44 replies to this topic

[jackster57]

Option A- Ask you parents.

Option B- Ride you bike. Bring a backpack and bring home what ever you need in it. Just cut the barrel material into 1' pieces before you leave.

I use a mix of option A and B.

[Mod Man]

Like some before have stated already, run it by your parents. Its a great problem solving hobby and a good way to spend more time with dad. I sell allot to fathers and grandfathers itching for a way to hang out with there kids. Good luck and remember old folks can't move as fast, so don't lead them as much when war'in. Later, Mod

[Nerf Bros]

That's my situation. I live about 10 minutes from the nearest Lowes, and that's in car. That could take me almost an hour on bike, and I have to ride along a major highway. I also don't live in the safest place, so they don't have a lot of trust that I'll come back unscathed.

Also, I need a dremel. How can I convince them to let me buy one, when I've heard horror stories about the disks almost exploding....

I also already have a nice space set up, as long as I can lug out a box or two. It's in a cedar closet that's almost unused, but getting an outlet there will be hard, and it's only about 6ft x 6ft.

yes dremels can be dangerous if not used correctly there are four main safety rules when using one...

1. slow down. take time and make sure your cuts are safe.

2. get reinforced blades. spend the 2 or 3$ extra to get strong blades, they are safer and cut better.

3. don't put to much stress on the blade. don't use the dremel at a low speed and force the blade into the cut, that's what makes the blade crack or even fly apart

4. wear eye protection. one thing u should always use while using power tools.

-nerfbros

[ilzot]

Okay CrazyIvan. Well. I have. You can't just say "Can I go to the hardware store?" For someone my age, my parents would be like WTF. So, this thread is for gathering advice on how to run it by them, with explanations about nerf modding.

Also, I'd love to ride my bike, but myself, let alone my parents, won't allow me to ride to the nearest one. I would have to travel along one of the biggest highways in the county, and would have to go for an almost hour long trip.

[RVMVTVProductions]

Damn you man, did you not listen to us in that forum at all? Read this!

A lot of people, like me, don't have easy access to CPVC or PVC or Brass or PETG. I realllllly don't know how to phrase it to my parents. I'm only 13. What do I go say to them? "Hey Mom! Can we go to Lowes? I need some CPVC pipe!" She'd be like. O.o.... Same with my dad. And ordering it offline is really not an option, as she has a hard enough time trusting Amazon or eBay (actually, she doesn't at all trust eBay; just Amazon. And she's even still a little 'if-ey' about that even..) let alone a seller like OMC.

Thats why your seeing more mods using stuff like Crayolas, Sharpies, paper, RoseArts, etc. I made a Recon mod with a glue stick

If anyone has a clue how I could ask them to go buy some materials, drop me a PM or post. It'd actually help alot.

Ok, what situation are you in with your parents?

Just try and say something in the direction of

Hey Mom, can we go and get some Caulk Saver (FBR) and CPVC from Lowes today? I just got this really cool Nerf gun! (Explain NERFing here)

Edited To Your Needs.

You are even closer to a hardware store than me! Come on man, there has to be another reason why your parents won't take you to Ace or Lowes.

Other than that, your don't terribly need a dremel. I don't own one, but I have used one. Instead, I cut and drill very carefully. But it your dont have a hacksaw OR a drill, get a dremel. It is more of a multi-use tool.

[123nerf]

Modding is funny in a way. I love how hardware workers just stare at you when you ask for something if you aren't adult age. Good times.


And on Topic-Make sure your parents know what your doing. I told them what I was doing when I first found out about modding and their all about it. My dad will pretty much do anything for me because he thinks its good for engineering skills. So yeah, hope your parents agree.

[nerfer9]

When I got to the hardware store, I usually talk in a high sqeeky voice, and say I'm a midget. It works.

Edited by nerfer9, 31 January 2009 - 11:46 PM.

