Hatrack River Forum: Trebuchet

This is topic Trebuchet in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Tullaan (Member # 5515) on :

Anyone have any experience with making a trebuchet?

I recently got the bug to make one. Not sure I'm actually going to do it(depends on how much time, money and effort I'll have to put forth).

Just wanted anyone's insight if they have any.

If I do this, I will start with a smaller table-top size trebuchet first. Then if I feel like it I might build a larger one.

Check out www.trebuchet.com

and http://www.ripcord.ws

Or maybe I just need someone to tell me I'm crazy and should just pick safer hobbies like legos.

Tullaan

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

No, really, I think you should do this! It could be just the thing to catapult you to fame and fortune.

I saw the coolest History channel show on these things awhile back. It was like medieval physics in action. So cool.

I'm not sure a table-top version would be all that exciting, but it might be a good learning tool.

Or, you could combine your hobbies and make one out of Lego.

[Big Grin]

Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :

I actually made one in my shop class this year. Go figure.

Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :

A small one. lol

Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :

You should build it and post pictures. Cool idea. I've actually thought about getting one of those myself. The tabletop version, not the full sized one.

Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :

Here is my nephew's bear Sam with a trebuchet at the Loch Ness in Scotland.

I'm sure that helps immensely.

Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :

OOOOOOOHHH! Pretty trebuchet. I want one.

Posted by alath (Member # 6150) on :

My sister had to make one a couple months ago for a college class, I'll ask her about it. I know there were a bunch of really good websites about trebuchets that helped her so I'll try to get those. Hers was about 6 feet high though.

[ June 28, 2004, 12:48 AM: Message edited by: alath ]

Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :

I made a little model one. Not more than two feet high when it's uncocked. Pretty neat looking.

Posted by Tullaan (Member # 5515) on :

I figured a small one would let me know if I wanted to pursue this project or not. Also, I will be able to break in a new hobby with my wife and not totally shock her [Wink]

.

There are some intersteting kits out there, but $60+ seems steep at the moment. If I really get into it, I may not feel so bad spending the money.

I'm not the competitive type, so I doubt I will ever get involved in compitition. But who knows [Dont Know]

Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :

i made one with some friends in techhouse about three years ago. It was about 6 feet tall.

My main advice is to pay close attention to the proportions of the arm, as it'll make a huge difference to how it throws. Ours liked throwing upwards much more than outwards. We also had a crotched sling. We tried canvas, too.

Posted by Danzig (Member # 4704) on :

I made one in high school. The main problem we had was finding a way to attach the weights we used. Duct tape worked, but it was not pretty.

Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :

At my school for every Halloween, we have a giant trebuchet come and chuck pumpkins at a trashcan pyramid on the field. It's pretty neat.

Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :

So, my picture helped, right.

Right.

Posted by Mr.Funny (Member # 4467) on :

I was really interested in trebuchets after seeing a Nova episode about them. I built one out of legos that was about a foot tall including the arm that shot a little brick about 10 or 15 feet. I tried to make a bigger one (about 2.5 feet tall) out of wood, which worked, but did not throw nearly as well as I wanted it to, due to the fact that I didn't have any dense counterweight material that would fit the space constraints. I was thinking about making a bigger and better one this summer, but knowing me, I'll probably be too lazy to build one.

Yeah, amusing story, though. When I was a bit younger, my friend was telling me about Age of Empires II, and he was telling me about "tree-buckets." I honestly thought that that was how it was pronounced until my sister corrected me... [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Beca (Member # 4340) on :

You can see pictures of the one made by Techhouse here:

http://www.techhouse.org/projects/treb.html

The pictures are small, so you can't really distinguish Suneun and Mike in there, but at least you can make out Pikachu. And I was the photographer, so I'm not in any of the shots.

[Smile]

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

Ahhh, now I know what to get Bob and Dana for their wedding present.

Posted by Chris Kidd (Member # 2646) on :

You could try checking your local SCA group.

Posted by weezer (Member # 6643) on :

Wow! A trebuchet! I finally have a really cool idea of something to do this summer. Sweet! [Big Grin]

Posted by jehovoid (Member # 2014) on :

You should build a mini-trebuchet, then have a friend build a mini-fortress. Then, if your trebuchet demolishes his fortress, you should, like, get his wife and possessions and exile him (or kill him if you don't live near a border). It would be fun!

Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :

Slightly bigger version of the photo. I'm in the white shirt near the door stroking my goatee. Locating Suneun is left as an exercise for the reader (viewer?). (And if you're really good I bet you can spot my mom in there...)