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How to Make a Carnival Striker

For many people, going to the carnival conjures happy childhood memories of rides, cotton candy and, of course, games. One of the most memorable carnival games is the striker, sometimes called the strongman contest, where players swing a mallet and hit a platform on the ground, causing a weight to shoot up the striker in proportion to how strongly you hit it. Whether trying to impress a date or just showing off muscles to a friend, the striker was a favorite for many. With the right equipment, you can build your own striker and have a bit of the carnival in your own backyard.

Things You'll Need

Pine board
Screws
Saw
Shellac
Paint
Varnish
Brass wire
Metal braces
Eye screw
Nut
Wooden spool
Drill
Metal gong
Wooden mallet
Inner tubing

Instructions

- 1
  Use a long piece of pine board, 10 feet tall by 3/4 inches thick by 5 1/2 inches wide, to make the main part of the striker. Cut it down to a width of 3 1/2 inches, and use the narrow piece you cut off to add support by screwing it into the back of the striker. About halfway down, screw on two more narrow boards, which will jut out diagonally behind the striker for even more support.
- 2
  Shellac the striker. When it is dried, paint the numbers onto the length of the striker. Apply a coat of varnish.
- 3
  Attach the brass wire using corner braces, and adjust its tension with eye screws at the top and bottom of the striker.
- 4
  Make your counter. This is the part of the striker that measures your score. Make a wooden spool by drilling a hole vertically through the center of a wooden cylinder. The hole should be just slightly larger than the diameter of the brass wire.
- 5
  Attach a metal bell or gong to the top of the striker by using a threaded bolt. When the striker is hit hard enough, the counter will hit the gong.
- 6
  Create the base of your striker with a board measuring 12 inches wide and 2 1/2 feet long. Screw two blocks onto either side of the base, and place a narrow beam between them.
- 7
  Create the striking arm using a strong, narrow piece of wood balanced on the crossbeam from the previous step. Cut a notch on one end so that it can be placed around the wire, with the counter resting on top of it. Wrap the other end in inner tubing for protection. Place a small block, also wrapped in inner tubing, beneath the outer edge of the striking arm.

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