[durka durka]

Like everyone has said just ask. You're also bound to get a better responce if your hardware store trip is on the way to somewhere else. If your parents still disaprove of you modding tell them about the other shooting sports. Tell them how nerf is by far the safest, cheapest, and when it comes to modding, most creative and constructive. Parents will go for things once you tell them there are far more dangerous equivilants to what you want to do.

And if all fails,then just buy your supplies when you happen to be at a hardware store. Your parents can't tell you how to spend your own money.

[Echnalaid]

And if all fails,then just buy your supplies when you happen to be at a hardware store. Your parents can't tell you how to spend your own money.

Not if your parents are from China.
My mom and dad don't care if I have the money, it if I do well in school, I can have the CONCEPT of it. It's nor a money issue, my mom doesn't like the concept.

[Aimless]

Not if your parents are from China.
My mom and dad don't care if I have the money, it if I do well in school, I can have the CONCEPT of it. It's nor a money issue, my mom doesn't like the concept.

Ah, yes, the concept of a hobby that involves "firearm replicas" or anything remotely resembling firearms troubles most parents, especially those of east Asian descent. From all the years I've lived with and in a Chinese society, most people seem to have some irrational fear of guns, which I think stems from firearms being associated with past invaders and what seems to be the association of guns and foreigners which combined with the xenophobia inherent to the customs and traditions. Oh, and the belief that guns are somehow alive and have a mind of their own.

And yes, if you're wondering, I'm Chinese, so I am right in the middle of it.

TL,DR
Foreigners = bad
Invaders = bad
Foreign invaders = bad
Foreign invaders with guns = bad
Guns = invaders = foreigners = bad
So in the end, anything associated any of those is bad, well, at least from what I've seen in these parts.

Edited by Aimless, 01 February 2009 - 12:53 AM.

[foxdemon82]

Well i guess I should count my lucky stars since I can walk to my Lowes.....but anyways I know you probably heard this a million times but tell them what you want to do and tell them the benefits of (i.e saved money,education,how fun it is etc.) and maybe they will listen to you and if they ever have to take a trip in town just say "hey, dad/mom ok if I come and we can go to Lowes real quick? I would like to get something for a project i'm doing" and they would probably say yea why not

[ilzot]

Alright, all of this is great advice.

Basically, this is what I'll tell them. "Hey Dad/Mom. I was just wondering if we could stop by Lowes or Home Depot sometime this week. I'm starting to get into Nerf modding, and I'm stuck with no materials. I mean, look what I'm stuck with." *pull out Recon with glue stick for spring housing* *pull out singled Tek Six w/ Crayola* "I'm stuck with using school supplies to mod with. Right now, you know I want to be an electrical engineer" (What I want to be when I grow up..) "but I really can't run around the house checking out how things are wired without risking electrocution... so I think that I could give Nerf modding a try. I know, yes, that it uses guns, but it's a safer, better, alternative to paintball, airsoft, or real guns. I might need to make monthly trips to a hardware store for supplies, but I promise that I'll only go if it's not in the way and we're driving by it. All I'd really need is some piping, like PVC or CPVC or brass, some adhesives, like epoxy and JB Weld, other stuff like epoxy putty, couplers, and plumber's goop, but it's all really cheap, and I'll use my own money. So, what do you say?"

End lecturing.

[sporeknight123]

this is probably not the safest method of getting materials or the cleanest but sure is the cheapest in the world.
go dumpster diving when they clean out in inventory like FRB and brass but its not as effective as buying it but it is cheap and you could get lucky and find they're throwing out all their PVC getting anew shipment
hope this helps

[ilzot]

It's not money man. Just getting to the store, let alone dumpster diving.

By the way, not the best idea. Doubt that anyone, besides maybe you, does that.

[TheNerfLoki]

Alright, all of this is great advice.

