How to Make a Homemade Compound Crossbow

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

The crossbow is a weapon consisting of a horizontal bow mounted on a wooden body (called the stem) that fires projectiles called squares. Modern compound crossbows have the stiffest limbs to make the most of the energy released by the bow and their string is attached to a pulley system that not only makes it easier to cock the dart, but also gives it more power. once shot; moreover, the pulley system guarantees a smoother exit of the projectile. It is possible to build your own crossbow yourself, just buy the material in any hardware store.

Steps

Part 1 of 6: Building the Crossbow Body

Step 1. Measure for the barrel

The length of the shaft must adapt to that of your arms.

Start with a pine board about 1m long, 5cm wide and 5cm high.
Hold it as you would a machine gun, grabbing it with both hands and keeping one end in contact with your chest.
Find the length that suits you best and mark the wood to indicate where to cut.
The longer the barrel, the more power your crossbow will have; however it is, better not to go beyond one meter in length, otherwise the PVC arch could break.

Step 2. Saw off the excess

Use a hand or circular saw to cut the wood where you made the mark.

Use protective goggles to prevent sawdust from getting into your eyes.
Make the cut in a well-ventilated area.

Step 3. Determine the trigger position

Hold the piece of wood with both hands, as you would a real crossbow, and keep one end in contact with your shoulder. Make a mark where it would be most convenient for you to have the trigger and handle.

Draw a rectangle with rounded corners where you decided to place the trigger (draw it on the top of the board, not on the sides).
The rectangle should be 10cm long and 2.5cm wide.
Draw the rectangle in the center of the axis where you made your mark.

Step 4. Remove the wood inside the rectangle

Using a chisel, drill and rasp, dig inside the rectangle, being careful not to split the strip.

Use the three tools to slowly remove the wood inside the rectangle, until you have a hole of the same shape.
When you're done, sand the area around the hole with sandpaper.

Step 5. Make the notch intended to hold the string in place

This groove will hold the string horizontally over the rectangular hole.

Using the chisel and rasp, dig a 3mm slot in the front of the trigger hole.
Once you've made it, smooth the hollow.

Step 6. Make the slot that is to hold the bolt in place

This slit must go from the rectangular hole to the front end of the batten and be in the center of it.

Make a mark in the center of the lath, at the front end of the stem.
Make a mark in front of the rectangular hole, always in the center of the barrel.
Draw a straight line that goes from one mark to the other.
Use the drill, chisel and hammer to dig a 5mm deep lane along this straight line.
Sand the lane with sandpaper.

Step 7. Make the handle

To build it, use a second piece of wood.

Cut the strip to a length of approximately 20 cm.
Use wood or PVC glue to attach it to the back end of the stem, in the center of the batten, and let the glue dry for an hour.

Step 8. Apply a coat of paint to protect the wood

Use wood paint to protect the crossbow from the elements.

Wait for the glue to dry before applying the paint

Part 2 of 6: Making the Arch with a PVC Pipe

Step 1. Cut the tube

Use a hacksaw to cut a 2.5cm diameter PVC pipe to a length of 90cm.

For greater accuracy, indicate where to cut with a mark

Step 2. Make grooves in the ends of the PVC pipe

Use the hacksaw to make notches at each end of the pipe; these grooves will need to be large enough to accommodate a small wood screw.

Step 3. Attach the pulleys

The pulleys are attached to each end of the PVC arch; the rope will wind around them.

Insert a small wood screw into both ends of the pipe.
Secure the pulleys to the screws using double hooked clamps.

Step 4. Thread the rope

For the crossbow to work, the nylon rope must be wrapped around the pulleys in the correct way.

Secure one end of the nylon cord to the left screw.
Bring the rope to the right side of the tube and wrap it around the corresponding pulley.
Return the rope to the left side of the tube and wrap it around the corresponding pulley.
Finally, bring the rope back to the right side and secure it firmly to the screw.
Don't over-tighten the rope when wrapping it around the pulleys, otherwise you won't be able to load the crossbow.

