Page 38 - 15 Dangerously Mad Projects for the Evil Genius

Chapter 2 ■ Trebuchet 19

Figure 2-7 The base

Step 4. Attach the Side Braces and P) from the bottom of the strut up to the apex
of the A-frames (Figure 2-8).
The side bracing is formed by a cross piece under
The struts and braces are both fixed into place
the middle of the A-frames (L) and two struts (O
using screws. Drill the struts at an angle first and
use long screws. More adept woodworkers may
elect to cut the ends of the struts at angles so they
fit better.

Step 5. Assemble the Weight
The weight is constructed from a plastic box
designed to hold breakfast cereal. The box has a
10-pint (5 L) capacity, which when filled with wet
sand will have a weight of about 18 pounds (8 kg).
Before filling the container, we need to drill four
holes near the rim (Figure 2-9).
Cut two 24-inch (610mm) lengths of the nylon
rope and thread them through the holes drilled in
the food container and the hole at the weight end
of the throwing arm. The rope should be just long
enough to allow the weight to stay away from the
rotating end of the throwing arm, without being so
Figure 2-8 The base and side struts