[pelleteer]

A few weeks back, I saw this wood slingshot for only $3 + $5 shipping. I figured it would be very toy-like, which it was, but that I could make something of it. First is a before pic (from eBay, since I didn't get around to taking any before I started modding). Below that are a few pics of the finished product. I chopped off the top of each prong where the band slots were cut, filed grooves around them, and then sanded the whole thing and stained it with walnut Danish oil (the catty itself is white oak). I cut a couple inches off the gum rubber bands and replaced the cheap leather with a double-cupped Trumark pouch. The final product cost me no more than the initial cost of the slingy, and it shoots very well. Not bad for $8 and about an hour worth of work!

Btw, the eBay photo appears to show beech, ash, or some other type of wood, but the one I got turned out to be oak (which is fine with me, but worth mentioning to anyone else who may choose to pic one up).

 

[Jtslingshoter]

Very nice. Looks great. JT

 

[pelleteer]

Many thanks,JT. I appreciate it.

 

[Thwupp-p-p]

Jeez! Although it may have started out as a pretty boring catty -- it definitely ended up being a candidate for the Slingshot Revitalization & Beautification Department?!

The stain oil really brought up the nice pattern in the wood, didn't it?

 

[Martin]

Nice job, looks great.

 

[smitty]

Great idea to find good slingshots in the raw! I really like the finishing you did.

 

[baumstamm]

good deal and good work!

 

[pelleteer]

Hey! Thanks, guys. Yes, the wood was very plain when recieved (unfinished). The oil really brought it to life. I wasn't sure how the walnut stain would turn out on white oak, but I like the result. This one is just a bit larger than Fish's Hunter, from what I can tell. He said in another thread he's got 40mm between forks. This one is about 43mm. The only thing I may do in the future is shorten the grip a little, not sure yet. Again, I appreciate the comments.

BTW, I should have put this in the Modifications section. If a mod cares to move it there, that'd be cool.

 

[jmplsnt]

Excellent job of giving some pride to a humiliated piece of wood. I know I say this too much, but that looks like it would carry well in a pocket.....

 

[pelleteer]

I do refer to this as a pocket shooter, as it fits nicely in a back jeans pocket. I've found that I don't need the last inch to inch and a half on the handle, since it's most comfortable to shoot in the finger-braced grip. If I get around to it this weekend, I'm thinking of cutting that 1-1.5" off the handle, making it even more pocket friendly.

 

[p4v_singh]

great job looks great the only thing is a dont like the dark varnish but still

 

[pelleteer]

Thanks, p4v.

I actually would rather have put some tung oil or something on it, so it didn't turn so dark, but the walnut oil is the only thing I have on hand at the moment. I had a bottle of tung oil, but when I went to use it it was all congealed and not much use. I may do another one of these, but with a clear oil finish in the future.

 

[Don]

[quote name='pelleteer' date='05 February 2010 - 08:14 PM' timestamp='1265400881' post='3325']
Thanks, p4v.

I actually would rather have put some tung oil or something on it, so it didn't turn so dark, but the walnut oil is the only thing I have on hand at the moment. I had a bottle of tung oil, but when I went to use it it was all congealed and not much use.

I just purchased one of those ebay cheapies and hope to do the same to it as you did. Don't know if it will turn out as nice but looking forward to trying my best.

Don

 

[pelleteer]

I just purchased one of those ebay cheapies and hope to do the same to it as you did. Don't know if it will turn out as nice but looking forward to trying my best.

Don

Hey, Don. It's definitely an excellent deal. As it comes, the fork itself is very well done, though the band slots leave something to be desired. I didn't want to keep them anyway, as I wanted to do an over- the-top style, so I hacksawed 'em off, but if you wanted to use the slots you could finish them off by slipping some sandpaper down into them. The pouch was thin and weak, so I tossed it, and the bands took a lot of shortening to get reasonable velocity, but were perfectly fine after that. If you want to do the same style I did, I filed the grooves in the fork with a Nicholson 5/32" diameter chainsaw sharpening file. Worked like a charm. Just go slow and everything should work out fine. I look forward to seeing how it comes out.

 

[Don]

Well, I got my ebay cheapy today and I have to say I am giddy. First off, its not made of oak like Pelleteer's but some sort of soft wood like pine so I'm a little concerned about durability. Anyway, I shot it a few times with the junky bands it came with and was impressed with its accuracy. Not wanting to keep those bands I replaced them with a set I got for my bunnybuster. I had to open the fork slots with sand paper to fit the new bands but that only took a few minutes. I have a five yard range set up in my cellar that I use to shoot at small targets. Man, can that el-cheapo shoot! I'm nailin my targets with 80% accuracy no problem. Sorry Bunny Buster but it out shoots even you. That cheap sling is the best $6 Ive ever spent.

Don

 

[Sarge]

I bought one of those for the old indian woman. I put flat bands on it for her. I've been sleeping with one eye open ever since.

 

[Thwupp-p-p]

I bought one of those for the old indian woman. I put flat bands on it for her. I've been sleeping with one eye open ever since.

 

[pelleteer]

Yep, there are a couple models of cheapie available at eBay. It sounds like you got the more common one which is available from several sellers. I wondered what sort of wood they were. The one I got no longer shows up when I search for "wooden slingshot" or "wood slingshot" (like it did when I bought mine), but I dug around and found they are still available. They are only available from one particular seller. I don't know what Aaron's view is, but most forums don't allow direct eBay links in the public areas of the forum, so I'll PM you a direct link to the one I got, in case you still want to try one out.

 

[Don]

Yep, there are a couple models of cheapie available at eBay. It sounds like you got the more common one which is available from several sellers. I wondered what sort of wood they were. The one I got no longer shows up when I search for "wooden slingshot" or "wood slingshot" (like it did when I bought mine), but I dug around and found they are still available. They are only available from one particular seller. I don't know what Aaron's view is, but most forums don't allow direct eBay links in the public areas of the forum, so I'll PM you a direct link to the one I got, in case you still want to try one out.

Thanks Pelleteer, just bought one of the oak slings. Hope it shoots as well as the one I got today.

 

[Flatband]

I've seen them on e-bay Pelleteer. You did a great job redoing her. Looks like a pretty thick frame too. Nice! Flatband