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https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl General >> Other Primitive Weapons >> Trebuchet's https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1064904520 Message started by Luke on Sep 30^th, 2003 at 2:48am

Title: Trebuchet's
Post by Luke on Sep 30^th, 2003 at 2:48am

What kind of experience do you all have with trebuchets? I have a miniuture one I made that stands about 18" high and is suprisingly effecient. I made it as true to old style as possible (wood pegs, no metal nails, screws etc.). When it's in working order it fires marbles about 60'...

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by JeffH on Sep 30^th, 2003 at 7:29am

Welcome to the board, Luke!

Check the members list at the top of the page. Find Ripcord and click on his website. Interesting stuff.

jeff <>< - who can't figure out the trebuchet

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by Chris on Sep 30^th, 2003 at 12:36pm

Welcome,

I built a trebuchet two summers ago. The frame was 5 foot tall with an 8 foot arm. It could launch fist sized rocks about 400 feet with 120 lbs. of counter wieght. It could have handled much more, but the CW box I made was too small and too weak. I'll post pictures of it when I get home.

A good place to start is trebuchet.com. It has links to many resources.

A good sling design is crutial to a proper trebuchet. Most people don't put enough consideration into it's desgn.

Chris

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by Luke on Sep 30^th, 2003 at 1:34pm

Here's the trebuchet that I designed mine off of -

Mine is almost the exact same thing, just a few minor changes here and there... (They have solid lead weight, I made a box filled with steel shot, etc.)

(picture taken from - http://members.iinet.net.au/~rmine/cheese.html)

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by Chris on Sep 30^th, 2003 at 3:04pm

Here is one of my trebuchets.

The thing that bothers me with the design of the trebuchet in your picture is that the counter weight can't swing freely, and thus looses power. I built mine on a hanger arm so it could fall perfectly vertical and be more efficient.

Chris

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by Luke on Sep 30^th, 2003 at 3:36pm

Like I said, I did modify the boxed weight so it's of a triangular design of construction similar to this one -
My box isn't perfect and could use a little modification but works well as is :) Even if I did perfect it, I doubt I could get much more than an extra 5ft or so out of it...

In my search for trebuchet pictures I came across this tiny one used for wargaming, pretty cool 8) its owner claims a range of about 6 inches with it 8)

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by Chris on Sep 30^th, 2003 at 3:41pm

;D thats pretty cute.

Your triangular modification would have a similar effect to my hanger arms. This helps the CW box fall straight down which is the fastest way to drop, which makes your arm arc faster. If you force it to swing in a circle, it has to travel a longer distance in a direction it doesn't naturally "want" to follow, and less energy is converted to motion.

Chris

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by nemesis_3003 on Sep 30^th, 2003 at 6:16pm

hey luke
im jack, ive maid bout 13 of em of verying sizes and power mechinisms. so what in specific did u want to know when u said what u did :D thts very interesting bout the all wood design but how tall is the throwing arm ???
jack

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by Luke on Oct 2^nd, 2003 at 12:03pm

The throwing arm is ~ 18.5 inches, and the supports stand ~ 13 inches or so... I'd like to sometime make one more like the one in the picture, as my current one is made with thinner wood and looks more delicate and fragile. The one pictured looks very robust and sturdy...

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by archeorob on Oct 6^th, 2003 at 3:26pm

Hey Luke! I just helped build one a couple of weeks ago. The Axle of ours was 6' off the ground and the arm was about 14.5'. We're still tweeking it to see how far we can get it to fling things. We've got 300 pounds counterweight on it there. So far, it's coming along quite nicely!!

Rob

by the by, that's a really cute wargaming treb!! Beware army men!!! ;D

note: I was going to post a photo, but it's pretty big (size-wise, not memory-wise) So, here's a link:

www.fullmers.org/adam/trebuchet.jpg

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by Chris on Oct 6^th, 2003 at 7:37pm

Nice treb.

Does it disassemble?

I remember that being the biggest issue when designing my second (big) trebuchet. I came up with an ingenious (yes... I'm very proud of it) design that allowed it to be completely disassembled and put on the roof of my car.

Chris

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by Gavin on Jan 26^th, 2004 at 9:53pm

I built a Trebuchet off "grey companys" website but later hooked it up to rubberband. It was 20 cm high and when hooked to the rubberband it shot a marble over 5m

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by funditor on Jul 27^th, 2004 at 9:41am

Chris,
at which points of the treb did you disassemble it and what did you use to hold the things together? Do you have a plan or a drawing? How long does it take you to disassemble it? what size is it about (throwing arm, counterweight,...)?
I am constructing one myself for some time now, and one of the limits I set to myself is the possibility to easily and quickly disassemble it. In my flat there is not so much space, and I have a usual car to transport it, no van or pickup. Would be grateful for any answer of the above. Cheers

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by David_T on Jul 27^th, 2004 at 6:28pm

Funditor,

Chris will be back home on August 1st. and I'm sure he will have a lot of posts to catch up on. Sounds like an interesting project you have!

David

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by steve heron on Jul 31^st, 2004 at 3:52pm

hi my name is steve

I think your trebuchets are so cool But I dont under stand how the sling works ???

Title: Re: Trebuchet's
Post by Hellfire on Aug 20^th, 2004 at 6:06pm

Hey Steve.
The sling works with normally a hook (mine is carved) and a sling with a ring or loop on the end that fits over the hook and flies off roughly parallel from the ground.