Best Wood?

[Dannytsg]

I'm going to look into making a catapult for my son (he's 11) to use when we are out in good old nature.

I'm wondering if anyone on here has any opinions as to the best type of wood for making the frame?

I am aware of laminates but I would rather keep this close to nature and just use a good old piece of 'y-forked' wood that I can strip back and shape and then attach some readily available bands to it.

Any ideas?

Cheers

Dan

 

[mountainm]

Hornbeam - rock hard! Or Ash.

 

[bushwacker bob]

Ash or hazel are both good.

 

[shaggystu]

a "thorn" tree (hawthorn, blackthorn etc.) would be my first choice, really slow growing so really dense, and full of interesting little forks and twists. i love working with those kind of woods, they've got enormous strength and great character, catapults are about the biggest thing you can usually get out of one though

 

[Chiseller]

Sweet chestnut, or holly? Both can produce some great forks? Just hard to drop on the right one

...... Failed dogger and alleged bigot!

 

[santaman2000]

Hickory or Pecan if you can get it. Walnut would be my second choice.

 

[bayleaf]

Years ago I made a perfectly good one from a well grown piece of elder.It is a very tough wood,and often provides forked pieces.Try a bit,you'll be surprised.

 

[jeffz]

Holly. Or buy him a Milbro.

 

[Dannytsg]

Cheers for the reccomendations. Now it's just getting my hands on some to start with