HOME MADE BIRD LAUNCHER (updated)

[BIGINNER]

A while back, i started a little project building a bird launcher.  it took me about 4 hours to build the launcher, to launch it, you pull a string, and it launches,.. pretty simple.  i used it for a while for training by dog.   but after a while, i wasn't satisfied by the fact that i had to pull a string to launch the bird,... so i stated brainstorming and reasearching for a way to make it remotely lauch,  after some reasearch,... and a little spending on ebay,... ($10) and a $12 battery from "battery plus"  a little soldering,.. and last night i remotely launched my first pigeon        lol  i honestly did not want to spen $300 on a launcher,.. so with about 5 hours of work,.. i built a remote launcher,.. and it cost me less than $30.    i will post pics later today,..  and maybe post a step by step if anyone is interested,..   its a pretty fun project,

the launcher is kinda ugly,.. i'm thinking about painting it,.. but don't want it to have a paint smell.  one thing that i really like about it,. is that it is super quiet.  my friend has a couple dogtra launchers,.. my launcher is way quieter than his. 

anyways,..  just wanted to share,.. will try to post pics later today

[CoryTDF]

Yes please do post the step by step. I am really interested in this. I have been looking at launchers for a while now and would love to try making one.

[oneezreiter]

I would loke to see it as well as a step by step.  sound cool.

[gasman]

I would loke to see it as well as a step by step.  sound cool.

 

[CoryTDF]

Eagerly waiting........................

[Special T]

Just got to mark this for further investigation..

[BIGINNER]

Sorry.  I keep getting busy after work.  Will try to get picks uo as sion as pissible

[jason4429]

This sounds very interesting.

[Happy Gilmore]

the suspense is painful here!!

[BIGINNER]

sorry sorry.  i'm at work right now,  but will try to get to it as soon as possible.  hopefully today.    one thing about this launcher is i built the launcher itself way before i decided to make it remotely lauch, so i didn't plan ahead very good on having a good aea to mouth the box (reciever/battery) so i had to mount it on the bottom of the launcher,  i will definately design a couple more and this time i will consider everything, plus add adjustments for spring strength, and maybe have a slightly different design to it overall.  the one i have rioght now was built as a spur of the moment thing, cuz i needed a launcher but didn't have money to spend on one,.. so about 4 hours later i had manual launcher wich cost me about $4 (springs) and some scrap metal from around the yard,  lol  but this little project could definately be inmproved and has lots of room for creativity.

[BIGINNER]

ok.  here are a couple pics.  i will be building a new launcher sometime soon,   this one was a very fast build.  i didn't have time to put much thought into it,  i bought the fabric at Joahns fabric, and i had the edges folded several times before i sewed it. (for strenghth)
i build the box itself out of some scrap metal i found in the backyard, i like the idea of having holes in the box the birds scent to get out better.  i will brobably end up tack welding the box together and remove the bolts.

i have the actuator attached temperarely, i need to find a good box that i can have the actuato, reciever, and battery in, and attach it nicely. also.  its alway good to have this info before you start building the launcher, so that you can acomidate for the box.

the remote sytem i bought was a really cheap one off of ebay. and it runs off of a 12v battery. i went with a big battery (but now i'm thinking i should've went with a smaller one.)  oh.  and its best to use a rechargable battery.
i soldered the battery wires to the battery so i can recharge it,

heres some pics of it, also a link to the remote system i bought.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160598151871?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2648

[BIGINNER]

one thing i forgot to add.  there are lots of similar remote systems.  make sure its a non-lock signal.  you can burn the actuator with the locking signal.

[Happy Gilmore]

That's a great homemade launcher! Not to mention for a prototype. What is the remote? a car key fob?

[BIGINNER]

That's a great homemade launcher! Not to mention for a prototype. What is the remote? a car key fob?

yep.  its a key fob.  i can't wait to start building my newly designed launcher 

[surfj9009]

This is awesome
Good job. I have one of the expensive ones, and I am sure it's works the same as yours. Congrats on saving your self a pile of cash.

[Happy Gilmore]

That is trick!! I'm always trying to think of stuff that works better and cheaper than what is on the market but, I always fall short somewhere.. ..cool launcher no doubt..you have way more skills than I foo shoor

[NW-GSP]

Any update on this?. I am wanting to buy the pull string trap but make my own remote actuator.

[AspenBud]

ok.  here are a couple pics.  i will be building a new launcher sometime soon,   this one was a very fast build.  i didn't have time to put much thought into it,  i bought the fabric at Joahns fabric, and i had the edges folded several times before i sewed it. (for strenghth)
i build the box itself out of some scrap metal i found in the backyard, i like the idea of having holes in the box the birds scent to get out better.  i will brobably end up tack welding the box together and remove the bolts.

i have the actuator attached temperarely, i need to find a good box that i can have the actuato, reciever, and battery in, and attach it nicely. also.  its alway good to have this info before you start building the launcher, so that you can acomidate for the box.

the remote sytem i bought was a really cheap one off of ebay. and it runs off of a 12v battery. i went with a big battery (but now i'm thinking i should've went with a smaller one.)  oh.  and its best to use a rechargable battery.
i soldered the battery wires to the battery so i can recharge it,

heres some pics of it, also a link to the remote system i bought.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160598151871?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2648

So are you handy with a torch to get the arms formed to fit or did you manage to find pieces bent to form that would work (if so, where?).

You can probably use an RC car servo as an actuator if you can find something small enough to act as the handheld for it.

[REHJWA]

Looking forward to your step by step on your next build