So, I saw some homemade catapults a while back and figured I would try my hand at making one. Here’s the prototype. BTW, the video is at the end!
Materials:
- About 2 feet of 1X4. I picked up a 10′ sheet for $1.81. I used pine since this was a prototype, for the real deal, I would use a hard wood.
- 8 screws.
- 1 dowel rod. I got an oak rod for $.99.
- Some cotton twine.
- A saw, drill, screw driver and proper safety equipment.
- Optional wood glue.
- Optional 4 year old assistant 😉
I started by cutting a 11″ piece of the 1X4 for the base. Then I cut a 2″ piece 10″ long for the launch arm. I then cut two 2X2 squares to hold the launch pin. I cut a 1X2 piece for the launch pin. I cut two triangles just using my square, so all angles are just simple 45s.
So, the way it works is to wind both of the dowels forward. This streches the twine which inturn puts pressure on the launch arm and forces it forward. Once you get it sufficiently tight, you pull the launch arm back and lock it with the lock pin. You put some object in the little launch cup that I boared into the launch arm, then pull the launch pin back. If it doesn’t go quite as far as you would like, just wind the dowels farther forward.
I noticed that my triangles are starting to lean in from how tight I have the dowels twisted. I’m going to put a little block below the launch arm on the triangles to hold them apart, I’ll update the post when I do.
As always, thanks for reading, and please leave me some comments.
The Video below is my 4 year old launching a lizard =)
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