Consume Product

Trebuchet
 

Trebuchet at that scale wouldn't need some of the more complex parts like a winch unless you wanted to add it. You could build it and manually reset it at that weight and size. Also its a more elegant display of physics.

"I'm leaning toward catapult because I don't think trebuchets would scale down as well because the counterweight would be limited ..."

My friend built a one to two foot trebuchet and it worked reasonably well, although he had to use lead weights to make the counterweight powerful enough, so your concern is not invalid.

I think I'd go catapult but yeah.. A lot can go wrong. You can look up the strength properties of different wood online. Normal lumber stores like home depot mostly carry 2 types of dimensional lumber, SPF and SYP depending on where you're located. DEFINITELY avoid SFP.

Axe handles are generally made from ash or hickory because they are durable but flexible enough to deal with the shock axe handles endure. For the same reason you'd probably want to make the throwing arm out of ash or hickory. Your best bet is probably finding a wood mill that sells rough cut lumber, or maybe find a tree service place. Those guys often have saw mills to make use of the many trees they cut down.

trebuchet for the reasons you listed

i tried scaling down my impalements. sometimes impaling someone on a 30ft long pike is very difficult, especially if we lack all the ropes pulleys and manpower we require. So in a pinch i impale someone on shorter pikes. The shortest one i've used is about 8ft but that's not a very good impalement. I'd go for 16ft poles if that is what is handily available in lumber supply mills. You might try finding out who supplies your local utility company with their utility poles and then retrofit / taper them for the purpose of impalement.