more economical for you to buy than make. Wikipedia describes layers of metal inside creating the tension, a little different from a mini-blind or a measuring tape.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:28 AM on May 4, 2007

You could do it with a couple of stamped bits of sheetmetal from a machine shop, but at that point, just buy the damned things.
posted by klangklangston at 11:32 AM on May 4, 2007

I ripped off the outer coating of a (store-bought) snap bracelet once, and found the inside was made of an old tape measure. You ought to be able to do that.
posted by Upton O'Good at 12:07 PM on May 4, 2007

Yeah if I had to do it I would take a tape measure and cut it into pieces and then cover the pieces with cloth. Viola.
posted by ND¢ at 12:48 PM on May 4, 2007

I've used both slap bracelets and tape measures, and while the curvature of the metal is similar, most slap bracelets seem to curl up a lot more aggressively than most tape measures (the metal seems thicker too.) If you value your time at all, it will probably be more economical to buy them premade than to experiment with cutting up different tape measures until you find one that works, then doing the cutting and making sure you've got all the sharp edges smoothed out.

And I know you're into making your own design, but really I don't see how you can improve on "YOU ARE GOD'S GIFT LASER SLAP BRACELETS". Especially at $3.95 a dozen.
posted by contraption at 2:08 PM on May 4, 2007

*later* MY EYES!!!
posted by stratastar at 3:22 PM on May 4, 2007

Off topic I know....but my mother banned them at my school when I was in 4th grade (she was the principal). She and the other teachers read some story or saw something on the news about it cutting kid's wrists. They were so popular that kids started hating me. Weird but true story.
posted by allthewhile at 4:27 PM on May 4, 2007

Check out the Jingle Bells Slap Bracelets! Duuude.
posted by roger ackroyd at 5:36 PM on May 4, 2007

Indestructables to the rescue

Or buy 'em.
posted by craven_morhead at 7:35 AM on May 6, 2007

I checked the one my husband was wearing -- what? stop snickering, I'm trying to help -- this morning, and it says it was made by "Action Band." Here's a company that will make them for you.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:59 AM on May 8, 2007

Whoops, I just noticed the minimum order on the link I posted above. That's a lotta slap bracelets to buy as a joke...
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:29 AM on May 8, 2007