Homemade bug zapper is powerful, well-designed, and terrifying
As I sit here scratching a fresh mosquito bite, I realize that the worst thing about warm weather is the unending swarm of insects. The big-box stores are filled with cheap solutions that promise to stop insects from ruining your outdoor events, but they often prove ineffective. YouTuber styropyro took an average $4 bug zapper and transformed it into a terrifying contraption that is sure to haunt the nightmares of any bugs that see it. He utilized an ignition coil from a car to generate voltages high enough to light a wasps nest on fire. It should go without saying, but don't try this at home.
According to David Grossman for Popular Mechanics: "To give his swatter a sufficient upgrade, styropyro ultimately replaced almost all of the original parts all to take a device that can go on the offensive against wasp nests and yellow jackets. The end result takes the device from a humble 2750 volts, somewhat stronger than a photo flash, to a deadly 50,000 volts. While absolutely not safe for any social setting, the end result here shows the results when you really, really hate wasps."
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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