How to Make a Crossbow (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

The crossbow is a horizontal bow-shaped weapon attached to a hilt called the bow body. This bow shoots arrows called bolts (arrows with a short size), towards the target. Modern crossbows are compound bows with stiffer limbs so that the energy released by the bow is more efficient. This bow also has a bowstring mounted on a pulley system so that it is easier to pull and produces more power when the arrow is fired. This pulley system also makes shooting arrows smoother. You can make your own crossbow by buying the materials at a hardware store.

Step

Part 1 of 6: Making the Body of the Bow

Step 1. Measure the wood for the bow body

The length of the body of the bow should match the length of your arm.

• Prepare a board of pine wood about 95 cm long, 5 cm wide, and 5 cm thick.
• Hold the wooden plank as you would a rifle and rest one end against your shoulder with your hands gripping the board.
• Determine a comfortable length and mark the length of the wood you want to cut.
• The longer the body of the bow, the more power you will get. However, it's best not to use boards that are more than 1 meter long to prevent your PVC arc from breaking.

Step 2. Cut off the excess wood with a saw

Use a circular saw or hand saw to cut the wood to your desired length.

• Use safety glasses to prevent sawdust from getting in your eyes.
• Cut the wood in a well-ventilated area.

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Step 3. Mark the area used for the arc trigger

Hold the board back as if it were the body of the bow. Attach one end of the wood to the shoulder and grip the wood. Make a small mark to place the trigger and handle in a convenient location for you.

• Draw a rectangle with a rounded end in the center of the wood you marked for the trigger. This image should be made on the top of the wooden plank, not on the sides.
• The rectangle should be 10 cm long and 2.5 cm wide.
• Make sure that the rectangle is made in the center of the board that you marked as the trigger.

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Step 4. Cut the rectangle you created

Pry and remove the area inside the rectangle using a chisel, drill and wood file. Be very careful not to break the wood.

• Slowly use the combination of the three tools to remove the wood that is in the rectangle until a rectangular hole is formed.
• When you're done, smooth the area around the hole using sandpaper.

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Step 5. Make a groove for placing the bowstring (string)

The groove is used to place the bowstring horizontally over the rectangular hole.

• Use a chisel or wood file to make a 3 mm groove near the front of the trigger hole.
• Sand the grooves after you've finished creating them.

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Step 6. Make a groove that is used as a place for arrows

This groove is in the center of the plank and extends from the rectangular hole to the end of the wood.

• Find and mark the midpoint of the end of the wood, at the furthest point from the groove of the bowstring.
• Find and mark the midpoint of the end of the rectangular hole, at the furthest from the groove of the bowstring.
• Draw a straight line between the two marks you made.
• Use a drill, chisel and hammer to carve a 6 mm deep channel along the marked line.
• Sand the groove until really smooth.

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Step 7. Make a handle to hold while you shoot

Use another piece of pine wood to make the handle.

• Cut the wood to a length of about 20 cm.
• Use PVC glue or wood glue to attach the handle to the back of the bow body. Make sure you stick it right in the middle. Let the glue dry for at least an hour.

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Step 8. Cover your wood with a shield

Use varnish, wood stain, or other wood coating to protect your wood from the damaging elements.

• Wait for the glue to dry completely before you coat the wood with a protector.

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Part 2 of 6: Making Bows with PVC Pipe

Step 1. Cut the PVC pipe

Use a hacksaw to cut 2.5 cm (1 inch) of PVC pipe by 90 cm.

Make sure you have measured and marked the length of the pipe before cutting it to get an accurate length

Step 2. Make grooves at both ends of the PVC pipe

Use a hacksaw to make small grooves at both ends of the PVC pipe, which are roughly enough to fit small wood screws.

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Step 3. Install the pulley

Pulleys are fixed at both ends of the PVC bow, and the bowstring will be inserted into it.

• Insert small wood screws at both ends of the PVC pipe.
• Attach the pulley to the wood screws at both ends of the pipe using a wire tie.

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Step 4. Attach the bowstring

You must thread the nylon string through the two pulleys properly for the crossbow to fire.

• Tie one end of the nylon rope tightly to the wood screw on the left side of the PVC pipe.
• Run the string toward the pulley at the far right of the PVC pipe, and wrap it around the pulley.
• Return the rope to the left side and wrap the rope around the pulley on the left.
• The final step, point the bowstring to the right and tie the string tightly to the wood screw on the right.
• Don't pull the string too tight when you wrap it around the pulley. If it's too tight, you won't be able to pull it back to fire a crossbow.

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Step 5. Check the installation of the bowstring

Attaching the bowstring correctly is very important. The rope must be attached to the PVC pipe 3 times. Do a quick test to make sure the strap is properly attached.

