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Thought I had seen most everything! Nope
Robin
Member Posts: 1,228 ✭✭✭✭✭
This past weekend I was introduced to a most unusual contraption and witnessed it in use. The homemade contraption is called a "squirrel catapult" by the fellow that built it. I thought some of the more adventurous posters would like to build one for your back yard, especially if you have a squirrel population that is irritating or chewing up your plants and yard furniture.
This catapult was a 12"x12" piece of 3/4" plywood attached to about 3' of 1" square tubing making a kind of treddle. The treddle, in its cocked position, sat down in a longer piece of wider channel iron. The treddle had a 1 1/2" piece of angle iron with holes drilled in it to accomadate one end of trampoline springs. The other end of the treddle was attached by a hinge to the channel iron. The other end of the trampoline springs attatched to another 1 1/2" piece of angle iron welded to the channel iron just past the hinge. The cocked treddle was held in place with a devise like you see on clay pidgeon throwers except it had a 2" x 2" steel target on the top ot it. The catapult was triggered by hitting the 2" target with a .22 pellet rifle. The motion of the treddle was stopped at about a 60 degree angle to the channel iron abruptley by a cable when triggered. The plywood table part of the treddle had holes in it so an ear of corn could be wired to it.
The first launch I witnessed began with two squirrels fighting for control of the ear of corn, oblivious to my host taking careful aim with his pellet gun. The first pellet missed its mark by an inch or so and the squirrels, hearing the gun noise, looked around to assess the situation. Shortly, they were back to the ear of corn smack dab in the middle of the plywood. The second pellet hit the target and launched both squirrels about 35' in the air sending them to a crash landing about 50' or so from the catapult. My host reported that single squirrel launches had much better trajectory and air time. I witnessed several single launches and he was correct.
We continued the launches during the afternoon until our wives explained that no more beer would be served until the pellet gun was put up. (WARNING: Due to the activity around the launch pad after each launch, the squirrels get a little skidish causing delays and providing extended periods of time best used to cool oneself off with a brew.)The next day my sides hurt all day from laughing so much.
I apoligize to any readers that are offended by this type of juvenile behavior and NO, I would not want to be launched in the same manner. I kinda look at it as revenge for the critters eating my wife's rose blooms, the screens on our porch, the insulation on the air conditioning system in my car and the vegetables in our garden. And YES, I have plans to put one or two in my backyard. Maybe market the darn thing as an "interactive scarecrow".
Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.
This catapult was a 12"x12" piece of 3/4" plywood attached to about 3' of 1" square tubing making a kind of treddle. The treddle, in its cocked position, sat down in a longer piece of wider channel iron. The treddle had a 1 1/2" piece of angle iron with holes drilled in it to accomadate one end of trampoline springs. The other end of the treddle was attached by a hinge to the channel iron. The other end of the trampoline springs attatched to another 1 1/2" piece of angle iron welded to the channel iron just past the hinge. The cocked treddle was held in place with a devise like you see on clay pidgeon throwers except it had a 2" x 2" steel target on the top ot it. The catapult was triggered by hitting the 2" target with a .22 pellet rifle. The motion of the treddle was stopped at about a 60 degree angle to the channel iron abruptley by a cable when triggered. The plywood table part of the treddle had holes in it so an ear of corn could be wired to it.
The first launch I witnessed began with two squirrels fighting for control of the ear of corn, oblivious to my host taking careful aim with his pellet gun. The first pellet missed its mark by an inch or so and the squirrels, hearing the gun noise, looked around to assess the situation. Shortly, they were back to the ear of corn smack dab in the middle of the plywood. The second pellet hit the target and launched both squirrels about 35' in the air sending them to a crash landing about 50' or so from the catapult. My host reported that single squirrel launches had much better trajectory and air time. I witnessed several single launches and he was correct.
We continued the launches during the afternoon until our wives explained that no more beer would be served until the pellet gun was put up. (WARNING: Due to the activity around the launch pad after each launch, the squirrels get a little skidish causing delays and providing extended periods of time best used to cool oneself off with a brew.)The next day my sides hurt all day from laughing so much.
I apoligize to any readers that are offended by this type of juvenile behavior and NO, I would not want to be launched in the same manner. I kinda look at it as revenge for the critters eating my wife's rose blooms, the screens on our porch, the insulation on the air conditioning system in my car and the vegetables in our garden. And YES, I have plans to put one or two in my backyard. Maybe market the darn thing as an "interactive scarecrow".
Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.
Comments
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My father knew a man who was roommates with Werner von Braun back in the Heidelberg days. Werner wanted to know how many g's of force a living mammal could take, so he built a little centrifuge and spun lab mice in it. Your device reminded me of that story.
When ya * the Witness's weights worked out let me know, them pesky mormons are 'bout the same size 'n the dog is tired a'chasin' 'em.
Clouder..
Can we substitute mix drinks for beer and still get the same desired results?
Though I was born to royalty, I was snatched at birth, so treat me as the noble I am!!!
Go Army Beat Navy
Ya ain't gonna hurt no tree rat by chuckin' him fifty feet. He'll be back in fifteen minutes, one launch smarter. Mark my words.
Clouder..
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
Happiness is a warm gun
Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.
I will say there is nothing like a strong dose of "I find it deplorable so it must be for you too". Isn't that kind of like killing prairie dogs, what is the purpose of that, just another rodent right, blast away, kill for sport? I am sure every pdog killed is swift and "painless", no body shots, limbs blown off, etc... Maybe the damage P dogs cause justifies their killing but the damage caused by tree rats does not? Yeah, whatever. Wanton killing is wanton killing.
Fling away Robin.
Exactly right, Saxon.
I've seen video footage of this device in use over the Net. It is quite barbaric.
I have no problem with dispensing a quick and painless death via the .22 rifle on yard rodents, but smacking them with a clay launching device is too cruel.
While the fall itself is not damaging to them, the sudden impact of the launching device on their small bodies is the equivilant of you being hit by a truck.
Suuuuuuuuuuuure, the fifteen foot swan dive afterwards isn't harmful...so why aren't you out there jumping in front of Chevy's, Robin?
Go back to the DemocRat Underground. I'm tiring of all the Troll activity.
Stand And Be Counted
~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~
Honestly officer, I thought she was a Big Goose!!!
Getting old is mandatory, Growing up is optional!
I think each of us establish our own thresehold as to which of God's creatures we choose to exploit, whether we realize it or not. One could argue that the earthworm we impale and slowly drown, hoping to catch a fish, that we usually scale alive in preparation for a fresh fish dinner, will land us in Hades for eternity. What about live bait caught at a dock, thrown in a live well, hauled fifty miles off shore, impaled, dropped 200' in to the deep Atlantic only to be eaten by the first thing that comes along? What about the 300 yd shot that cripples an elk that lives another 3 hours (probably in extreme angony) before he/she can be "humanely" dispatched? What about the ants we inadvertantly step on each day that must die an extremely painful death? What about the termites, I just paid a "hit man" big bucks to have those buggers baited and hopefully slaughtered, I hope they die a painful death. Do termites have souls? Do squirrels?
Maybe if we stayed in bed and kept the windows and doors shut, every thing would be O. K.? Huuuuuuuuuuum, nope, I think a couple of squirrels launched now and then might be a better approach to life. St. Peter may not let you in Heaven, but I'll bet he giggles a little when he reads your rap sheet.
Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.
~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~
Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.