PVC Pipe Bow and Arrows

All of my boys have been wanting to own a good bow and arrows! We have purchased plastic bow sets with suction cup arrows that have lasted a week or two before breaking. They have also tried making bows out of sticks and even Tinker Toys (not especially safe – ha!) Here’s an option that is not only sturdy but also extremely inexpensive!

The supplies for each bow and arrow cost well under $2.

This project is for whatever age you think is safe. It depends on the kid, really!

To make one you will need:

3/4 inch PVC pipe. Use the cheapest, thinnest type.
A drill
Nylon braided string (braided, not twisted) We found ours at Home Depot near the tool section.
A drill
Scissors
Duct tape
Dowel rods (81 cents each at Home Depot, each one made two arrows. My hubby thinks they were 1/4 inch thickness – make sure what you get will fit inside your Nerf darts)
Nerf darts
A saw
A lighter
Pocketknife

Step 1: Use the saw to cut your PVC pipe to the desired length. We made two sizes – 3 feet and 4 feet. The one in the picture above is 4 ft.

Step 2: Drill a small hole on each end of the PVC pipe to tie your string through.

Step 3: Attach the string by tying it through the hole in the pipe. Melt the ends with the lighter to fuse, and the string won’t come untied. My husband also had the boys pull on their bows to bend them while he tied the string so that the string would be as tight as possible.

Step 4: Decorate with duct tape.

Step 5: Use the saw to cut your dowels to the right length for arrows. The length needed will depend on how large you make the bow. Insert each dowel into a Nerf dart. Secure with a little duct tape if needed. Use a pocketknife to cut a notch in the end of each arrow to help secure it on the string when you pull it back.

**The bow stays straight until you pull back the arrow to shoot.