How to Make a Mini Crossbow Out of Household Objects
You can make your own inexpensive mini-crossbow with items commonly available in most craft stores. These crossbows can be used to shoot pencils or pens at your targets. Homemade crossbows can be a lot of fun to shoot, but always exercise caution when using your homemade crossbow since it can potentially cause injury, and never use your crossbow to shoot at either people or pets.
Things You'll Need
- Four 12-inch-long wooden dowels (two 5/16 inch, one 5/8 inch and one 1/4 inch).
- Wooden clothespin
- Electrical tape
- 7-inch rubber bands
- Wood glue
- Small piece of scrap wood
- Mark
- Small hacksaw
Instructions
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1
Place the two five-sixteenths-inch dowels side by side and glue them together. Let the glue dry.
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2
Place the large dowel into the slot created by the smaller dowels, leaving a space approximate one-fourth inch in at the front of the smaller dowels. Glue the larger dowel to the smaller ones and let dry.
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3
Cut off one side of a clothespin, just above the hinge mechanism, and glue the clothespin to the top of the two dowels with the fully intact side is facing up. The clothespin should be located at the back of the crossbow with the opening facing forward.
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4
Glue a small piece of wood, approximately 3 inches long, to the underside of the large dowel, this will be your handle. If you choose, you may want to cut an angle into the top of the wood to make the handle more comfortable.
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5
Mark the center of your one-fourth-inch dowel and center it below the two five-sixteenths-inch dowels at the front end of the five-eighths-inch dowel. Glue it into position and let dry.
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6
Stretch a rubber band along the length of the one-fourth-inch dowel, placing the rubber band over each end. Wrap the ends of the dowel with electrical tape to secure the rubber band to the dowel.
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Tips & Warnings
Shoot your crossbow by pulling back on your rubber band and securing it with your clothespin, place your pencil/pen into the slot formed by the two dowels and release the rubber band by pressing down on the top of the clothespin.
