Fast Mousetrap Car Instructions

Remove the catch wire and the bait holder from the mousetrap with a pair of pliers. Cut the spring-loaded lever snap at the base (near the spring) on one side of the snap, and straighten the two 90-degree bends to make a single, long lever arm.

Cut the lever arm to a length of 3 inches. Make a 90-degree bend in the last 1/2-inch of the wire lever arm.

Drill a 5/32-inch hole 1/2-inch in from one end of each of the two pieces of balsa wood. Replace the bit with a 9/32-inch bit, and drill a hole 1/2-inch in from the other end of each of the two pieces of balsa wood.

Switch to a 1/4-inch bit, and drill a hole in the center of two of the four round pieces of plywood to serve as wheels. Replace with an 1/8-inch bit and drill a 1/8-inch hole in the center of the other two wheels.

Cut a straight, 4-inch section of wire from the coat hanger. Insert the wire through the two smaller holes in the balsa pieces, and place a wheel on each end of the wire. Glue the wheels onto the wire axle with epoxy.

Insert the 1/4-inch dowel into the two larger holes in the balsa wood pieces to serve as the rear axle, and glue the two remaining wheels onto the ends of the rear axle.

Drill a short 1/8-inch diameter hole in the center of the rear axle. Cut a short, 1/4-inch long piece of wire hanger, and glue this piece of wire into the hole in the axle.

Place the mousetrap over the two balsa wood rails with the lever arm pointing away from the rear axle, toward the front wheels. Adjust the gap between the boards so they are aligned with the two long edges of the wooden base of the mousetrap. Glue the mousetrap onto the two balsa boards with epoxy. Set the unit aside for 24 hours to allow all of the glued connections to dry thoroughly.

Cut a piece of string to 4-1/2 inches. Tie a small loop in one end of the string and tie the other end to the bend in the end of the lever arm. The string should be just long enough that the loop at the end of the string is just shy of the center of the rear axle.

Bend the lever arm toward the rear of the car, and hook the loop over the short wire on the rear axle. Rotate the rear wheels in reverse, pulling the lever arm toward the rear axle. Stop rotating when the lever arm will not bend backward any farther. Hold the lever arm securely against the rear axle.

Place the car on a flat, smooth surface, pointing the front of the car in the direction the car should go. Release the spring-loaded lever arm, and the car should drive forward very quickly.