How to Build a Mouse Trap Car With a Lever
A toy car that propels itself is more exciting to watch than having to push it along yourself. You can make a toy car out of a mouse trap that will be powered by the spring attached to it and drive away when you want it to. You will need a few supplies from a hobby shop and some tools that most people have around the house. Get adult supervision when making your mouse trap car if you are a child.
Things You'll Need
- Newspaper
- Mouse trap
- Hand saw
- 1/4th-inch diameter metal rod, 2 feet long
- Tape measure
- 1/4th-inch diameter eye hooks
- Bottle caps
- Bonding glue
- String
- Pliers
- Scissors
- Paperclip
Instructions
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1
Place a sheet of newspaper on a table. Place the mouse trap on the table. Measure the width of the mouse trap with the tape measure. Cut two lengths of the metal rod that are each a half inch longer than the width of the mouse trap with the hand saw.
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2
Hold the mouse trap on the newspaper with one hand. Hold the pliers in the other hand. Clamp the jaws of the pliers around the wire that holds the mouse trap open out of the trap. Pull the wire out of the mouse trap. Discard the wire in the trash. Repeat this procedure with the bait holder.
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3
Screw an eye hook into each corner of the mouse trap about 1/4th of an inch from the edge with your fingers.
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4
Place a metal rod through the eye hooks at the back of the mouse trap, going through the wire attached to the back of the mouse trap. Place a metal rod through the eye hooks at the front of the mouse trap.
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5
Apply bonding glue to the inside center of each of the bottle caps. Place an end of a metal rod into each of the bottle caps. Let the bonding glue set for two hours.
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6
Tie the end of the string to the middle of the metal bar of the mouse trap that snaps down. Stretch the string over to the rear axle. Cut the string at the rear axle with the scissors. Tie a loop in the end of the string.
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7
Straighten out the paperclip.
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8
Raise the jaws of the trap. Place the looped end of the string over the wire that the rear axle is going through.
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9
Roll the mouse trap car towards you to wind the string around the axle and raise the trap. Insert one end of the paperclip through the wire at the rear axle.
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10
Place the mouse trap car on the floor. Remove the paperclip lever from inside of the wire. Watch as the trap descends and powers the mouse trap car forward.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear work gloves to protect your hands when handling the trap of the mouse trap.
