How to Make a Homemade Force Gauge

Drill a 1/8-inch hole into the bottom of the wood dowel with the power drill. Place a threaded hook into the hole and twist to tighten.

Slide the rubber band onto two jumbo paper clips. Place one of the paper clips at the middle of the dowel and secure with masking tape.

Place white adhesive labels on each end of the wood dowel. You will use these later to record the scale for your gauge.

Insert the dowel and attached paper clips into the cardboard tube. Slide the paper clip that is on the end of the rubber band onto the top of the cardboard tube. Secure the paper clip to the cardboard tube using the masking tape.

Bend a jumbo paper clip into a "U" shape with a flat bottom. Place the bent paper clip on the bottom of the cardboard tube. Secure the sides of the paper clip to the cardboard tube with masking tape.

Pull the end of the hook gently and release to establish a "zero" setting for the gauge. Mark the label on the end of the dowel at the bent "U." Label the line "0."

Attach a 10-gram weight onto the hook. Allow the weight to pull down the dowel. Make a line on the label at the bent "U." Label the line "10." Repeat this step using weights in 10-gram increments to a maximum of 200 grams.