Popular Mechanics - USA (2019-05)

82 May 2019 _ PopularMechanics.com

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You can fire

off all sorts of

projectiles, including

wine corks, balls of

tape, and probably

a kumquat.

MATERIALS LIST
42" of ½" PVC pipe

2 ½" PVC elbow connectors

2 ½" PVC tee connectors

2 ½" PVC end caps

PVC primer

PVC cement

spray paint

4 cable ties

2 7" rubber bands

cardboard toilet-paper tube

duct tape

1 large binder clip

2 large tongue depressors

TOOLS REQUIRED
hacksaw

BUILD YOUR OWN SLINGSHOT

In his new book, Rubber Band Engineer:

All-Ballistic Pocket Edition, Lance Akiyama

leads you through ten fun projects you can

build in your home. Here’s our favorite, a

slingshot made out of PVC pipe.

Step 1. Wearing safety

glasses, use the hacksaw to

cut three 2-inch lengths and

three 4-inch lengths of PVC

pipe. Set aside one 4-inch

piece for the slingshot’s grip.

The remaining 24-inch piece

will be the handle.

Step 2. Apply primer, then

cement before assembling

the three 2-inch lengths, two

4-inch lengths, elbow con-

nectors, tee connectors, and

end caps in the U-shaped end

of your slingshot, accord-

ing to the diagram. Allow the

cement to dry.

Step 3. Affix the remaining

4-inch piece of pipe to the

downward-pointing end of

the tee connector to form

the grip. Attach the 24-inch

piece of the pipe to the tee

connector for the handle.

Neither connection requires

cement.

Step 4. Spray-paint your

slingshot and allow it to dry.

Step 5. Attach the rubber

bands to the slingshot with

cable ties, according to the

diagram. The ties should

be at least 3 inches apart

to prevent the rubber

bands from twisting

when they release

your missile.

Step 6. Cut a 2-by-

3-inch rectangle from

the cardboard tube to

form the slingshot’s “sling.”

Position the rubber bands

around the curve of the sling,

then wrap the sling in duct

tape. Test the sling by pulling

it back, ensuring that there

is even tension in the rubber

bands. (If there’s not, undo

the tape and try again.)

binder

clip

tongue

depressor

cardboard

tube

rubber

band

24"

4"