How to Build a Simple Wood Catapult
Catapults were a weapon of war for thousands of years, but now are used for anything from tabletop games to tossing pumpkins hundreds of feet through the air. A simple catapult can be built in a few hours using a wooden spoon, a wooden frame and a bungee cord for power. It should launch a ball of tinfoil up to 30 feet. The dimension of the catapult can be larger or smaller, but it should be operated safely.
Things You'll Need
- 8 feet of 2"-by-3" lumber
- 20 1 1/2 inch screws
- 2 screw-in hooks
- 1 eye bolt
- Long handled wooden spoon
- Bungee cord
- Ammo
- Saw
- Drill
- Screw driver
- Ruler or tape measure
Instructions
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1
Use the saw to cut the 2"-by-3" wood into the following lengths:
2 pieces, each 1 foot long.
2 pieces, each 4 inches long
2 pieces, each 6 inches long
1 piece, 7 inches long
2 pieces, 7 to 8 inches long -
2
Create the base of the catapult by placing the 4-inch pieces between the ends of the 1-foot pieces to form a rectangle. All pieces should be resting on their edges. At each of the four joints, drill two holes through the 1 foot piece into the end of the 4-inch piece, then screw in the screws through the holes.
Take the two 6-inch pieces, and stand them on their ends, flat against the outsides of the 1-foot pieces. The front edge of the upright 6-inch piece should be 4 inches from the front of the catapult frame. Drill two holes into the bottom of each of the 6-inch pieces into the 1-foot pieces and attach with screws.
Take the 7-inch cross piece and put it flat behind and across the two upright 6-inch pieces. Slide it up until its top edge is flush with the top ends of the upright pieces. It should be behind the upright pieces, not on top of them. Drill holes and use two screws to attach the cross piece to each of the uprights.
The 2 7-8 inch pieces are supports that will run at an angle between the cross piece and the front piece on the base. Saw the ends of the 2 pieces at angles so they will be flush with both the cross piece and the top of the front piece of the base. Place the supports about 2 inches apart and screw them to the cross piece and the base.
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3
Screw one of the hooks into the front side of the base, horizontal to the ground and with the open end downward. Screw the other into the front of the wooden spoon, just below the bowl, with the open end facing upward when the spoon is standing on its end.
Screw the large eye bolt into the inside of the front piece of the frame, positioning it so that the end of the spoon can be placed in it.
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4
Stand the spoon up at an angle behind the cross piece, with its end in the eye bolt. The eye bolt should be loose enough to allow the spoon handle to move backward and forward.
Attach the bungee cord to the hooks on the front of the base and the spoon, and running in front of the crosspiece. The cord should be tight, but too tight a cord could break the catapult when it is released.
Pull the spoon back, place the ammunition--a ball of paper or tinfoil, for example--in the bowl of the spoon, and let go to launch it.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear safety glasses when operating the catapult. If the bungee cord comes loose or the structure breaks, it could snap back into the launcher's face.
