How to Make a Giant Potato Launcher
by Lucas Nam in Outside > Siege Engines
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How to Make a Giant Potato Launcher
Hello everyone, this is my first instructable and I hope that this is helpful and fun for you.
Behold.....
The giant potato launcher. It can launch potatoes up to 240 feet away and 30-90 feet high. The greatest thing about this is that you can build it for under 30 dollars.
Supplies
4 2x4 (8ft long)
2 hook screws
4 bungee cords (48 inches)
Screws (any size)
4 Wheels (optional)
Square metal pipes (2 pipes that are 3ft long, and 2 pipes that are 2 1/2 ft long)
piece of leather or fake leather
Cut the 2x4 to Size
Cut 2 of the 2x4s. The 2x4s should be 8 ft long. Cut the 2x4s so that they are split and 1 part is 2 ft long and the other part is 6 ft long. Then cut a piece that is 2 ft and 3 inches long from the 3rd 2x4. Any saw is fine, but I am using a hacksaw because that is what I have, but you can use electric tools or just hand tools to do this step. Cut the last 2x4 in half so that each side is 4 ft long
Build the Base
After you cut the 2x4s to size, then drill the holes on the 2 ft long 2x4s (in the photo) and then, do the same drilling in the long pieces (6 ft long), at the end of the wood. Lastly, add the screws at the end and it should look like the image above.
Set Up the Post
Get the 4 ft long 2x4s and add them on vertically. I used nails to set the piece of wood in place but you can use screws if you want. I just added a big screw in the middle to keep it sturdy.
Add the Trusts
After step 3, the post was not as sturdy and rigid as I wished it would be so I added trusts. I found some spare square tubing and I drilled holes in them and screwed them to the pieces of wood that went 90 degrees up and the base, so now, we are almost done.
Screw the Hook Screws and Add the Bungee Cords
Now, screw in the hook screws. Then, attach the bungee cords. I got bungee cords that had hooks at the end, so that went well.
Make the Leather Pouch
I found an old piece of leather. I sewed it, so that it would wrap around the bungee cords. After, I hooked the bungee cords onto the hook screws.
It Is Done!
To prove that it actually works I took a couple of videos on me shooting the catapult to see how far the potato goes!