Required Tools and Materials

Wood (light material)
Eye hooks
CDs
Glue
Mousetrap
String
Rods (this can be made of metal or wood)
Rubber material
Screws
Drill

Create the Chassis

Use the light wood as the chassis. Set up the eye hooks so they’ll function as the axle carriers. Place the mousetrap on top of the chassis. Drill a few holes in the chassis and the mousetrap.

Fasten the mousetrap on the chassis using the screws. Don’t take out the spring mechanism. When you build a mousetrap car, it will function as its power booster.

Attach the Wheels and Other Components

You can use CDs or DVDs as the wheels of the car. You can stack the CDs side by side to make it thicker. The rubber will be used as threads. You can also use balloons and similar materials.

The axles can be made up of the metal rods or dowels. When installing the axles, make sure that it’s straight and well balanced. An unbalanced axle will damage the car. Connect the drive string to the car.

When you build a mousetrap car, keep the string at the drive axle loose. Doing this will release the string when it gets to the end point.

If you don’t do this, the string will rewind. The end result is a slower car. Lock the trap. Wind the string near the drive axle. To propel the car, free up the string.

Tips

You don’t have to use CDs for the wheels. You can use boards made of foam. You can make one yourself using a compass. Use it as a template for shaping the wheels. Make sure you use enough glue so the wheels will attach firmly to the dowel.

If you don’t use enough when you build a mousetrap car, the wheels will come flying off. Also, the wheels don’t have to be of the same size. You can use bigger ones for the back than in front. You can try making the wheels from plywood. Trace a circle 75 mm in diameter and slice it off.

If you’re going to join mousetrap car races, spend some time practicing. You might have to tweak the strings and chassis to get more speed out of it. Remember, the lighter the wood the better.

Warnings

If needed, cut the rods so they’ll fit in properly. They need to be of the same lengths. You also need to make sure you don’t get any of the glue on your hands. Some adhesives also need a few minutes to dry.

Do not proceed until the glue is dry. Be careful when handling the mousetrap. Do not handle the mousetrap unless you know exactly what you’re doing. Don’t let small kids handle the device.

This guide is a simple one. It helps you build a mousetrap car without too much fuss. While it isn’t fancy, this guide will make it easier for you to understand how to create other mousetrap car designs.