Have you ever wanted to learn how to make a mini crossbow and felt compelled to do so? If that’s the case, this is the best page you’ll ever come upon!
A crossbow also referred to as a horizontal bow, is a bow-based weapon that consists of a horizontal bow-like component set on a stock. It fires bolts or quarrels as projectiles. The medieval crossbow was known by a variety of names, the majority of which were derived from the word ballista, which referred to a torsion siege engine that looked like a crossbow.
The crossbow is simple to construct and requires only basic materials and tools. It’s a fun project that blasts projectiles a long distance.
Follow these steps to create a miniature crossbow out of household objects.
Contents
Easy Guideline For Making a Mini Crossbow
Find a stick of lumber and screws
Begin with a rectangle piece of scrap lumber that is 1″ x 2″ or smaller in size (20 x 40 mm). It should measure approximately 8–9 inches (20–23 cm) in length. Five short screws, tiny enough to drill through a Popsicle stick, are also required.
Drill holes in three Popsicle sticks
Take three regular Popsicle sticks, each measuring 412 inches (11.5 cm) in length. Drill three holes the size of your small screws in each Popsicle stick.
- There is one hole towards one end.
- One hole near the opposite end and one hole in the precise center.
Bore two holes in the lumber near one end
Bore two openings in the same side of the wood without going all the way through it. Place the holes 12 inch (2.5 cm) apart, in alignment with each other, from the very same short end.
These holes must be the same size as the screws.
Each hole should be filled with a Popsicle stick
Insert a screw into one of the holes in your stick through the hole at the end of a popsicle stick. Rep on the other side using a second popsicle stick. These are the crossbow arms you’ll be using.
Half-cut a Popsicle stick
Cut the last popsicle stick in half lengthwise, through the center hole. To ensure an equal cut, use a tiny handsaw or a serrated knife.
Connect the crossbow arms to the halves
Cover one of the crossbow arms with a half-stick. Arrange them such that the half-full stick’s hole is over the arm’s center hole. They should be screwed together. On the other side, repeat with the second half-stick.
In the lumber, drill two more holes
Place them in line with the screws that hold the crossbow arms in place, creating a square pattern of four holes. They should be 34 inches (1.9 cm) distant from the other holes.
Fit the arms into the corresponding holes
Place a screw halfway through one of the new holes. One of the crossbow arms should be moved so that the half-stick touches the screw. The screw should be centered in the half-hole in the half-stick. Rep on the opposite side with a screw.
Do not fully tighten these screws. This allows you to set up the crossbow arms in a stable firing position before shifting them and folding them against the lumber.
As the bowstring, use a rubber band
Take a long rubber band and wrap it around your wrist. Pass one end through the hole in the right crossbow arm’s tip. To secure it, wrap it once or twice around the tip. Repeat on the other side with the other end of the band stretched to the left crossbow arm.
Cut a notch in the wood.
As if you were going to shoot it, pull the rubber band back until it’s taut. If you pull it back all the way, it will break after a few usage. On the lumber, make a mark in this location. Make a notch in the lumber using a handsaw at this location. To make it ready for fire, maintain the rubber band in this notch.
If the groove isn’t deep or the rubber band is highly squeezed, you may still need to place your thumb over that one.
Create a slot for the bolts.
Make a groove in the lumber with a round file. From the firing point to the notch, run it back and forth along the wood. To ensure that it stays in the center, go slowly at first. Rep until you’ve carved out a deep groove. You can now use your crossbow to fire wooden dowels.
Conclusion
Is it an effective weapon? Not at all. Would it be effective against cockroaches? If you could hit them, yes. Was it simple to construct and enjoyable to play with? Yes, and it provides you a fair picture of what the full-size crossbow looks like. Please let us know if you try to create one using these steps.