Project: Build a Catapult
Warning: A catapult is a weapon and should be handled carefully to avoid injury. A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the use of explosives. It's meaning, derived from Greek, means "Shield piercer." So, my son and I set out to build one of our own shield piercers, albeit a much smaller version. Our goal: to be able to chuck flaming marshmellows (warning: chucking flaming marshmellows is dangerous and should not be done -- ever). We got ideas for a design from various websites and books, including Backyard Ballistics by William Gurstelle. In the end, we ended up building several different versions. Read below for a short description of the tools, materials, and instructions needed to build a small version of a onager catapult; I've included a little video of a larger catapult that we built to use as a pitching machine. Tools: Cordless drill Miter box and wood saw Tape measure Various drill bits