Darren’s Diatribe

Yesterday I invented what is possibly the world’s simplest trebuchet. You can make one too with these simple instructions…

First, you need a home gym:

OK. I can hear you saying “WTF do I need a home gym for. Darren has gone completely insane. Again.”

Please bear with me and it will all make sense soon.

Next you need some bits of wood, screwed together with a gap the right size to fit around the weight bar:

Raise the bench weight-holder-thingy as high as it will go and attach the wood:

Can you see where this is going now? I told you I wasn’t (completely) insane.

Next you need to attach some weights:

Attach some string to your ammunition (this is easier than doing a proper sling):

Put a nail in end of the arm to attach the ammunition (ignore the hole through the wood in the photo - that is only if you want to use a sling):

Assemble everything including the high-tech trigger:

Any you are done. That should all take about 15 minutes.

Pull on the rope to launch:

(click to embiggen)

We managed to launch the soccer ball completely our of our yard!

Disclaimer

Do not attempt to do this yourself unless under the guidance of a professional Engineer with extensive experience of Home Gym Trebuchet construction.

Actually, since I am currently the only person who has ever made one of these, that makes me the only suitably qualified Engineer in existence. My consulting fees are $250 per hour. Plus travel expenses and danger money.

I will try to get a video of this up onto youtube once I get organised.