Trebuchet

[willarddaniels]

Another toy in use over Easter weekend... I made this trebuchet over the previous winter because I was bored and wanted to make a larger version of my 16" tall treb.
This won't throw any cars or pianos, but with 200 lbs of lead as counterweight, it will launch a soccer ball 55 yards, 400 lbs will send it 90+ yards. It can also send an 8# bowling ball over 80 feet in the air and that far again. The basket will hold 600 lads of lead, but I just don't have that much, yet.
I used this at an elementary school's midevil days festival to launch candy threw the air- it send grapeshot anywhere from 5 to 55 yards away. A friend also used it at a nearby scandinavian days festival.
[youtube][/youtube]
Specs: 12' long, 10' wide, fulcrum at 66", arm is (if I remember correctly) just over 10' with a 4:1 ratio. Vertical drop is somewhere in the 33-34" range. Axle / pivot shaft at fulcrum is about 1.38 bar stock inside 1.25 galvanized pipe that has been honed out for a near perfect fit. I lubed it with lots of axle grease. Weights: see my how-to on smelting lead, I was making bricks for this that day. Sling is made from parachute cord, welded o-rings, and machine-stiched industrial straps.
Next I would like to do a floating arm, but these look cooler.
My 4 year old likes to help pull the trigger and load the sling.

[Gippeto]

I love these things! Nicely done.

I would imagine that this thing is a blast the day after halloween.

[mega_swordman]

Nice, that thing is very awesome. Just one question on the weight though. You said

Weights: see my how-to on smelting lead, I was making bricks for this that day.

and I'm not quite sure what you mean by that. Is it just a bunch of lead "bricks"?

[willarddaniels]

Especially when I grow over 80 pumpkins, most about 8" in diameter... yes, they were a blast to hurl.
I usually throw a gallon milk jug filled with sawdust- little bouncing upon impact, it doesn't break, good size and visibility, decent weight, etc.

[Blitz]

Very nicely done -- I love Trebuchets. Have any pics of your smaller one?

[willarddaniels]

and I'm not quite sure what you mean by that. Is it just a bunch of lead "bricks"?

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/boiling ... t6613.html
Yeah, I made "bricks" out of lead. They weigh about 7.25 lbs each. I also made some bricks that are 45- 47 lbs each, but they are cumbersome.
I will try to get some pics of the small one this week when I make it back home (I am working out of state right now).

[lockmanslammin]

So here it is...MY trebuchet. I propose a head to head trebuchet war.

<a href="http://s117.photobucket.com/albums/o75/ ... CF3160.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o75/ ... CF3160.jpg" border="0" alt="little trebuget"></a>


hehehe,

Lock

[STHORNE]

wow, that thing is awesome willarddaniels.

if you dont mind me asking....specs? or did you get plans from a site?

again, very nice job!

[SpudFarm]

if you can make that one you can make a bigger one and shoot those steel barrels filles with gasoline and you are ready for war

loving that thing!

[STHORNE]

omg, thats a killer idea. gas barrels lol

btw, anyone see those spudgun vids on youtube with people launching soda bottles filled with gas. its prolly the coolest thing i ever saw. i gotta try that now.

[Gippeto]

Lock, I think he has you for range and projectile mass, but I'm sure your ROF is higher.
But maybe you can sneak in under cover of darkness to pelt him with peanuts?


sthorne, it took me less than 10 sec to find this with google;

http://www.ripcord.ws/plans/plans.html

http://www.stormthecastle.com/trebuchet ... t-plan.htm

[SpudFarm]

sthorne: i have bougth parts of him and it is not sona bottles it is tin cans filled with gasoline and steelwool on the back...

[SpudUke5]

Well if you guys think that shooting things far from a trebuchet, then why dont you try flying out of one!

[youtube][/youtube]

[STHORNE]

sthorne: i have bougth parts of him and it is not sona bottles it is tin cans filled with gasoline and steelwool on the back...

no, i'm talking about random people in general (who happen to be posted on youtube). not him. heres the vid i was talking about...

[youtube][/youtube]

[SpudFarm]

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