DIY paper tuner?
Equipment
Looking to build a paper tuner, wondering if anybody has details/specs for what they did?
Found a few online, but $75 for a paper tuner is ridiculous lol
Cardboard box, cut center out, tape paper over the hole, shoot through paper
I was thinking something with pvc, little more durable.
I’ll shoot in the basement & don’t want to screw anything into the ceiling. Need to be able to relocate for storage in between tuning sessions
Agree, cardboard box, can just set on a chair/table/etc in front of your target. I just use scrap paper from printer 8x11. If you really to get want hi-tech, glue a metal tab on the box at each corner and hold paper with magnets so you can switch out fast/easy and not have to use tape.
I built one out of 1.25" PVC a couple of weeks ago. This is my parts list. I'll take some pictures when I get home tonight if you like.
Mine is super easy. I took a 14 X 24 ish inch box, cut one end off so it's a frame about 12" deep. Then just tape the paper over the opening with painters tape - the paper adds rigidity to keep the box shape. I set it on a little stand and shoot through the paper.
It cost whatever my wife bought from Amazon a bunch of years ago, and folds up to slide under my work bench really easily. Works great!
I use a rectangular PVC frame mounted on a cheap Walmart tripod. With the tripod the height can be adjusted so you can shoot through different levels of the paper and for different sized shooters.
Jake,
I built one using wood and it was fairly inexpensive. I used 1x4's for the frame and had a base with casters on so I could roll it around in my basement. I had a 1/2" dowel that I used to put a roll of brown paper on and I'd pull up the paper and use simple clamps to attach it to the top of the frame; this was a lot easier (to me) than removing paper and re-taping a new sheet (when I'd shot enough holes through the section in use I'd remove the clamps, pull up the paper and re-clamp and start over.
I don't have the exact physical dimensions anymore (tossed it years ago as the club I joined has a paper tuner plus an indoor range) but I think I made it about 4 1/2-5' tall and about 18-20" wide.
Hope this helps and I do like the ID of PVC as well.
If you have an older chronograph, you could just tape printer paper to the frame and shoot through it. It works pretty well. But if you’re looking for an actual nice tuner, there are some good suggestions above. Good luck and shoot straight, literally :)
1X2s are plenty strong enough, dirt cheap, and no plastic footprint.
I taped my paper in-between the rings of an 8 ft ladder. Worked pretty well.
That’s even cheaper. Right up ‘til it ain’t!! LOL
I did the same as Boreal. Mine is in pieces(didnt glue the joints) but it works really well and stores/reassembles easily.
Sharpen two broken hockey sticks insert sticks into ground. Tape paper.
It is possible to use other sticks in place of hockey sticks you’re just not as cool
On my list it says "4 - 8" sections". It should read 4 - 8' sections of course. As molsonarcher said above, I didn't wind up gluing mine together and it pops apart easily. With a tape measure and a small mitre saw bing the only tools needed, it probably took all of 15 minutes to build.
Thx Ken. I like that it’s not glued.
Box with a piece of paper over the end, or stand it up, cut a hole in side and tape or pin paper over.
That's perfect Ken-I'm going to steal that it's exactly what I was looking for!
Good call to put the roll down low. Some guys built one at the club with the roll at the top, and you’d never have seen this coming, but the damned thing is top-heavy.
Who’dathunkit???
Mine looks like Boreals. Workds great & yes, no glue, I can take it apart some for storage.
Just FWIW…. 1x2s can be assembled with dry-wall screws (permanent) or nuts & bolts (temporary).
Maybe for PVC, you would want part of the frame to be glued up and other sections press-fit, for convenience…
I like PVC, but it’s more expensive than wood when you screw up. And broken 1X2s are good in the fire-bowl…..
PVC is just so…… PVC.
How often will you use it? A box works fine. Then recycle and use another box next time.
I have a recurve & hunting compound now, looking for a target compound so I’d get good use out of a more permanent option vs boxes.
Thankfully my wife isn’t much of a shopper so we don’t have an excess of cardboard boxes laying around
I just slide base into a milk crate base in front of the bale
Wow Ken that's a sweet looking paper tuning apparatus...
Here is mine, I made it to hold my chronograph too (not at the same time obviously). Breaks down for storage, but I did glue specific pieces.
—Jim
^^^ Do you chrono and paper turn your lizard darts too?
All I know is that Treeman's random box of horns and antlers has way cooler stuff in it than mine does!
This one's a little redneck. A frame ladder, paper, and duck tape.
I put something up in the basement as well. It is just a couple pieces of wood hung from the floor joists with holes to accept a dowel rod for the paper roll. There's options for holding the paper still/tight, but you could always just drop a couple 2x4s down from there and fasten the paper to the sides.
Well I was about to hit send and just happened to scroll near the top to see that you added a secondary post. Nevermind my option.
Jim, when people mention using insulation to build target backs, they likely aren't referring to that as part of an overhead door. It doesn't look like you have too many holes in it yet, so there is always time to change your ways. ;)
I made mine out of a realtor sign frame(my wife's a realtor, I didn't steal it). The paper roll is on a bungee cord. I added bolts at the end of the legs so I can rest the bolts on the garage door rails.
I picked up a lifetime supply at the dump in Iowa City for free, the other day!….They didn’t work worth crap, though. No matter what adjustments I do, I still get a left tear.
/\ /\. Ha ha! Good one Troy!
