How to make a crossbow?

While it's quite common to meet people who have made their own bow, it's rarer to come across people who have built their own crossbow.

It's just as feasible... so how about you also letting yourself be tempted by the "Do It Yourself" (DIY) experience by building your own crossbow?

Out of curiosity, as a challenge or simply out of desire, in this article, we will guide you step by step through the different stages of building your crossbow.

Ready? Let's go!

First of all, what materials are needed to make a crossbow?

• A particle board
• A wooden batten
• A spool of round elastic 5mm in diameter
• Neoprene glue, small screws
• Tools (drill, file, sandpaper, screwdriver, spring clamps for tightening)

Tips and Tricks: remember to equip yourself properly when using certain tools: we recommend wearing gloves and safety glasses.

The manufacturing steps

1. Design the crossbow, make the plans

It is first essential to design your crossbow: its dimensions, its shape.

You will therefore have the bow where the elastic will be attached, the trigger system and its trigger, and finally, the body of your crossbow.

This first step is crucial for the success of your project.

2. Make the body and bow of the crossbow

You have the dimensions, now it's time to use the tools!

•  From the particle board, cut 2 strips 16 cm long, as for the height, use that of your batten.
•  Glue these 2 strips together with neoprene glue. Once the 2 strips are well bonded, drill 2 holes at the ends - this is where you will attach your elastic.
•  Cut two 20cm long pieces from the batten.

3. Create the trigger mechanism 

The idea is to make a trigger on one side that will release the elastic held on the other side by a principle similar to that of the half-moon.

- Simply cut your 2 pieces in the particle board with a cutter as shown above to fix them with screws on one of the 2 battens - be careful not to tighten completely: your 2 pieces must remain mobile.

Image credit: @Melkano

- Place the 2nd piece of batten on top.

There you have it, the body of your crossbow and the trigger mechanism are in place.

Image credit: @Melkano

4. Install the bow

Drill 4 centered holes to screw the 16cm particle board block you made in step 2 to the end of your battens.

Image credit: @Melkano

5. Add a handle

 Add comfort and screw at the back and on each side in perfect symmetry 2 small handles that you will have taken the time to sand well.

6. The string and string guide

• Simply install the elastic by attaching it to the bow using the holes made at the ends and bring it back to your trigger system.
• To keep the string and your bolt well aligned and prevent them from coming out of your homemade rail, you need to equip your crossbow with a string guide system: 2 small pieces of particle board glued together as in step 2, 6-7 cm long and the width of your crossbow, open to allow your trigger system to pass through, and you're done!

Image credit: @Melkano

7. Making the bolts

Small sticks of about 10 cm at most, sharpened to a point will do the job very well!

8. A sighting system?

You can set up a 3-point sight system:

- A sight point on the string guide, as close to your eye as possible

- A sight point in line but at the end of your crossbow, allowing the bolt to pass through

- The 3rd point? what you will aim at: align all 3 and you've got it!