When you think of a mad scientist, you probably imagine lots of crazy equipment around, at least one of which shoots electricity. Generally when you see something such as that, it is a Tesla coil. Named after its inventor, this device can produce some of the coolest bolts of electricity around. The trouble is that you don’t exactly walk into Best Buy and pick one up off the shelf. Most Tesla coils are built by hand. Want to build one on the cheap? We’ve found the perfect guide for you.

Instructables user Xellers has put together a comprehensive guide for building your own $200 spark gap Tesla coil. Some people might find that to be expensive, but you get what you pay for. This contraption will give off beams of electricity up to a foot away, which will certainly give you some mad scientist credit. Might also be a fun project if you’re putting together a haunted house of some sort next month. Just remember, when you’re playing with this much power, you might want to take all of the necessary precautions. This stuff is dangerous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUZ3EtKhOWs