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How to Make a Mousetrap Propeller

Traditional snap mousetraps are a study of stored power. When properly set, the arm on the snapping portion of the trap stores power through the spring. When used as a mousetrap, the rodent takes bait from the trap, releases the spring and the arm flies back into place, breaking the creature's back. But the same power storage becomes an unlikely source of power for homemade cars, boats and planes. Mousetrap-powered propellers work for boats or planes.

Things You'll Need

Propeller
Epoxy
1/4-inch diameter metal rod, 6-inches long
Curtain rod bracket
4-inch by 6-inch piece of balsa wood
2 wood screws
Duct tape
3-feet fishing line
Mousetrap

Instructions

- 1
  Glue the propeller to one end of the metal rod with epoxy.
- 2
  Screw the curtain rod bracket to one end of the balsa wood. Curtain rod brackets are U-shaped metal brackets with holes on all three sides of the U. The base of the rod bracket, or bottom part of the U, should have three holes, two on either side of a central hole. Attach the bracket to the wood with the two outer holes leaving the central hole free.
- 3
  Insert the metal rod through the holes on the curtain rod bracket. The metal rod with the propeller fits through the upright side of the U. The metal rod becomes the axle for your propeller. Make sure that the propeller faces away from the wood so it moves freely.
- 4
  Tear a 1/2-inch wide strip of duct tape. Wrap the tape around the axle on the opposite side of the rod from the propeller. This prevents the axle from sliding out of the bracket.
- 5
  Place the mousetrap on the balsa wood on the opposite side of the propeller. Place the mousetrap so that when the mousetrap spring is at rest, the metal arm is on the opposite side of the trap from the bracket. Use either epoxy or duct tape to hold the mousetrap in place.
- 6
  Tie a piece of fishing line to the axle of the propeller.
- 7
  Pull the fishing line to the mousetrap arm at rest. Tie the fishing line to the mousetrap arm and cut off any excess.
- 8
  Set the mousetrap and hold the arm in place. Wind the loose fishing line around the axle of your propeller to take up all the slack. Set the wood on the edge of a table so your propeller has room to move freely and release the trap. The trap arm pulls the filament unwinding the line wrapped around the axle. This turns the axle and the propeller.

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