How To Build A Trebuchet

Assemble the string and pouch
Cut two pieces of string at least 18 inches. You will trim this down later. Fold your cloth in half then tie each end with a string so it forms a nice little pouch. Take your time with this. It will come out fine.At the end of one of the strings attach a loop. More on this in next step. Shown here is a soft little clay ball for the projectile. Grapes work great and are safer.
I made my loop out of the metal from a spiral bound notebook, its simply one revolution, You can use wire or anything else that is thin yet strong.
Now attach your pouch to the arm of the trebuchet. It should be about 12 inches from the hoop shown here. The top loop will slide right off as the arm goes forward. This will allow the pouch to open and release the projectile.
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This string and pouch will rest right under the trebuchet so you need a little runway for it to ride on. I made a runway out of posterboard. Just fold up each side about one inch and then glue the runway right into the trebuchet.
Ok We are done! Now we can fire it off! Continue

BOOKS

Want to build a bigger, better, more powerful or fancier siege engine? There are some great books available to you. These books, available at Amazon.com, will help take your trebuchet or catapult building to new heights! Pun intended!

The Art of the Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery - Nice book that shows you how to build ten different catapult projects, moderate wood working and pvc piping kind of stuff. Good book with complete instructions and materials lists.

Buy from Amazon.com: The Art of the Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery

Backyard Ballistics: Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati Fire Kites, Tennis Ball Mortars, and More Dynamite Devices Want to get a little more creative? This book is off the hook!

Buy From Amazon.com Backyard Ballistics: Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati Fire Kites, Tennis Ball Mortars, and More Dynamite Devices

Whoosh Boom Splat: The Garage Warrior's Guide to Building Projectile Shooters

These are the homemade machines that you've dreamed of building, from the high-voltage Night Lighter 36 spud gun to the Jam Jar Jet, the Marshmallow Shooter, and the Yagua Blowgun. Including detailed diagrams and supply lists, Gurstelle's simple, step-by-step instructions help workshop warriors at any skill level achieve impressively powerful results.

Adventures from the Technology Underground: Catapults, Pulsejets, Rail Guns, Flamethrowers, Tesla Coils, Air Cannons, and the Garage Warriors Who Love Them

Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things: How to Turn a Penny into a Radio, Make a Flood Alarm with an Aspirin, Change Milk into Plastic, Extract Water and Electricity ... a TV with Your Ring, and Other Amazing Feats

Gonzo Gizmos: Projects & Devices to Channel Your Inner Geek - It's possible to use optics to roast a hot dog without electricity or a stove; to make a simple radio with just an iron, a few basic circuits and three shiny pennies; and to assemble a simple steam-powered boat with a plastic bottle, a candle, copper tubing and a nail. Of course, only die-hard science nerds would attempt these projects.

This is a Storm The Castle Project

Table of Contents for this tutorial

1. Materials/Tools
2. Assemble the sides
3. Assemble the base
4. Make and attach the swing arm and counterweight
5. The stringpouch and the runway
6. Finish and fire it!
7. Trebuchet video (quicktime MOV)
8. Books/Buy
9. Free Trebuchet Plan
10. Weighing the counterweights
11. Johns Engineering info about Trebuchets
12. Koji's Locking mechanism
13. Adil's mini Trebuchet
14. Gabe's Ferrari of Trebuchets
15. Trebuchet Videos