Instruction manual

TS4 • 10
HAVING FUN WITH THE TICKLE STICK
The success of the TS4 as a novelty depends on your ingenuity in concealing
its real purpose while building it into some object that people are likely to
handle or fondle. Also, you need a clever way of turning it on and off easily-
without getting shocked yourself! A good way to approach your own design is
to think about how we designed our own prototype:
1). We used a plastic or cardboard food container, about the size of a food
can, for which there is a well-fitting press-on lid. Or, use one of those
promotional beverage cups that comes with its own lid.
2). Around the outside of the container, wrap TWO separate metal bands in
whatever way that a person is most likely to touch BOTH of them when
picking up the object. You can use aluminum foil, and a very neat installation
might be made with strips of self-adhesive window foil as used in security
systems.
3). The two metallic bands are the contact points for the two high-voltage
output wires from the TS4. So it should be obvious that the wires from the
points marked “Output +” and “Output -” are connected to the bands through
small holes in the container.
4). The switch may be concealed inside the container or in very plain view to
attract curiosity. It can be a manual slide or toggle switch, or a mercury switch,
depending on how you expect your "object" to be handled. Whether the
flashing LED is visible is up to you.
5). You may also choose to leave the LED flashing and switch only the high-
voltage on and off (to conserve battery life). You may do this by removing the
jumper soldered in to the holes marked “Tilt Sw.”. Solder in a Mercury or Tilt
switch in its place. Now, the high voltage will be active only when the tilt switch
is closed. The flashing LED remains on attracting your next victim!
Now that you have a mental picture of our prototype, put your own
imagination to work. What about two tuna cans at each end of a short plastic
or cardboard tube? What about a "book" with fancy metallic covers? A small,
inexpensive telescope or kaleidoscope? A microphone, hollowed-out tennis
racquet or baseball bat? Some sort of regional souvenir or curio? A very
ordinary-looking flashlight just waiting for somebody to pick it up and fiddle
with it? And, don't forget a nice big ribbon bow on an inviting looking box!