Making a popsicle stick catapult can be a fun project. The following Buzzle article tells you how to make one.
Popsicle sticks can be used to make various interesting projects. One of the best things that you can make using these sticks is a catapult. To make a popsicle stick catapult you will need:
Popsicle sticks (12)
Glue
Masking tape
Metal string
Rubber band
Plastic bottle cap
Pencil
Drill
How to Make a Popsicle Stick Catapult
Generally, making a catapult is easier than making any other woodcraft, and it is less time-consuming too. The catapult which you are going to make is very simple in terms of design. So, according to me, you will take around 20 minutes to complete this project. Here are the instructions that you should follow:
Base
The first thing that you should focus on is the base. A good base is essential to make a good catapult. Take 5 popsicle sticks and glue them together in such a way that their edges are flushed, let us call this set of popsicle sticks 'A'. Similarly, take 5 more popsicle sticks and glue them, let's call this set 'B'. Now, take a pencil, and mark the center of the surface of 'A', then mark the midpoint of the surface of 'B'. Now, drill holes through the centers of 'A' and 'B'. Once you have done that, take a popsicle stick and remove its rounded edges, then level all its edges, such that it gets a rectangular shape. Use this popsicle stick to attach 'A' to 'B', glue it such that one of the shorter edges of the popsicle stick is perpendicular to 'A', and the other shorter edge is perpendicular to 'B'.
Catapult Arm
Now, you should make the catapult arm. This part is relatively simpler. Take 2 popsicle sticks and glue them together, just as you glued the popsicle sticks to make 'A', let us call this set of popsicle sticks as 'C'. Now, mark a spot close to one of the rounded edges of 'C'. Carefully drill a hole at this spot.
Catapult Cup
You cannot use a catapult, if you do not have a catapult cup. You can make a cup using paper, but it may not be strong enough. To make it simple for you, here I have recommended the use of a plastic bottle cap as the catapult cup. If you use the bottle cap, you will not have to spend your time making the cup, and thus you can finish the project faster.
Attachment
The 3 major components of your catapult are ready. Your next task is to attach these parts. For simplicity, I have divided this section into 3 parts:
Cup to the Arm
To make the catapult functional, you will have to attach the cup to the catapult arm. Hold 'C' in such a way that its surface is facing you, and your thumb is pressed against the hole. Now, rotate 'C' so that the longer edge of the popsicle stick is facing you. Glue the cap to this edge, such that the cap lies opposite to your hand.
Arm to the Base
Take the metal string (the diameter of the metal string should be less than the diameter of the hole in 'A', 'B', and 'C') and put it through the hole in 'A'. Before you insert the string through the hole in 'B', pass it through the hole in 'C'. Now, pass the string through 'B', and fasten it to the base using a masking tape.
Rubber Band
To complete your project, you should attach the rubber band to the base and to the catapult arm. Fasten the rubber band to the arm, right below the cup, and then fasten it to the base near the rounded edges opposite to the cup. You can tie a knot or use a masking tape to fasten the rubber band.
Your popsicle stick catapult is now ready. Isn't this project fun? Apart from the catapult and the truss bridge, there are many wood craft ideas that you can implement. Making such projects is a nice way to spend your spare time.
Popsicle sticks can be used to make various interesting projects. One of the best things that you can make using these sticks is a catapult. To make a popsicle stick catapult you will need:
Popsicle sticks (12)
Glue
Masking tape
Metal string
Rubber band
Plastic bottle cap
Pencil
Drill
How to Make a Popsicle Stick Catapult
Generally, making a catapult is easier than making any other woodcraft, and it is less time-consuming too. The catapult which you are going to make is very simple in terms of design. So, according to me, you will take around 20 minutes to complete this project. Here are the instructions that you should follow:
Base
The first thing that you should focus on is the base. A good base is essential to make a good catapult. Take 5 popsicle sticks and glue them together in such a way that their edges are flushed, let us call this set of popsicle sticks 'A'. Similarly, take 5 more popsicle sticks and glue them, let's call this set 'B'. Now, take a pencil, and mark the center of the surface of 'A', then mark the midpoint of the surface of 'B'. Now, drill holes through the centers of 'A' and 'B'. Once you have done that, take a popsicle stick and remove its rounded edges, then level all its edges, such that it gets a rectangular shape. Use this popsicle stick to attach 'A' to 'B', glue it such that one of the shorter edges of the popsicle stick is perpendicular to 'A', and the other shorter edge is perpendicular to 'B'.
Catapult Arm
Now, you should make the catapult arm. This part is relatively simpler. Take 2 popsicle sticks and glue them together, just as you glued the popsicle sticks to make 'A', let us call this set of popsicle sticks as 'C'. Now, mark a spot close to one of the rounded edges of 'C'. Carefully drill a hole at this spot.
Catapult Cup
You cannot use a catapult, if you do not have a catapult cup. You can make a cup using paper, but it may not be strong enough. To make it simple for you, here I have recommended the use of a plastic bottle cap as the catapult cup. If you use the bottle cap, you will not have to spend your time making the cup, and thus you can finish the project faster.
Attachment
The 3 major components of your catapult are ready. Your next task is to attach these parts. For simplicity, I have divided this section into 3 parts:
Cup to the Arm
To make the catapult functional, you will have to attach the cup to the catapult arm. Hold 'C' in such a way that its surface is facing you, and your thumb is pressed against the hole. Now, rotate 'C' so that the longer edge of the popsicle stick is facing you. Glue the cap to this edge, such that the cap lies opposite to your hand.
Arm to the Base
Take the metal string (the diameter of the metal string should be less than the diameter of the hole in 'A', 'B', and 'C') and put it through the hole in 'A'. Before you insert the string through the hole in 'B', pass it through the hole in 'C'. Now, pass the string through 'B', and fasten it to the base using a masking tape.
Rubber Band
To complete your project, you should attach the rubber band to the base and to the catapult arm. Fasten the rubber band to the arm, right below the cup, and then fasten it to the base near the rounded edges opposite to the cup. You can tie a knot or use a masking tape to fasten the rubber band.
Your popsicle stick catapult is now ready. Isn't this project fun? Apart from the catapult and the truss bridge, there are many wood craft ideas that you can implement. Making such projects is a nice way to spend your spare time.
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