• Pull the bowstring away from the pulley. The PVC pipe should bend like an arc.
• If the pipe doesn't bend like a bow, remove the string and start over.

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Part 3 of 6: Gluing the PVC Bow to the Bow Body

Step 1. Make a groove for the PVC bow at the end of the bow body

The wood for the bow body must have grooves chiseled so that the round PVC pipe can be securely attached.

• Use a chisel or wood file to make a round groove wide enough to fit the PVC pipe into the end of the bow body.
• The groove must be deep enough for the PVC pipe to be securely attached.
• Chisel slowly while constantly checking to see if the groove fits into the pipe. This is to make sure that the groove fits perfectly for the PVC pipe. The pipe must be firmly attached and cannot move.

Step 2. Glue the PVC bow to the bow body tightly

The bow must be firmly attached to the body of the bow in order for it to be used properly. The bowstring must be placed in the correct location for your crossbow to be effective.

• Use tape to secure the PVC pipe to the bow body by wrapping it around the pipe and the ends of the bow body.
• Among the 3 ropes in the pulley, only one rope must be above the wooden plank. The other two strings should be under the wood so that they do not interfere with the shooting process.

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Step 3. Test the bow

You should test the bow to make sure that the string is in the right place so that the bow is fired properly.

• Pull the string back and place it in the notches (hooks) of the string in the rectangular eyelet. The strap must be securely attached and ready for use.
• If the rope comes loose easily, you will need to make the groove deeper so that the rope can be securely attached.

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Part 4 of 6: Creating the Trigger System

Step 1. Cut the wood to make the trigger system

Use thin strips of pine wood (about 2.5 cm thick) to make the trigger system.

• Draw a rough L shape on the wood.
• The small (horizontal) part of the "L" shape should be slightly smaller than the rectangular hole you made in the body of the arc.
• Cut the letter L using a saw. This L-shaped piece of wood will be the trigger.
• Sand the L wood until smooth.

Step 2. Create a channel on the trigger

Use a chisel or wood file to make a 1.2 cm channel in the short section of the L-shaped wood.

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Step 3. Make a hole in the L-shaped wood

The hole should be in the L-shaped corner of the wood, but in the center of the wood.

• The hole must be large enough to allow the nail you will use to attach the wood to the body of the bow.

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Step 4. Install the trigger

The trigger must be attached to the body of the bow to release the string from its groove when the trigger is pulled.

• Insert the L-shaped trigger into the rectangular hole with the groove facing up and the L part facing forward. Make sure the space in the hole is large enough for the trigger to move without touching the back of the hole.
• Use a hammer to insert the nail into the body of the bow and hold the L-shaped trigger in place at the right angle.

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Step 5. Sand the trigger

Use sandpaper to rub the trigger until it's completely smooth.

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Part 5 of 6: Making the Handle and Handle of the Bow

Step 1. Cut the wood for the handle

The handle is the piece of wood you hold to keep the crossbow from swinging so you can pull the trigger.

• Use pine wood with a length of 20 cm to use as a handle.
• Sand the wood into a rough handle.

Step 2. Attach the handle to the body of the bow

The handle must be behind the trigger so that you can fire the crossbow easily.

• Use PVC glue or wood glue to attach the handle to the bow body. Wait an hour for the glue to dry.
• If desired, when the glue is dry you can use a hammer to drive a few nails into the handle so that the handle is firmly attached to the body of the bow.

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Step 3. Pad the bow handle

When using a crossbow, you place the handle of the bow against your shoulder so that you will feel more comfortable placing the pads on the handle of the crossbow.

• Glue the foam rubber around the end of the bow handle that is usually attached to the shoulder. Use tape to attach it.

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Part 6 of 6: Testing the Crossbow

Step 1. Prepare arrows of the right size

The arrow must match the channel in the crossbow.

• You can buy darts at a sports store or make your own from dowels.
• To make your own quiver, cut a dowel to the size of the channel in your crossbow, and make a notch in the end of the log to place the bowstring.

Step 2. Prepare the goal

Use a cardboard box or a piece of paper with a circle on it as the target for your crossbow. Make sure you place your goals in a location away from other people.

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Step 3. Test your crossbow by shooting it

Find a safe place to test your crossbow. The crossbow is capable of shooting arrows as far as 20 to 30 meters. Have a good time!

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Warning

• Crossbows are weapons that can cause physical damage. Use your bow with care.
• Check the hunting laws in your area to find out when and where you can use your crossbow.
• Do not shoot a bow in public.
• This crossbow project must be supervised by a responsible adult.
• Do not use this crossbow to shoot someone.