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How to make catapults

While a catapult may sound like a lot of fun, and it can be, it is important to exercise extreme caution when building them. Actually it is better when you do not build them at all but it is unlikely to convince someone who has made up their mind on building one. Because the catapult uses release-and-snap action, one needs to be extremely careful in building and using one. Below are step by step directions you can use to make a small catapult, and a fairly safe one.

Materials Needed:

A platform with wheels. Like the bottom of a medium sized toy car.

Three rubber bands

Scissors

Stapler

Handle

Rope

Step One: Find three thick rubber bands. Thin ones are not good for this because they break easily.

Step Two: Cut all three at one point, not in half. They should now simply be expandable strings.

Step Three: Staple two rubberbands together, side by side. Then do the same, attaching the third rubber band to the already stapled together first two. Imagine like you are sewing them next to each other to create a wider rubber band except you are using staples. Make sure all of the staples that you use are securely locked so that none of them snap off.

Step Four: Attach the rubber band to the handle. Again, you can use the stapler but make sure that the staples are holding well and use several of them.

Step Five: Tie the handle to the platform. Make sure it is tied tight and several times.

You should now be able to pull the rubber bands back, almost like a sling shot, and catapults any small piece of anything you want. Again, make sure to excercise caution, ensure that every piece is holding up well and never, ever fire the catapult at people or animals or their general direction.