Collin's Lab: DIY iPad Stylus

Fingertip input is great for most touchscreen usage like typing, web-browsing - all sorts of virtual button-pushing tasks. But for many people, drawing remains an activity best approached with a pen, pencil, brush, etc.

With a bit of conductive foam and wire, it's surprisingly easy to make your own conductive stylus, suitable for use with iPhone, iPad and similar conductive touchscreen devices - and you'll likely find it a lot more precise compared to regular fingertip input.

[ManishKumarIITG]

Now all I need to know is "How to make an iPad for the stylus".

[aniretukatomai]

A regular sponge works as well instead of the foam. Also a paper clip can be used instead of wire

[Muenchies]

Collin just does everything. Drawing, Musicking, Electronics, and Video Making.

[eliza]

My husband did this for me last night, didn't take long at all, and the stylus ROCKS. Thanks for this!

[stevet]

Collin,
You are a F'n genius man. I've watched countless vids on how to make one of these. Most look like crap using wrinkled up tin foil, Q-tips or kitchen sponges that ya' have to spit or piss on to get the conductivity! I'm into other electronics, too, and have a bunch of conductive foam about the shop. I had just about given up and gone to WallyWorld to pay $14 bucks for one. Not now! I'll have a handful to give to friends as presents. Thanks a bunch, Buddy. BEST I have seen!
Peace, Steve

[leosynomi]

Yes you can. for complex circuits it is good to use different colors so you know what wire goes where and things but in this project where you only use one wire, you can use any color.

[Rosemarie]

yours is by far the best design for a DIY iPad stylus. thanks!

[dirtfriends]

You can also use the inside of a chip bag (the silver part) or a kitchen sponge

[ACherimoya]

I had no idea there was such a thing as conductive foam. How awesome.

[robomanrobo]

@nicholas riveras you can do this but just leave a little more out the end and then cut it to shape. you can even use a pencil if you want a thin tip, ust dont mind the pencil marks on the screeen :)

[thewii]

@6LordMortus9 to dissapate static electricity; the components are held in the foam, not entire circuits

[Blakehx]

I removed the outer sheath off an old usb cable, cut a slit down the side so I could open fold it out flat. Then just loop it over the end with a bit of slack so you can press into it!

[booodan]

@catstuffer its not where you have to put the tip of your finger, its so your finger can rest on the wire, but the tip can still be farther down

[highvis_supply]

You couldalso replace the conductive foam with a small pin cell battery but be shure to check which side of the pin cell bettery should touch

[wowzanpakutou]

@Hector95100 theres 2 types of touch screens, capacitive and resistive, resistive has a thin film over the screen and the screen detects when the film touches the screen, capacitive works with conductivity, and the human body conducts electricity very well. an example is.. if you aren't getting good reception on your radio, you'll get much better reception when you hold onto the antenna

[rgorazd]

You are so talented! I like to watch your tubes, you are so full of crazy simple ideas! Greetings from Slovenia!

[SuperToastytoast]

the ipads touch senser is indicated by the heat through our fingers, thats why the conductive foam must be wired so it creates the same effect

[ducttaperulestheworl]

@bray610
it doesn't have to be conductive
but if it's conductive, most static charges will easily be conducted to ground through your hands.
or not it may cause the iPad circuitry to slowly malfunction

[Ghostviperz]

I have thouse that wire crimpers I use it for home theater installs love them. I also have the pogo stylus but I want a finer/ harder tip any ideas?

[XOIIOXOIIO]

@SuperToastytoast Actually, it is a capacitive touchscreen. It detects electrical conductivity. I just tested it right now using ESD safe plyers and it stillm worked.