Step 5. Examine the string

It is very important that the rope is threaded correctly; it should pass along the tube 3 times. Do a quick check to make sure you have it fixed the right way.

Pull the rope that comes out of the pulleys; the tube should flex like an arc.
If the hose does not bend, untie the rope and secure it again.

Part 3 of 6: Attach the Bow to the Shaft

Step 1. Make a groove in the front of the barrel

The wooden body must have a recess in which to fix the PVC pipe.

Use the wood rasp or chisel to dig a round notch in the front of the shaft that is large enough to accommodate the bow.
The notch must be deep enough for you to securely fasten the bow into it.
Dig slowly and check from time to time if the arch enters the hollow or not; in this way you will be sure that the slot is of the correct size. The bow must absolutely not move inside the recess.

Step 2. Attach the PVC arch to the barrel

For the crossbow to work, the bow must be secured to the shaft and the strings must be arranged correctly.

Wrap duct tape around the tube to secure it to the end of the barrel.
Only the rope that shoots the dart (the one that comes out of the pulleys) should be above the shaft; the others should remain below so as not to hinder the movement of the bullet.

Step 3. Try the bow

Check to make sure the strings are laid out correctly and that the bow is working.

Pull back the rope that has to shoot the dart and place it in the hollow you made previously near the rectangular hole; the rope should stay in place.
If the rope doesn't stay inside the notch, you'll need to dig it deeper.

Part 4 of 6: Building the Trigger Mechanism

Step 1. Make the mechanism from a piece of wood

Use a thinner pine slat, 2.5 cm thick.

Draw an "L" shape on the surface of the wood.
The lower part of the "L", the horizontal and shorter part, should be slightly smaller than the rectangular hole you dug in the shaft.
Using a saw, separate the "L" shape from the wooden batten to obtain the trigger mechanism.
Sand the mechanism with sandpaper.

Step 2. Make a notch in the trigger

Use a wood rasp or chisel to make a 3mm deep groove under the shorter part of the "L".

Step 3. Make a hole in the "L" shape

The hole should be made near the corner of the "L", but still in a central position.

The hole should have the same diameter as the nail you will use to attach the "L" shape to the crossbow shaft

Step 4. Attach the trigger

Attach the trigger to the barrel so that when you press it, the string snaps out of its groove.

Place the "L" shape in the rectangular hole, with the groove facing up and the "L" pointing down. Make sure it has enough room to move without hitting the back side of the hole.
Using a hammer, drive a nail into the shaft of the crossbow by driving it into the hole in the "L" shape.

Step 5. Sand the trigger

Use sandpaper to smooth the trigger so that it moves smoothly within its housing.

Part 5 of 6: Making the Grip and Kick

Step 1. Obtain the handle

The handle serves to hold the crossbow so that you can pull the trigger.

Take a pine wood lath and cut it to a length of 20 cm.
Sand it to give it the shape of a handle.

Make a Homemade Compound Crossbow Step 23

Step 2. Attach the handle to the barrel

The handle must be fixed behind the trigger, so that the dart can be easily released.

Use wood glue or PVC to join the handle to the barrel. Let the glue dry for an hour.
If you wish, when the glue is dry, drive a few nails into the shaft to best secure the grip.

Make a Homemade Compound Crossbow Step 24

Step 3. Put some padding on the butt

When shooting, the crossbow must be kept in contact with the shoulder, therefore, to be able to hold it more comfortably, it is advisable to pad the butt.

Use foam rubber to wrap around the crossbow butt and secure everything with duct tape

Part 6 of 6: Try the Crossbow

Step 1. Get some squares of the right size

You will need bullets to enter the crossbow's center lane.

You can buy them or make them from wooden pins.
To build a bolt, cut a wooden peg so that it enters the center lane of your crossbow, then make a notch behind the bullet to make it sit snugly on the string.