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Build a Pingpong Ball Launcher

SAFETY FIRST: Ask an adult to help with tools you haven't used before.

Make this cool pingpong ball launcher for target-shooting fun.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

  • 1″ x 4″ board, 24″ long (actual size is 3⁄4″ x 3 1⁄2″)

Cut the board as follows:

  • 3⁄4″ x 3 1⁄2″ x 16 1⁄2″ board (body of launcher)
  • 3⁄4″ x 2″ x 7 1⁄2″ board (crosspiece)
  • Spring-loaded wooden clothespin
  • Coping saw (for cutting curves)
  • Crosscut saw (for cutting across the wood grain)
  • Ripsaw (for cutting with the wood grain)
  • Sandpaper
  • Drill
  • 2 1⁄4″ eyebolts, 2 1⁄2″ long
  • 4 1⁄4″ washers
  • 2 1⁄4″ nuts
  • 2 1 1⁄4″ wood screws (for crosspiece)
  • 2 1⁄2″ small wood screws (for clothespin)
  • Drill bit (sized for pre-drilling 1⁄2″ wood screws)
  • 1⁄4″ drill bit (for eyebolts)
  • Drill bit (sized for pre-drilling 11⁄4″ wood screws)
  • Countersink bit (so driven screws are flush with wood surface)
  • Rubber band(s) (about 1⁄4″ wide)
  • A pocketful of pingpong balls

WHAT YOU’LL DO

pingpong-11. Cut out the body and crosspiece of the launcher and sand both pieces. Follow the dimensions shown above.

pingpong-22. Drill holes in the crosspiece for the eyebolts. Drill and countersink the two holes for the wood screws that hold the crosspiece to the body.

pingpong-33. Screw the crosspiece onto the body.

pingpong-44. If you can’t find a rubber band long enough for the launcher, you can loop several smaller ones together.

pingpong-55. Loop the rubber band(s) to the eyebolts.

pingpong-66. Attach the eyebolts to the crosspiece using the washers and nuts.

pingpong-77. Take apart the clothespin and screw the bottom half to the body. Be careful to drill and countersink these screws so you don’t split the clothespin. Reassemble the clothespin.

pingpong-88. Load a pingpong ball and you’re ready to launch. If the clothespin is to weak to hold the rubber band, wrap another rubber band around the gun to strengthen it.

Cardboard or plywood makes a good target. Don’t forget to wear safety goggles.


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53 Comments on Build a Pingpong Ball Launcher

  1. Science fair boy // March 8, 2020 at 5:22 pm // Reply

    I’m doing this for my science fair project

  2. shawn+michael4life // May 30, 2019 at 10:05 am // Reply

    This launcher was disappointing. I was unable to attack my sister from a length of ten feet, thus losing the ping pong war which determined who would win television privileges. -3 stars

  3. doubledubs // June 18, 2016 at 9:09 pm // Reply

    gonna build this tomboy for fathers day

  4. Anonymous // June 5, 2016 at 4:12 pm // Reply

    I made one and replaced the rubber bands with a bungie cord! 🙂

  5. cool!

  6. Frostbite772 // October 27, 2015 at 5:46 pm // Reply

    any ideas to add a stock and trigger. It would look way cooler that way

  7. I have to make one!!!!!

  8. I could make a simple one

  9. Cool but I thin k I could make more simple one but its petty awesome

  10. COOL!!!!!!!!

  11. thx u helped me with my school project.

  12. sounds fun

  13. hi guys it is really cool

  14. I have built one and, if you have the means, I highly recommend building one.

  15. that is so COOL!!!!!!!!!!

  16. AWESOME I AM GOING TO BUILD THIS LIKE RIGHT NOW

  17. when was this published?

  18. Momma scouter // September 28, 2014 at 7:50 pm // Reply

    We made these today for our den activity. Boys loved it! Thank you for the great idea! 16 running lose now in the neighborhood. 🙂

  19. so fun too use just do not shoot your brother….

  20. BUCK BANTAM BBW // November 30, 2013 at 7:15 pm // Reply

    it comes in handy when my brothers and sister are bugging me>:)

  21. pedro is on this page, click on him for a chance to win an xbox one!

  22. That looks cool

  23. neat 🙂

  24. Awesome! I want to build it right now right here!!!!!

  25. That is SO cool. Im going to ask my dad to help me make one ASAP!!!!!!!

  26. Built this at last Den meeting — Scouts LOVED it!

  27. I’ll make a handgun version. Cool idea boys life people!

  28. I think using a loose rubber band on the clothespin will allow for a more trigger-like release from the bottom. Golf balls seem like it would be more efficient.

  29. ME WANT TO MAKE ONE… OR TWO… OR THREE…OR FOUR…OR FIVE

  30. Attack the trees with the new weapons of war. Or play ping pong 🙂

  31. I don’t have the materials to do that at my den so you should say using materials from your home.

  32. meant to be funny // November 17, 2013 at 5:20 pm // Reply

    AWESOME!!! A NEW WEAPON OF WAR!

  33. I like it

  34. My den made a bunch of them and they don’t have a good range.
    Im making improvements in my yard now

  35. I wish I had the equipment to do that

  36. very cool

  37. I love these things but I will wait till 7th grade to build one

  38. relly want 😐

  39. I want to make one…or two…or three…or four

  40. AWSOME I AM GOING TO BUILD THIS LIKE RIGHT NOW

  41. Thanks for the design, I might scale this up to build a pumpkin launcher for a school assignment. 🙂

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