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How to Make a Crossbow With a Stick and Rubber Bands

The crossbow was a weapon developed centuries ago with some of the earliest examples of crossbow bolts dating from the fifth century. Today they are no longer used for military purposes, but are instead used for hunting and target shooting. Making a basic crossbow at home using elastic bands for propulsion is not difficult and will carry enough power to stick into foam polystyrene at relatively short distances.

Things You'll Need

5 sticks
3 rubber bands
Binder clip
Duct tape
Thumb tacks

Instructions

- 1
  Find some suitable sticks to use for construction. These will need to be long and straight with no knots or offshoots to weaken them. Two sticks about 1 foot long and five millimeters wide are required for the handle, or tiller. Another about two foot long is required for The bow part will require another stick about two feet long and you will need two more at two and four inches long.
- 2
  Sandwich the two-inch stick between the two one-foot sticks so the ends are level, then secure them together with duct tape. This will create the tiller and give the arrow somewhere to rest before firing.
- 3
  Tie rubber bands together so they form three loops.
- 4
  Attach the ends of the rubber bands to each end of the two-foot long stick with thumb tacks and duct tape.
- 5
  Tape the bow to the tiller to create a T-shaped structure. Make sure the two pieces are flush so there is no lip between them the arrows will get caught on.
- 6
  Stick the four-inch stick to one of the binder clip handles so the opening faces down its length and attach it to the tiller using the jaws of the clip.
- 7
  Arm the crossbow by pulling the elastic band back and securing with the binder clip.
- 8
  Load with other twigs, chopsticks or pencils by placing the arrow, or bolt, square against the elastic band and fire by opening the binder clip to release the elastic band.

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