Joined
·
10 Posts
Long time lurker first time poster.
I love hobbies where you aim object X and make it go from point A to point B as quickly and accurately as possible, specially if they involve spending 10x the time and money doing it yourself rather than just buying it.
I've wanted to make a slingshot for years but always found a reason to make it impossible. There no good trees around where I live. Tons of softwood, but no fruit grooves or hardwoods around. Then I started watching videos, and it was clear that without a planer, a bandsaw, a spindle sander, a router, another 10,000 pieces of equipment and finishes, and 15 years of experience it is impossible to build a slingshot.
Three days ago a storm felled a huge old Primavera (Cybistax donnel-smithii) tree down the block and left me with no electricity or internet at home for 24 hours. I had a chunk of leftover wood, I believe it is Parota (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) from when a carpenter build a table for the neighbors, my drill was charged and my hacksaw, rasp and sandpaper are powered by elbow grease. The only way to stay sane for 24 hours without internet access was to build something.
This is the chunk of wood and my tools, minus the cordless drill.
![352775]()
This is after main shaping and sanding.
![352777]()
This is it finished with beeswax and oil. These are the clay balls I like to shoot. Locally sourced clay shaped by hand and thrown into the grill whenever I have a barbecue, to take them somewhere between dried mud and properly made terracota.
![352778]()
These are a couple of details to make it fit my hand better.
![352782]()
![352783]()
I am already seeing so many things to improve: symmetry, ergonomics, band attachment, the bands themselves, overall size, quality of the sanding and finishing... at least it is very accurate with the 2 gram clay balls at 10 meters. I can't wait to start the second one.
Thank you for looking and for the inspiration.
I love hobbies where you aim object X and make it go from point A to point B as quickly and accurately as possible, specially if they involve spending 10x the time and money doing it yourself rather than just buying it.
I've wanted to make a slingshot for years but always found a reason to make it impossible. There no good trees around where I live. Tons of softwood, but no fruit grooves or hardwoods around. Then I started watching videos, and it was clear that without a planer, a bandsaw, a spindle sander, a router, another 10,000 pieces of equipment and finishes, and 15 years of experience it is impossible to build a slingshot.
Three days ago a storm felled a huge old Primavera (Cybistax donnel-smithii) tree down the block and left me with no electricity or internet at home for 24 hours. I had a chunk of leftover wood, I believe it is Parota (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) from when a carpenter build a table for the neighbors, my drill was charged and my hacksaw, rasp and sandpaper are powered by elbow grease. The only way to stay sane for 24 hours without internet access was to build something.
This is the chunk of wood and my tools, minus the cordless drill.
This is after main shaping and sanding.
This is it finished with beeswax and oil. These are the clay balls I like to shoot. Locally sourced clay shaped by hand and thrown into the grill whenever I have a barbecue, to take them somewhere between dried mud and properly made terracota.
These are a couple of details to make it fit my hand better.
I am already seeing so many things to improve: symmetry, ergonomics, band attachment, the bands themselves, overall size, quality of the sanding and finishing... at least it is very accurate with the 2 gram clay balls at 10 meters. I can't wait to start the second one.
Thank you for looking and for the inspiration.
