Indoor Boomerang

I teach a class called "Make and Throw a Boomerang in One Hour." Actually you make three boomerangs in this class:

1. A light weight indoor boomerang to learn the basics.
2. A heavy cardboard one that flies outdoors in a light wind
3. A boomerang made from heavy polystyrene foam that flies in light to moderate breezes.

All three use the same template. This instructable is for the indoor model.

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Step 1: Template

1. Download this template
2. Cut it out
3. Trace around it onto a piece of cardboard. Cereal boxes work well as does the poster board.

Little Delta Template.pdf(612x792) 12 KB

cffrench says: Nov 28, 2011. 9:11 AM

DOESNT DO A CIRCLE AN COME BAK .. WHY??

MPLS_CBG (author) in reply to cffrenchNov 30, 2011. 5:47 AM

Several things maybe happening:

1. If you are left handed the airfoils are "opposite" of what they should be. Either make a new on "backwards" of try thowing right handed.
2. Throwing like a frisbee. Parallel with the ground will make it go way up sharply and back down sharply.
3. If it is "almost" coming back then you need to make minor adjustments on how close to perpendicular the boomerang is when you throw.

Look around on Youtube for "how to throw a boomerang" and you will find some good tips.

It is not easy to throw one and have it come back in even the best circumstances. There is considerable finesse involved in both making and throwing boomerangs.

Keep on trying though! Let me know how you are doing and I will see what I can do to help.

Best,
Ed

Nahbbe says: Sep 24, 2012. 7:46 AM

coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool man

DANgerous124 says: Aug 2, 2011. 10:56 PM

These work great! Thanks man!

MPLS_CBG (author) in reply to DANgerous124Aug 3, 2011. 5:39 AM

Thanks! I have had some pretty amazing flights with these little dudes.

builderkidj says: Jun 16, 2011. 5:12 PM

what about corogated cardboard...?

MPLS_CBG (author) in reply to builderkidjJun 16, 2011. 7:19 PM

It might work with a slightly larger version. In general when I have tried to use corrugated cardboard it doesn't seem to hold the creases and bends that poster boards does.

Good luck!

Best,
Ed

builderkidj in reply to MPLS_CBGJun 16, 2011. 7:51 PM

thx

forexjammer2 says: May 20, 2011. 2:50 AM

why the pdf cannot be download

MPLS_CBG (author) in reply to forexjammer2May 21, 2011. 12:24 PM

Hi,
you should be able to download the pdf template:

http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FV6/XSK6/FVDC2X2A/FV6XSK6FVDC2X2A.pdf

If not send me your email address and I will send it to you. If you want to download the complete pdf instructions you now have to be a "pro" member of Instructables. . .or something like that.

Good luck and keep me posted. I am here to help.

Ed

BraisedDuck says: Sep 28, 2010. 5:14 AM

awesome boomerang. one tiny problem i have: it needs quite some force and space. can help me out?

MPLS_CBG (author) in reply to BraisedDuckSep 30, 2010. 8:13 PM

If you bend the wing tips up it should fly in a tighter circle.

libed24 says: Aug 4, 2010. 5:57 PM

how do I throw it?

MPLS_CBG (author) in reply to libed24Aug 5, 2010. 2:44 PM

Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTjl6zUnh8Y Not quite as hard but that is kind of the idea.

aidoggy says: Oct 11, 2009. 3:37 PM

Ive found that throwing with your elbow instead of with your wrist or hand it works better.

MPLS_CBG (author) in reply to aidoggyOct 11, 2009. 7:12 PM

Hi,
I am glad you are enjoying the mini-rang. The same pattern can be used on heavier cardboard and a sheet polystyrene material available at many hobby stores. Cut it out and bevel the edges the same way, bend the wings for tuning the same way.

Except for two things

1. to bevel the polystyrene use a pair of pliers
2. to tune the polystyrene mini-rang the wings get bent down a little instead of up.

I will try to post some more instructions and pics soon but I don't have a camera and need to schedule in photo shoots with a friend.

aidoggy in reply to MPLS_CBGOct 15, 2009. 5:36 AM

Thanks.I will be sure to try that

aidoggy says: Oct 11, 2009. 3:18 PM

I have tried this and thougt it waorks great considering how easy it was to make.Great instructable!

EncasedDeath says: Oct 4, 2009. 10:37 AM

works great, but mines kinda hard to catch.

venkboy says: Oct 3, 2009. 7:31 AM

Awesome! I tried it out right away, and it turned. I wasn't able to throw it with full force due to lack of space, just a very small flick (no I did not flick my wrist, just hand).

MPLS_CBG (author) in reply to venkboyOct 3, 2009. 11:16 AM

Bravo! I am so glad to see the instructions make enough sense for people to have some success. Many happy returns, Ed

smeagle says: Sep 30, 2009. 3:02 AM

This was AWESOME! iv'e managed to tweak mine to come back within one foot! Its awesome!

MPLS_CBG (author) in reply to smeagleSep 30, 2009. 4:39 AM

Glad you like it. I have one I made a few months ago and tweaked it again (the airfoils don't stay creased for ever) and it flies better than it did when it was new.

namdeo.d says: Aug 17, 2009. 11:51 PM

would it return??

MPLS_CBG (author) in reply to namdeo.dAug 18, 2009. 4:00 PM

They fly great. Indoors where there is no to very little wind. Not quite as well as the tri blade indoor in this video but pretty darn good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTjl6zUnh8Y

164

Kiteman says: May 31, 2009. 3:39 PM

That template - what software is it (my computer hiccuped trying to open it).

MPLS_CBG (author) in reply to KitemanMay 31, 2009. 8:36 PM

It is supposed to be a jpeg. Hmm. I will check it out

NachoMahma in reply to KitemanMay 31, 2009. 4:34 PM

. It's an HTML file. Says:
The document has moved <A HREF="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=writely&passive=true&nui=1&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2FDoc%3Fid%3Dddf3wdqh_18dgswb9r7%26hl%3Den&followup=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2FDoc%3Fid%3Dddf3wdqh_18dgswb9r7%26hl%3Den&ltmpl=homepage&rm=false">here</A>.