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How to Make a Paper Crossbow

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Uploaded by on Apr 9, 2011

I noticed that there was no decent tutorial out there for making a paper crossbow that didn't utilize rubber bands. This is what I came up with as a result. The crossbow is actually quite durable in design and should stand up to use for for a very long time so long as it doesn't get wet. Hopefully a good deal of office boredom can be solved with this.

The working mechanism for this crossbow is in the arms made of rolled paper and supported by tape. Typically a bent tube of rolled paper would tear when bent, but a layer of tape seems to distribute the load evenly enough to not only prevent the paper from tearing, but also give it a strong and fast spring action when released. This allows for a rigid bow string to be used which utilizes the energy in the arms to propel the projectile - Rather than most toy crossbows which use rigid arms and an elastic band which propels the bolt more like a slingshot than a crossbow.

This crossbow can throw a pencil or pen a good 100 feet. A possible modification for even more power might be to make two arms on each side that the bow string would tie together at the tips. Having double arms is about the only way to go about adding more power because adding much more paper to the first set will only result in them tearing or being completely rigid. Similar to how you can only fold a piece of paper so many times.

Have fun! Don't take an arrow to the knee.

Vote for me on King of the Web here: http://kingofweb.com/users/2103894296

Tags:
how to make paper gun that shoots ninja star bomb airplane

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Uploader Comments (Nighthawkinlight)

  • I have a teacher who would not only approve of this, but help a student make it XD

  • @ColinDJPat Good for that teacher. I bet he/she is great at keeping you interested in what they are teaching. If it is a science class I have many other videos that can be very helpful to help demonstrate the basic principles with entertaining projects.

  • plz answer can u make a harmless one

  • @spidermanfan20 ...Fire the pencil backwards.

Top Comments

  • You are all invited to the funerals of my teachers.After the funerals are done party till dawn

  • 262 people are teachers! :D

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All Comments (4,380)

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  • One of the most useful videos on youtube

  • I'm going to go make one in math class

  • sweet im going hunting for deer

  • Dude ur amazing

  • awsum

  • Hey

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