If there was such an incident that the parents forgot to take toys to their son for the village, there is nothing left to do but make a crossbow from pencils. In general, this way of entertaining the boy is extremely convenient even in the evening, when he is suddenly attacked by the disease “boring, what should I do?” Since you can make a crossbow from pencils in almost half an hour at minimal cost, this useful lesson will also help save on buying a new toy.
Crossbow Materials
To make a homemade crossbow from pencils, you will need four pencils, seven medical rubber bands, a ballpoint pen or tube, and adhesive tape. The master class also discusses options for making a crossbow from school rulers or old bows.
It is recommended to attract a child to work. He can very well cope with the work entrusted to him, since making a crossbow from pencils is extremely simple.
The first step is to prepare the parts for the crossbow
If it is decided to use pencils as the starting material, then first you need to connect them two at a time together on both sides using medical gum or adhesive tape. In some cases, gum and scotch tape can be replaced with strong threads, wound them in several layers and tightly knit. The denser the connection, the longer the child’s cross-toy will last.
You can decorate fastened pencils by wrapping them with colored tape or a paper strip, for example, serpentine. If desired, the master is free to cover the paper winding with paint or varnish.
The second step is to complete parts for the base of the crossbow
The next step will be the combination of the components obtained from two pencils into a single system. For this, it is necessary to fold the finished parts crosswise so that the parts of the base of the self-shoot are strictly perpendicular to each other.
You can also fasten the center of the cross with medical rubber bands, but in their absence it is quite successfully obtained by connecting with tape. Since it is sometimes necessary to make a crossbow from pencils in field conditions, twine, cord and threads can be used. It is important only to wind them very tightly, as well as tightly tie.
The third step is to prepare the guide tube
When the base of the crossbow is completed, you can proceed to the next step in the manufacture of the crossbow. For him, the master will need a tube that will direct the arrow.
As a tube, it is good to use part of a ballpoint pen or felt-tip pen. True, you have to disassemble the thing, freeing the tube from everything unnecessary. By the way, plastic disposable syringes can also be used if carefully removed with a sharp knife or hacksaw. Of course, an adult must do this work independently, not trusting her child. You should not risk and endanger the health of a growing personality.
Fourth step - the last stage of assembly
The prepared tube is attached to the middle of the crossbow, guiding it along the pencils. The crossbow made of erasers and pencils will turn out to be more accurate if the tube is firmly "sitting" in its place, so you should pay special attention to the mount. It is also important to place it exactly between two pencils.
Step Five - Mounting the Gum
When making a crossbow with your own hands from pencils, you should consider how the arrow will be launched. To do this, you can use two medical gum, which should be fixed at the ends transverse to the guide tube of pencils.
It is allowed to use ordinary dressing sewing gum in work. Then a piece of it is simply tied to the ends of the connected pencils.
Step Six - Final
Almost a master class explaining how to make a crossbow from pencils came to an end. It remains only to connect the two gum, which are attached to the ends of double pencils. This can be done with a narrow tape. It should only be remembered that the elastic bands are not fastened tightly, but at a distance. Thus, the master obtains a platform on which the arrow released by the crossbow will rest.
Crossbow Decor
Coating the finished crossbow with a layer of salt dough will give special creativity - then on top of the coating there is the possibility of applying a relief ornament. A product will become very beautiful if beads, rhinestones, beautiful buttons are used in the decor. Of course, in this case, let the toy lie down until the dough is completely dry.
It is quite easy to make the dough for coating, it is enough to mix fine salt and simple flour (without additives) in equal weight parts. Gradually adding water to the mixture, the dough must be thoroughly kneaded. The consistency of the mass should resemble a cool dumpling dough.
It is best to let the product dry in the open air or in a warm place, such as on a heating battery. Of course, this will take some time. But after the coating hardens, the master can paint the toy by coating it with paint, paint the item with silver or gold paint, applying a beautiful ornament.
If the decor will be made using plasticine, then it is possible to make the crossbow as similar as possible to the real one. However, the decor of the finished product will then be not so stable, and if not handled carefully, it can be subjected to some damage.
Crossbow from rulers, sticks, an old toy bow
Not always at hand at the master four pencils can appear at once. Then there are other options. For example, regular school rulers can serve as a good replacement for pencils. You can fasten them together with glue or even pull them together with a screw and nut.
Difficulty may cause the gum to attach to the boom. The master will need to make cuts at the ends of the line, for which the elastic bands will be attached.
If it is decided to use a sewing gum for starting, then holes must be drilled at the ends of the transverse ruler. It is easy to make holes in plastic rulers with a heated needle, awl or knitting needle.
Since you can make a home crossbow not only from pencils or rulers, then you can not help but think about other materials. For example, an old bow can also transform into a new toy. It is enough to attach a school ruler or double pencils to the middle of the bow perpendicularly. Next, the crossbow manufacturing algorithm repeats the one described above: a tube is attached, a gum is attached to the ends of the bow.
If you make a crossbow in nature, where there are no old toys, rulers, or pencils at hand, then even sticks carved from twigs can serve as material for the toy. The manufacturing algorithm exactly repeats the master class describing the work on the crossbow made of pencils and rubber bands.
Safety precautions
Particular attention should be paid to crossbow arrows. Best of all, ready-made arrows with a rubber tip from toy bows are suitable for this purpose. Although you can use the used rods from the balls of pens. The main thing is to make sure that the guys do not take sharp objects to use them as arrows.
You also need to explain to the guys that you can never shoot people and animals so as not to injure them, even if you use sharp objects as arrows: getting into the eye or temple can be fraught with big trouble.
Moreover, the fact that you can not only shoot at living creatures, but simply aim at them from any type of weapon should also be explained to the children. There is always a chance that the hand will tremble and the shot will occur in addition to the desire of the shooter.