How to Make a Mini Office War Catapult Out of Paperclips

This is my first instructable so be nice :)

In this instructable I will show you how to make a mini war machine similar to a catapult but it has a slightly different design. Instead of a rope or rubberband, it uses spring power. And instead of one firing arm it uses two.

Sorry if this has already been done but i didn't see it on the website.

I came up with this idea when I was bored in school and found a few paperclips in the floor.
I wanted to throw paper without being noticed; thus the paperclipapult was born.

Vote for this in the Pocket-sized contest!
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Step 1: Diagram and Clear Pics

Got better camera woot!
so heres some clear pics.

Step 2: What You Will Need

Tools:
Needlenose pliers (optional)

Supplies:
4 medium sized paperclips
1 small sized paperclip
paper (ammunition)

Step 3: Straighten Out the Paperclips

Straighten out the 4 medium sized paperclips.
They don't have to be perfect.
If you are using big paperclips use the pliers so it will be easier.

Step 4: Bending and Attaching

Bend 1 of the straightened paperclips into a fat "U" shape like this.

Step 5:

Now take each end of another straight paperclip and wrap them around the prongs of the fat "U" paperclip, but make sure that one side is just two hooks that interlock so it is easy to unkook it.
It should look like this.

Step 6: The Arm

Now unhook the easy-to-unhook side of the rectangle paperclip construction you have now, and take another straightened paperclip and wrap it around the base of the "U" to make a makeshift spring kinda like the ones that are used in chip bag clips or clothespins.
Make sure you have 1 cm of slack of paperclip on one end and about and inch on the other end.
like the picture shows. Repeat this step for the second arm..

Step 7: The Pouch

Now take that lonely paperclip that's all by itself and bend it like this.

Step 8: Assembly Required

Now stick the two arms of the catapult in the two end loops of the small paperclip and bend the arms so they will hold the basket/pouch steady.

Step 9: Firing

Put your middle fingers on each edge of the contraption and use your pointer fingers to pull it back and let go.
Make sure you have some kind of ammo in the basket.
The most effective is crumpled paper.
You can bend the pouch and arms to increase range, height, etc.
Once in class I shot a paper ball at least 20 feet across the room.

Step 10: WARNING!!

This does fire projectiles so be careful and don't hurt anyone!

I am not responsible for anything harmful, painful or misuse caused by this weapon.

When you put it in your pocket be careful because it's pointy. lol

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13 Comments

wb7ptr

9 years ago on Introduction

Is this what engineers do when they don't get enough work to do??
I love it. I have a friend who works in an engineering office. Think I'm going to build one of these for them :)

Lynn

TheOmegaGears

10 years ago on Introduction

yeaaah it a bit all over the place

jake the bom

12 years ago on Introduction

Awesome. I made one but I made a different basket. instead, I made a hoop in the centre and it works real well.

matthewman2000

11 years ago on Introduction

What you mean when you say now take each end of another straight paperclip and wrap them around the prongs of the fat ''U'' paperclip,but make sure that one side is just two hooks that interlock so it is easy to unhook it.