DIY Cordless Air Horn: Turn a Burned-Out Drill Into a Roaring Beast!

by rkolibar in Workshop > Tools

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DIY Cordless Air Horn: Turn a Burned-Out Drill Into a Roaring Beast!

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Are you tired of wimpy car horns that barely make a peep? Want to announce your arrival with authority? Look no further! In this exciting project, we’ll transform a discarded drill (yes, the one that met its motor demise) into a blasting air horn that’ll have your neighbors wondering if a freight train just rolled into town. 🚂🔊

But wait, there’s more! We’ll combine the drill body with a Harbor Freight air horn kit, add a touch of black paint for that stealthy vibe, and create a cordless air horn that’s both functional and downright impressive. Whether you’re pranking your friends, alerting the neighborhood, or just unleashing your inner locomotive enthusiast, this project is for you.

Supplies

Free Drill: You can use a different type of drill for this project. The key is to have a drill body that you can modify to accommodate the air pump and mount the horns. Here are some considerations when choosing an alternative drill:

Look for a drill with a similar shape and size to the one you have. The modifications will be easier if the new drill has a compatible housing. The drill body should have enough space inside to fit the air pump without compromising structural integrity.

Harbor Freight Air Horn Kit: Priced at $19.99.

Black Paint: For a sleek finish.

Dremel Tool: To modify the drill housing.

Superglue, Hot Melt Glue, or Epoxy: For securing parts.

Disassemble the Drill

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Remove the drill chuck and motor. You’ll only need the drill body.

Use a Dremel tool to carefully remove some plastic from the inside of the drill case. This will create space for the air pump.

Prepare the Air Horn Kit

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Follow the instructions in the Harbor Freight air horn kit to assemble the horns.

Paint all the horns and hardware black for a uniform look.

Wire Connection

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Cut the two wires from the drill as close to the motor as possible.

Attach the red wire to the positive terminal and the black wire to the negative terminal of the air pump.

Mount the Horns

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Position the horns on the top of the drill body.

Drill holes through the drill casing to mount the horns securely.

Secure the Washer and Nut:

Glue or epoxy the washer and nut to one half of the drill body. This will serve as the mounting point for the horns.

Assemble Everything

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Put all the parts together: drill body, air pump, and mounted horns.

Ensure the wires are connected properly.

Test the air horn outside and enjoy the loud blast!


Test the air horn away from people and animals.

The result? You’ll have a powerful air horn that’ll make your neighbors wonder if a freight train just rolled into town! 🚂🔊