Make an Indoor/outdoor Boomerang

by EncasedDeath in Workshop > Science

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Make an Indoor/outdoor Boomerang

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This originally designed to be indoor, but will work outdoors.
Make an indoor/outdoor boomerang that actually comes back.
I recently bought a three winged boomerang, it is the only boomerang that I have boughten that actually comes back. When I showed it to my friends they all wanted one, but there isn't any stores around here that sell them. I decided to make them copies that work.
If you have all the parts this can be a great day project for all ages.
This boomerang is safe to use in the house because it is made of styrofoam. The final boomerang will weigh only 0.3 ounces (six grams).
This boomerang will only go out about eight to ten feet and come back.
Use this in a large room with no air movement.

If you use this outside make sure there is very little wind. I like to use mine outside best.

You will have to move about a step or two to catch. As the video will show.
This will not come back 100% of the time.

Materials

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The materials are very simple, and there isn't much to get.
All that you need to get is:
1-) 1 roll of aluminum duct tape (weight), normal duct tape will work, but still has to reach desired weight.
2-) 1 sheet of blue, Georgia Pacific, fan-fold (body of the boomerang)
3-) the pattern (in the pictures)
4-) utility knife
5-) scale (for weighing)
Both of the materials can be bought at Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, or any other hardware store.



The pattern is below, not quite sure how you are going to be able to print it out. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated

Cutting the Fan-fold

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Trace the pattern on to the fan-fold from the materials pictures. Cut the fan-fold using the pattern. To cut the fan-fold I used an utility knife.
This is probably the easiest step.

Weight

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This is where the aluminum duct tape comes in. To put the tape on I cut the tape about 2 3/4 inches long, then I cut it into fourths. I took three of the fourths and put one in the middle of each wing. you should now have one of the fourths left. The final fourth I cut up into four small squares. I placed the small squares on the hook at the end of the wing and on part of the tape you just put on. The final small square should be put in the middle of the boomerang.

Weighing

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Now you need to weigh the boomerang, if its not 6 grams (or 0.3 ounces) then add more tape in the same way as step 3 until you get desired weight. Most likely when you first weigh it it will not be the desired weight, so don't think you did something wrong.

Throwing

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If you have followed the step correctly, you are done.
If you are right handed hold it with your right hand, the side with tape (front) should be facing to your left. If you are left handed, hold it with your left hand with the front facing your toward your right. Now your index finger should be on top of the hook, wrapped around from the back, your thumb should be in front of the hook. The rest of your hand should be almost a fist. The best way to actually throw this is just a gentle flick of the wrist, of course you have to release.

*TIPS*
If it doesn't come back don't get angry, just keep trying and experimenting with the angle, weight, and throwing style. Make sure your not throwing to hard, it should only go out about eight to ten feet.
*PLEASE*
Record your results and tell me when you have finished. I'm very curious to know how it went and if there were any problems. I want to know what helped or made it worse in your opinion(sanded angles or no angles).