How to Make a Renaissance Crossbow

Stock

• 1

  Cut the 1/2-inch-thick lumber into two pieces at 13 5/8 inches with the handsaw. Cut a 13 5/8-inch section and a 3-inch section from each piece of lattice. Cut the dowel into one 3-inch length, one 8-inch length and four 12-inch lengths.

• 2

  Draw a pencil line on both sides of the 1/2-thick 13 5/8-inch-long lumber, 1/8 inch from one of its long edges. On each of the 13 5/8-inch-long lattice pieces, make a pencil mark 1 inch from one of the long sides' corners and another pencil mark on the adjoining side 1/8 inch from the corner. Draw a line connecting these marks. Cut through the wood at this line.

• 3

  Lay the 1/2-inch-wide pieces flat on your work surface. Draw a pencil line across the side of each piece of lumber 1/2 inch from one end. Spread wood glue on both sides of the 13 5/8-inch wood. Cover the entire wood except the 1/8-inch-wide section at the bottom. Spread wood glue on both sides of the 5/8-inch-wide section of the 10 3/8-inch-long wood.

• 4

  Place the 13 5/8-inch-long lattice pieces on the glued sections of the 13 5/8-inch-long wood so that their angled-off side is flush with the pencil line drawn at 1/2 inch. The lattice pieces will protrude 1/2 inch from the crossbow's front and 1/8 inch from its top.

• 5

  Place the 3-inch-long lattice pieces on the 1/2-inch-wide glued sections of both 1/2-inch-wide lumbers. They must be perpendicular to the crossbow's stock. Their short side must be flush with its top edge. This is the crossbow's trigger section.

• 6

  Place cardboard squares inside the clamps' grips. Attach the clamps in three places: at the crossbow's front, its center section and the trigger section.

Bow

• 7

  Mark an "X" with your pencil 1 1/8 inches from the crossbow's front and 5/8 inch from its top. Attach the 1/2-inch bit to your drill. Drill through the crossbow stock at that mark.

• 8

  Attach the 1/8-inch bit to your drill. Drill four holes through the PVC pipe, at 1/4 inch, 15 7/16 inches, 16 7/16 inches and 31 3/4 inches.

• 9

  Push the PVC pipe through the hole in the crossbow's front until it is nearly halfway through. Drive one of the 3/4-inch round headed bolts through the hole at 16 7/16 inches. Push the PVC pipe further through the hole until the bolt rests against the stock. Drive the other 3/4-inch bolt through the hole at 15 7/16 inches.

• 10

  Guide one end of the nylon string through the hole at 1/4 inch of the PVC-pipe. Wrap it around the pipe's end a few times. Fasten it with a knot.

• 11

  Run the nylon string over the crossbow's top along the PVC pipe to the hole at 31 3/4 inches. Guide the end through the hole. Wrap it around the end. Tie it off with a knot.

Trigger

• 12

  Make a pencil mark 7/8 inch from one end of the 3-inch and the 8-inch dowel. Cut halfway through the dowels with the handsaw at these marks. Place the chisel at the end of each dowel closest to the cuts. Gradually shave away the section from the end to the cut.

• 13

  Attach the 1/8-bit to your power drill. Center a pencil mark at each chiseled-out section, 1/4 inch from the end. Center another pencil mark on the chiseled out section of the 8-inch-long dowel at 3/4 inch. Drill through the pencil marks.

• 14

  Lay the chiseled-out sections onto each other so the drill holes are on top of each other. Drive the 3/8-inch wood screw through the holes 1/4 inch from the ends with the screwdriver. Be careful not to split the wood.

• 15

  Make a pencil mark on the crossbow's trigger section at 3/8 inch from the back and 1/4 inch from the bottom. Drill completely through the trigger section at the pencil mark.

• 16

  Insert the 3-inch end into the trigger section from below until it protrudes 1/8 inch from the top. The 8-inch end must point toward the crossbow's rear. The drill holes in the trigger section and the trigger's 8-inch lever must be on top of each other. Drive the 1 1/4-inch bolt through the drill holes.

Bolts

• 17

  Push an eraser pencil topper onto one end of each 12-inch dowel. Ensure a tight fit.

• 18

  Fasten the pencil toppers to the dowels by wrapping electrical tape around them. Wrap only the top, not the entire dowel.

• 19

  Cut a groove across each bolt's end with the hacksaw.