Any Trebuchet freaks out there?

[Kyerion]

Ive build a large trebuchet (or large compared to the ones i know of). 160 cms tall, 180 cms long, and the arm is 240 cms long. Ive got everything built, but i have 2 bigs problems.
1. The bag i used to hold 120lbs broke, and i cant think of anything strong enough to hold it that i can tie up to notches in the arm.

2. I can't think of a material to make the sling out of that wouldnt release the ball before it reaches verticle.

I have a job, and no bills, so there is no budget. Anyone have any ideas?

[biker74]

Brilliant. Think they look great, and move majestically on release.

The only thing I can think of is strong leather.

There are alot of sites dedicated to this, so it might involve traipsing through websites for a day.

[DigiCatRedux]

Well, if historical accuracy isn't a must, I'd suggest something maybe like ballistic nylon netting or strapping. As the previous poster mentioned, I'm sure there must be an online community out there that could also recommend solutions.
Oh, and you HAVE to post some pictures when you get a chance!

Trebuchet=cool.

[Schtumple]

Do you have any where you can use the thing?

Love to see a video of it action (once it's been repaired), Trebuchets are so retro they're cool again :p

[Stampyhead]

Oh. I thought you were talking about the font...

[Tanglewood]

I made one of those back in high school for physics class though I didn't have the right weight for it to maximize its potential. I agree with DigiCatRedux if you're not trying to be historically accurate then you have a lot more options. Do you have any pictures?

[iJohnHenry]

Kevlar.

[Nermal]

Oh. I thought you were talking about the font...

I am relieved to see that I wasn't the only one :)

[wadejc85]

<snip> Do you have any pictures?

I second. I would love to see this, especially in action! :D

Good luck getting it repaired!

What's your ammo?

[Kyerion]

Im loading it with tennis balls for the moment. i plan to move up to more squishable, splatterable objects if i can get this thing launching properly. Then possibly work targets messing with the weight and the sling length.

EDIT: I snapped a picture today in my backyard. (with sling missing though, it was disassembled)


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a9/Garltok/100_1531.jpg

[logophore]

i couldnt figure out where you all are posting from but if anybody's near southern california, i have a 20+ foot tall trebuchet that i cant store anymore. it's in 5-6 pieces for transport using a 14' trailer, but can probably be broken down even more for transport in a longbed truck. theres a poor quality pic and full description on craigslist.com orange county area. search trebuchet- email me from there.

sorry if this seems like spam- I really am just interested in finding it a good home.

Tim

[pseudobrit]

Oh. I thought you were talking about the font...

It's a pretty decent typeface as standard MS issues go.

[duncyboy]

A local builders supply firm does these in many sizes- usually get one free from building sites, they just throw them away- my mate got one when he re-did his garden.

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9585/baglogs1il2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/baglogs1il2.jpg/1/w336.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img511/baglogs1il2.jpg/1/)

[munson]

I was contemplating coming in here and talking about catapults, but that would not be nice, and I have a name to uphold.

Also, I made a trebuchet back in HS a few years back, and she worked pretty well. Then my shop teacher backed into it before we got pictures. :(

It was a few brief moments of glory that were sadly never recorded. If only we would have recorded the couple practice launches we did...

[wadejc85]

Im loading it with tennis balls for the moment. i plan to move up to more squishable, splatterable objects if i can get this thing launching properly. Then possibly work targets messing with the weight and the sling length.

EDIT: I snapped a picture today in my backyard. (with sling missing though, it was disassembled)


<snip>

Nice job.. I like the webbing design on the bottom. Seems Spiderman-ish. ;)

Squishable, splatterable objects.. heh... Sounds like absolute fun!

[Kyerion]

Yeah, its gunna be fun. And as for the design, i was just looking for something to put there, and the web design made sense at the time. No relation to spiderman

[benlangdon]

web, i think is way tacky

anyway,
Kevlar is a great material
pumpkins and small water melons work well,
but i think (i do not know) that a lacrosse ball wrapped in something absorbent so it doesn't bounce like a mofo would be good (there quite heavy).

i would put some cross supports to make a A frame from each side, but what do i know.

again, Kevlar = beautiful
and if you could find it, a Mylar and Kevlar bag


edit:
my two cents
red and black, everyone thinks it looks bad a$$ and mean, but really its just ugly.
be more creative with the color, but my honest opinion is, do not paint it, something is going to break, it always does, so i wouldn't paint it.

[Kyerion]

We painted it pretty much to be able to stick our nose up to the other classmates. Tis' a shame it didnt work. Oh well, i get to keep it. It looked awesome and put everyone elses project to shame (even if it did fire backwards and the weight bag did break). Ill look around for Kevlar, though i doubt ill find it (i live in a small town without even a bowling alley. Kapuskasing, Ontario if any of you know it)

[benlangdon]

We painted it pretty much to be able to stick our nose up to the other classmates. Tis' a shame it didnt work. Oh well, i get to keep it. It looked awesome and put everyone elses project to shame (even if it did fire backwards and the weight bag did break). Ill look around for Kevlar, though i doubt ill find it (i live in a small town without even a bowling alley. Kapuskasing, Ontario if any of you know it)

internet is your friend, and actually nylon should work, or w/e its called, high strength nylon or just rope.