DIY Clay Pigeon Shooter Made From Scratch

We made a clay pigeon shooter from scratch that launches clay pigeon disks far into the sky. We made this partly for our own enjoyment and partly for a physics project. We hope you enjoy this as much as we did

Materials:

Steel Square Tube - 1" X 1" X .120" X 90"

Alloy 1008 Cold Rolled Steel Sheet - 12Ga X 12" x 12"

Grade A36 Hot Rolled Steel Angle - 1 1/4" X 1 1/4" X .120" X 24"

Steel Threaded Rod - 1/4" x 60"(4pc Lot)

Alloy 1008 Cold Rolled Steel Sheet - 24Ga X 36" x 36"

Spring

7/16 in. x 1-1/2 in. and 7/16 in. x 2-1/2 in. Zinc-Plated Extension Spring (4-pack)

String

1/4 in.-20 x 1 in. Stainless Steel Hex Bolt (5-Pack) + 1/4 in.-20 Stainless Steel Hex Nut (25-Pack) + 1/4 in. Stainless Steel Flat Washer (25-Pack)

1/2 in.-13 x 7 in. Zinc Plated Hex Bolt + Marine Grade Stainless Steel 1/2-13 Hex Nut (4 Pieces) + 1/2 in. Zinc-Plated Cut Washer x4

Tools:

Horizontal band saw

Plasma cutter (Note: optional)

Drill press

Measuring tool

Sharpie

Curved and straight file

MIG welder

Mallet

1. Grab your Steel Square Tube - 1" X 1" X .120" X 90", measuring tool, and your sharpie.
2. Using your measuring tool and sharpie mark out 5 separate segments as follows on your Steel Square Tube - 1" X 1" X .120" X 90". The segment lengths on the Steel Square Tube - 1" X 1" X .120" X 90" are 6 in, 12 in, 12 in, 24 in, and 32 in.
3. Cut these marked segments to get 5 separated segmented. We used a horizontal band saw to do this.
4. Now refer to picture 1.1 above and weld these pieces together like pictured. For the welding we used a MIG welder.
5. After everything is welded together it might be good to go back and file down some of your welds. For this we used a curved and straight file.

1. Grab your Alloy 1008 Cold Rolled Steel Sheet - 12Ga X 12" x 12", measuring tool, and your sharpie.
2. Using your measuring tool and sharpie we are going to mark out two separate rectangular shapes on the Alloy 1008 Cold Rolled Steel Sheet - 12Ga X 12" x 12". To get the rectangular shapes refer to the outermost dimensions in photos 2.1 and 2.2.
3. Once the two rectangle shapes are measured out you are going to need to cut them out of the Alloy 1008 Cold Rolled Steel Sheet - 12Ga X 12" x 12". For this you can we used a plasma cutter but i'm sure you can use a horizontal band saw if you do not have access to a plasma cutter.
4. Now we are going to need to need to drill a few holes in these two separate rectangular shapes. Refer to photos 2.1 and 2.2 for size of drill bits and location of drill points. For this we used a drill press.
5. Next we need to weld the rectangular shaped pictured in 2.1 onto our already made base. Refer to picture 2.1 for location of where to weld it onto the base. For the weld we used a MIG welder and after the weld we filed down some bits with a curved and straight file.
6. Next grab your Grade A36 Hot Rolled Steel Angle - 1 1/4" X 1 1/4" X .120" X 24", measuring tool, and your sharpie.
7. With this piece you are going to need to do a few things. You are going to need to cut, then bend, then weld your Grade A36 Hot Rolled Steel Angle - 1 1/4" X 1 1/4" X .120" X 24" to look like picture 2.3 for the L shape. So take your measuring tool and sharpie and mark this out (refer to picture 2.3). Next you will need to make the cut, for this we used a horizontal band saw. Then you will need to bend it into the L shape, for this we used a mallet. Finally you will need to weld the L in place, for this we used MIG welder. After the weld it might be good to go back and file down some of your welds, for this we used a curved and straight file.
8. Next you will need to make holes and a cut in the L shape. First mark out where the cut and holes need to be with your measuring tool and sharpie while referencing photos 2.3 and 2.4. Next drill the holes (reference photos 2.3 and 2.4), for this we used a drill press. Then you need to make the cut (reference photo 2.4), for this we used a horizontal band saw.
9. Next we are going to need to cut and bend the Steel Threaded Rod - 1/4" x 60". Take your measuring tool and sharpie and mark one Steel Threaded Rod - 1/4" x 60" to be about 9 inches in length. Next cut the marked Steel Threaded Rod - 1/4" x 60" down to 9 inches in length. You can use a horizontal band saw for this. Next bend the rod like in picture 2.5, for this you can use a mallet.
10. Now connect the cut Steel Threaded Rod onto the L shape with the 1/4 in.-20 Stainless Steel Hex Nut (25-Pack) 1/4 in. Stainless Steel Flat Washer (25-Pack) as seen in photo 2.5.
11. Now connect the rectangle pictured in 2.2 onto the L shape. Use the 1/4 in.-20 x 1 in. Stainless Steel Hex Bolt (5-Pack), 1/4 in.-20 Stainless Steel Hex Nut (25-Pack), 1/4 in. Stainless Steel Flat Washer (25-Pack), and the small spring in the 7/16 in. x 1-1/2 in. and 7/16 in. x 2-1/2 in. Zinc-Plated Extension Spring (4-pack). Look at photos 2.2 and 2.6 for reference.
12. Now cut and tie on a about 5 foot long piece of string onto the rectangle seen in 2.2. Look at image 2.5 for reference.
13. Finally attach the L shape to the base using the 1/4 in.-20 x 1 in. Stainless Steel Hex Bolt (5-Pack), 1/4 in.-20 Stainless Steel Hex Nut (25-Pack), and 1/4 in. Stainless Steel Flat Washer (25-Pack).