Basically, this is what I'll tell them. "Hey Dad/Mom. I was just wondering if we could stop by Lowes or Home Depot sometime this week. I'm starting to get into Nerf modding, and I'm stuck with no materials. I mean, look what I'm stuck with." *pull out Recon with glue stick for spring housing* *pull out singled Tek Six w/ Crayola* "I'm stuck with using school supplies to mod with. Right now, you know I want to be an electrical engineer" (What I want to be when I grow up..) "but I really can't run around the house checking out how things are wired without risking electrocution... so I think that I could give Nerf modding a try. I know, yes, that it uses guns, but it's a safer, better, alternative to paintball, airsoft, or real guns. I might need to make monthly trips to a hardware store for supplies, but I promise that I'll only go if it's not in the way and we're driving by it. All I'd really need is some piping, like PVC or CPVC or brass, some adhesives, like epoxy and JB Weld, other stuff like epoxy putty, couplers, and plumber's goop, but it's all really cheap, and I'll use my own money. So, what do you say?"

End lecturing.

That would be your best bet. Try to work the engineer aspect a lot. Mention a couple times that modding helps you learn about aerodynamics, friction, and just physics in general. If your parents are like mine, then anything educational is good. You should probably wait until they are in a good mood, and already going somewhere near the hardware store to ask them. If something breaks and they need to go to a hardware store anyway, it is even more likely they will let you go with them . Make sure to keep all the stuff you buy organized and out of the way. Think of ways to convince them a dremel is useful, like for example I let my parents use my dremel to file my dogs nails, which is faster and hurt her less. Those are all the tips I can think of for now.

Edited by TheNerfLoki, 02 February 2009 - 06:32 PM.

[ilzot]

Well. I asked them yesterday. Right when I said "Hardware store" my dad gave me the O.o look. I explained deeper and he said "If we're on our way by, then sure, you can stop in. I just don't want to have to lug around these 20' pieces of pipe." I explained the pipe cutters and he seems fine.

Thank god .

[slowguitarman]

Well. I asked them yesterday. Right when I said "Hardware store" my dad gave me the O.o look. I explained deeper and he said "If we're on our way by, then sure, you can stop in. I just don't want to have to lug around these 20' pieces of pipe." I explained the pipe cutters and he seems fine.

Thank god .

You know what's funny? Lowe's won't cut my pipe in the store. I have only got one person to do it. Everyone else says that they can't or that I should buy 5' pieces of pipe, and they don't have cutters hanging anywhere in the store, so I can't do it myself. I have to break every pipe I buy in half, so I can get it in my car.

[gangstastewie]

Ok, now, I thought about it and I think that this is in the right forum. This could go in Modifications as it's about modification materials, but isn't a real mod. I'll just put it here

Well, a topic about paper speedloaders began to get off-topic when I started talking about not having access to modding materials. I'm 13 right now, so I can't really hop in a car and drive down to Ace's and grab what I need. I'm under control from my parents. Does anyone have a clue on how I should bring up going to Lowes or whatevers to buy some modding materials? I mean, my dad would be pissed if he had to lug home several 15' pieces of CPVC or whatever home.... How should I go about asking them to go buy some piping, adhesives, FBR, couplers, etc?

well i would tell him u need the suplies for a project to work on ur enginnering skills, thats the funneir way to put it, or depending on what guns u have and what tools ur dad has, there r a lot of mods i've done without any of that stuff.

[laxtk88]

You know what's funny? Lowe's won't cut my pipe in the store. I have only got one person to do it. Everyone else says that they can't or that I should buy 5' pieces of pipe, and they don't have cutters hanging anywhere in the store, so I can't do it myself. I have to break every pipe I buy in half, so I can get it in my car.

Might I sugest bringing pipe cutters with you? Or you could "borrow" a hacksaw from the store.

[slowguitarman]

You know what's funny? Lowe's won't cut my pipe in the store. I have only got one person to do it. Everyone else says that they can't or that I should buy 5' pieces of pipe, and they don't have cutters hanging anywhere in the store, so I can't do it myself. I have to break every pipe I buy in half, so I can get it in my car.

Might I sugest bringing pipe cutters with you? Or you could "borrow" a hacksaw from the store.

It slips my mind to take my cutters with me, and I can't find any saw to "borrow". It stills seems stupid that a hardware store can't cut my pipe, but I guess it is Lowe's, and it sucks. Hard.