So many times, it happens too fast...you trade your passion for glory. Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past, you must fight just to keep them alive.
Age 44, Male
Software Engineer
Somewhere in Nevada...
Somewhere in California..
Joined on 11/29/05
Posted by BoMToons - January 2nd, 2021
Happy New Year!
Here's a project I thought would be small, but turned out to take a good bit of effort. I wanted to build an axe throwing target to test the games I’ve been making for usaxeclub.com.
One goal was to make it easy to disassemble and assemble so it could be stored in the garage. Another goal was to allow the blocks to be swapped around and flipped as they wear out.
I achieved both with varied levels of success... I’m not a great structural engineer yet! But I learned a lot!
Looks like it works! :) And didn't waver at all... curious how much that thing weighs? From a way less structurally savvy standpoint it seemed like it could've easy toppled on impact, but I guess it maybe weighs more than it looks like/maybe target placement height is calculated/adjusted for this particular force/length of that particular foundation so such things will not happen? Or possibly that axe is a bit lighter than I assume too...
Wouldn't mind throwing some axes in these pandemic times hmm. Good way to get out some of all this excess frustration too. Nice build. Fascinating to follow these structural experiments and hobbies.
Happy New Year BoMToons!
Thanks! Happy NY to you as well! The front to back strength is pretty good with the long feet, but trying to allow it to all disassemble (no screws holding it horizontally) makes it weak side to side. The moveable blocks also kept getting displaced by strong strikes, so I ended up having to glue them together horizontally (in addition to the vertical clamping) to keep them from moving.
Damn, that's amazing! You're the new Leonardo Da Vinci!! Happy new year Leonardo! :D
Ha ha, next up a flying machine! Oh wait, I'm late for my appointment to dig up corpses for anatomy drawing studies...
Ah this wasn't the first build entirely then. Did you experiment at all with things like height/foot lengtha too? Maybe getting a steady target isn't as difficult as I imagine. XD
Thank you! Hopefully 2021 really hits the target now. Makes the mark. Is all as great as we aim it to be.
This was my first target build. I just guessed on the feet length, they're 4 feet long each, and the entire thing is ~6 feet tall, so I figured that would keep it from tipping over (lucky guess now that you mention it).
The gluing of the target blocks horizontally was an adjustment to my original build after some testing.
It's pretty heavy, especially the target blocks themselves (prob ~20 lbs each * 9 total blocks). But since it all breaks down, it's not bad to transport.
My axe/hatchet is a bit too heavy/dull for throwing, it often sticks, then falls out. I ordered some "throwing hatchets" which are lighter weight and sharper.
I totally should have used all those puns in my original post... thank you...
Ah good to know.
Heavier than it looked like too! Makes sense it stands as steadily as it does then.
Also maybe good that axe doesn't dig too deep in regard to the target? Won't wear down all as quickly?
I have a set of throwing knives myself, really light alternative with those if you haven't tried such, though so difficult to get the curve right, most end up just bouncing off randomly. Suppose axes are a bit easier when the head's the heaviest part. Throwing stars though: lotta fun too. :) You can't go wrong with those. As long as they don't hit sideways they always stick. Very satisfying/light/easy to aim with.
Hehe. Hope I'm not axing too many questions here, tis an intriguing sport!
Yeah, one big part of this target is that it's using the "end grain" of the wood beams which tends to facilitate "sticking" in the target and also kinda "heals" back once you pull the projectile out. The end grain targets last ~10x longer than throwing at the side grain. And being able to flip the blocks around and reposition them also extends target life. The sharper the projectile the less force is required to stick it, and less force makes for smaller penetration, which also extends target life... we'll see how long this lasts before I have to build a new target... best guesses are about 6 months with the frequency I throw.
Cool, now that Flash is dead we can all switch to axe throwing :>
lol! Yeah, it's a lot of fun and rarely crashes...
Good thinking. :) I've been using a tree stump slice myself, leaned end-grain out against a wall on top of a couple other bits of timber. Definitely the best way to do it, though it seems the healing properties still won't last forever. Maybe way better when they're compressed and glued together like this though, but like a chopping board...
Ah you really know the know-how on this! Makes sense. Looking forward to the follow-up post with more statistics as to that durability. :) Six months is pretty long, though with knives/stars: that same tree stump's lasted me at least half a decade now. ;)
However of course the obvious difference in force with these different projectiles + probably greatly differing throwing frequency should make for greatly differing target lifespan either way.
Btw have you by any chance considered getting of those heavy double-sided throwing axes? May wear and tear like crazy but they do look pretty cool...
I actually just ordered some light weight "throwing tomahawks" - I care much more for the longevity/ease of sticking than I do for the look of the axe (mostly cuz I'm developing axe throwing games that are projected onto the target)
Oooh that sounds interesting too! Never considered tomahawks! Sounds fun. Heavy axes would be a great workout but probably little other benefit there. :) Except maybe: looking cool. Everyone comes to the party with a slimmed down throwing axe and you bring that big one...
Anyway looking forward to alternative lightweight axe alternative follow-up too Gonna go Google if they even sell those over here.
Thanks. :) Doesn't ship here unfortunately but there do seem to be some local alternatives...
le-squidjerky
bro that looks tight man! very simple and nice design too