Rubber Band Fun

Making toy cars using rubber bands is a lot of fun to do with kids. Rubber bands can be used for power or for traction. A toy car that uses a mouse trap is a fast, fun little car. The spring in the mouse trap releases energy to the wheels, that are wrapped in rubber bands, for traction. Get a few neighborhood kids together and make several for a race. Adult supervision is highly recommended in building a toy car using rubber bands. And fun is mandatory.

Get together all supplies for building a mouse trap car. This car requires a mouse trap, 2 metal rods, 4 small eye hole screws, some plywood, 2 rubber bands, some string, washers that the rods will fit into, a drill and bit set, jig saw or hack saw, an hammer, a vice, a wood file and a jewelers file., wood glue and some 2 part epoxy, and a drafting compass

Begin by taking the mouse trap and pulling out the wire that holds the trap open with the pliers. Keep this wire for later use. Remove the bait holder on the mouse trap. Remove any staples that may be present.

Using the eye hooks, screw them into an end of the trap. Place them 8 mm from the edge of the trap. Drill a small starter hole to keep the wood from splitting.

With the drafting compass to draw 2, 75 mm circles on the plywood. Cut them out with the jig saw. File the edges smooth with the wood file.

Place the rods side by side and check to see if they are exactly the same size. Cut and file to the right length if needed. Using the hack saw, cut approximately half way through one rod. File the cut so it is wide enough for the wire removed in step 1 to rest in.

Cut the wire from step 1 to 7 mm. Glue the end of this wire into the slot just cut with the 2 part epoxy. This will need to dry overnight.

Position the wire that is now dry to the back of the mouse trap. Slide the other wire through the eye hole screws.

Place the washers on the wires. With the drill and 3.7 mm bit, drill a hole in the center of the wheels. Slide the wheels on to the rods.

Tie the string in the center clamp on the mouse trap. Stretch the string to the end and tie it to the axle. Trim off loose ends.

Wrap the rubber bands around the wheels. Glue them in place.

Lift the clamp of the trap enough to get the loop end of the string over the wire on the rear axle. Pull the car backwards so that the string winds around the axle and lifts the clamp on the mouse trap. Sit the car on the floor and let it go.