This project is from my upcoming book, Making Things Move. In it, we’ll use the energy that a torsion spring can store to power a small car. Refer back to this main figure as you step through the recipe to build your own!

I built about 60 of these simple kits to show people how to make and race mousetrap powered cars at two events run by artist Aki Sasamoto, co-director of Culture Push. The first was a DOING workshop where I taught a small group of 10 professionals from other fields. The second was a larger scale public event with 100 people called Storm Your Brain, held at the Whitney Museum as part of the Biennial. It's a fun project with just a few simple parts that just about anyone can make.

Step 1: Ingredients

• Mousetrap
• 1/4” diameter wooden dowel
• 2 eye screws that the dowel fits into (like McMaster #9496T27)
• 24" of monofilament (fishing line)
• 2 laser cut wheels (use template below, make yourself, or order from Ponoko.com. I made these myself on Eyebeam's laser cutter - one of the perks of being a resident!)
• Wooden paint stirring stick
• Ping pong ball
• Multi-tool with knife and file
• Duct tape

4in wheels.svg
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Step 2: Screw Eye Screws Into Mousetrap and Attach Base

Twist the eye screws into the side of the mousetrap opposite the “bait” hook. They should be as close to the edges as you can get them without splitting the wood.

Duct tape the mousetrap down to one end of the paint stirring stick. If the mousetrap arm is held down with a little staple type thing, remove it.

Step 3: Attach Axle and Wheels

Cut a 4" length of the wooden dowel by scoring it with your knife and snapping it with your fingers. File off an rough ends or edges.

Check to make sure the wooden dowel fits through the eye screws and can spin freely. Too loose is okay, too tight is not. If it's too tight, use your file or some sandpaper to remove some material.

Insert the wooden dowel into one of the laser cut wheels. It should be snug. If it’s too loose, wrap the dowel in a little duct tape and try inserting it again. If it’s too big, use the file to sand down the end until it fits.

Then feed the dowel through the two eye screws and attach the other wheel.

Step 4: Add Ping Pong Ball Caster

Duct tape the ping pong ball to the other end of the paint stick. If you set your car down now it should balance. The ping pong ball will skip along on just about any surface since it's so light weight and smooth.

Step 5: Wind the Axle and Go!

In order to stop the wooden dowel from sliding back and forth, wrap strips of duct tape just inside the eye screws around the dowel. The dowel should still spin freely. These also help the fishing line to stay centered and not get tangled in the eye screws.

Cut at 2 ft length of fishing line. Tie one end around the center of the wooden dowel. Tie the other end to the center of the the mousetrap arm. Secure with duct tape if necessary.

Now spin the axle to wind the fishing line around it. When you get to the last few spins, help pull the mousetrap arm up and set the trap. To set the mousetrap, bring the long hook over the U shaped arm and catch it on the “bait” hook. This takes a delicate touch sometimes - watch your fingers!!

Once you’ve set your mousetrap, you’re ready to race! Set it down on the floor and use a pencil or other long object to trip the mousetrap. The fishing line attached to the arm will pull on the line wrapped around the axle and it will start to unravel. Your car should be able to go about 10 ft with this design. Now try some variations and see if you can get the car to go faster or farther! Feel free to leave suggestions and modifications in the comments.