The 70s were an era of do-it-yourself enthusiasm. We didn’t have YouTube tutorials, safety warnings, or modern tools, but we had creativity—and a lot of it! Looking back, some of those projects were borderline dangerous, and while they were fun, it’s amazing more people didn’t end up with stitches, burns, or worse. Here’s a look at some of those risky DIY projects we dove into headfirst (sometimes literally) and lived to tell the tale.
1. Homemade Slingshots
The homemade slingshot was every kid’s favorite weapon in the 70s. We’d fashion them out of an old branch and some rubber bands, load them up with rocks, and take aim at anything in sight. Of course, the targets were often much closer than we intended, leading to plenty of broken windows and angry parents!
2. Rocket Building Kits
Rocket building kits were all the rage for aspiring young scientists—or anyone who wanted to see something explode. We’d glue together the parts, stuff them with the flammable powder that came in the box, and hope for the best as we set them off. If you weren’t careful, your rocket could end up flying toward the house instead of the sky, leaving everyone scrambling for cover!
3. Homemade Go-Karts
Who needed a fancy, store-bought go-kart when you had an old wooden plank, some spare wheels, and a hammer? We’d build these makeshift contraptions, no brakes in sight, and race them downhill without a second thought. The thrill was worth the inevitable crash, even if you ended up with skinned knees and splinters galore.
4. Treehouses Made From Scrap Wood
Building a treehouse was a rite of passage, but there were no pre-made kits back then. Instead, we’d grab whatever wood we could find, hammer it together in a questionable fashion, and hope it stayed up long enough to climb inside. Forget about safety rails or a solid foundation—our only concern was getting it done before Mom or Dad caught on.
5. Homemade Fireworks
Somehow, we thought we could make our own fireworks with a few firecrackers, matches, and some makeshift “enhancements” from the garage. These DIY displays were fun until they weren’t—like when they exploded in your hands or set the yard on fire. It’s a wonder any of us made it to see another July 4th.
6. Duct-Taped Bike Repairs
Bikes broke down constantly, but who had the patience (or allowance) to get them fixed properly? Instead, we’d patch up everything with duct tape—chains, handlebars, seats, you name it. We’d ride those wobbly death traps around the neighborhood, crossing our fingers that the tape would hold just long enough to make it home without a wipeout.
7. Electrical Experiments with Extension Cords
Playing with electricity was both terrifying and thrilling. We’d splice together old extension cords, thinking we could rig up our own gadgets or charge multiple things at once. A few sparks (or small fires) later, we learned that DIY electrical work wasn’t something to mess around with—but only after several shocking lessons.
8. Homemade Surfboards
Surfing was huge in the 70s, and for those of us without the cash for a real surfboard, DIY was the way to go. We’d carve out our own boards from wood or fiberglass, using any materials we could find. They looked awesome—until we hit the water and realized they were barely buoyant, leaving us flailing in the surf more often than actually riding a wave.
9. PVC Pipe Water Guns
Water guns were fun, but building our own from PVC pipes? Now that was an adventure! We’d glue the pipes together, attach some sort of pump system, and see who could blast water the farthest. The only problem? PVC pipe water guns could quickly turn into dangerous projectiles if you weren’t careful—especially when someone decided to up the pressure.
10. Homemade Skateboard Ramps
If you loved skateboarding in the 70s, you definitely built your own ramps. A couple of plywood sheets and a lot of imagination went into these DIY deathtraps. With no regard for how steep they were or how stable the base was, we launched ourselves into the air, only to land hard on concrete more times than we care to admit.
11. Building Model Rockets Indoors
Model rockets were cool, but patience wasn’t our strong suit. Instead of waiting to launch them outside, some of us got a little too eager and lit them off indoors—on the kitchen floor or, worse, in the garage. The results? Scorched ceilings, melted plastic, and a lot of panicked running around trying to put out fires.
12. Homemade Soapbox Derby Cars
Soapbox derbies were a big deal, and building your own car was part of the fun. We’d slap together some scrap wood, old wagon wheels, and whatever else we could find to make our speed machines. No seat belts, no helmets, and certainly no brakes—the goal was to go fast, and the inevitable wipeout was just part of the thrill.
At the time, these DIY projects seemed like the ultimate in creative fun. Looking back, they were dangerous adventures disguised as innocent childhood experiments. We pushed the limits of safety (and common sense), but in the end, it was all about the experience—the scrapes, bruises, and lessons learned. Today, we can laugh and reminisce about just how risky our youthful endeavors were.