1. Grab your Alloy 1008 Cold Rolled Steel Sheet - 24Ga X 36" x 36", measuring tool, and your sharpie.
2. Using your measuring tool and sharpie we are going to mark out the three separate rectangle shapes depicted in photos 3.1 and 3.2. (Note: The width of the rectangle in 3.1 should be 7 in and the length should be 21 in).
3. Once all three rectangles are measured out cut them out of the Alloy 1008 Cold Rolled Steel Sheet - 24Ga X 36" x 36". For this we used a horizontal band saw.
4. next for the rectangle depicted in 3.1 you are going to need to bend the corner like depicted in the photo. For this we used a mallet but you can do this a number of other ways.
5. Once the rectangle from 3.1 is bent like in the photo you are then going to need to make one cut and two holes. Reference the photo for hole and cut placement. For the cut we used a horizontal band saw and for the holes we used a drill press.
6. Next bend and weld on the 13 in by 2 in piece onto the rectangle in 3.1. One end is going to be bent in a circular shape to hold the clay pigeon and the other end you can bend as you please because this end will point to where you want the clay pigeon thrower to be released at. You can kinda see this in photo 3.2. We used a Mig welder for this.
7. Next you are going to need to weld on the 9 in by 4 in rectangle on to the rectangle depicted in photo 3.1. This is going to act as a roof for the clay pigeon so the clay pigeon does not go flying off when you don't want it to. You can see this in photo 3.2. We used a Mig welder for this.
8. Now the 3.1 rectangle should be ready so you now need to attach it to the parts we already have built. For this you are going to need to attach it with your 1/2 in.-13 x 7 in. Zinc Plated Hex Bolt, Marine Grade Stainless Steel 1/2-13 Hex Nut (4 Pieces) and your 1/2 in. Zinc-Plated Cut Washer. In the smaller hole on the 3.1 rectangle you are going to need to attach a bolt facing downwards. For this use 1/4 in.-20 x 1 in. Stainless Steel Hex Bolt (5-Pack), 1/4 in.-20 Stainless Steel Hex Nut (25-Pack), and 1/4 in. Stainless Steel Flat Washer (25-Pack)
9. Now all you need to do is connect the two springs and your clay pigeon shooter is now complete!