[Darb]

I'm still very new to the hobby, but as a science oriented kinda guy, ideas are always percolating away.

Anyway, while shooting part of Flatband's collection at the september shootaround, it was immediately apparent that slingshots by different manufacturers were all over the place in making slingshots of different hefts, and that in short order I'd immediately gravitated (pardon the physics pun) towards slingshots that had greater mass/inertia, which seemed (to me) to have reduced release-shock, and thus a slight efficiency edge (in converting the potential energy of a draw to kinetic energy in the shot).

Accordingly, it occured to me just now that if someone wanted to add a few extra ounces of inertia/mass to light-weight wooden or plastic slingshot, one way to do it, without dramatically altering the appearance of slingshot itself, could be to drill a small hole up into the bottom of the handle, and install a small hanger bolt or a female screwpost ... which in turn would provide a stable attachment point for a variable number of weights to accomodate personal preferences in heft. Some steel washers, or perhaps a lead weight with a core hole, come readily to mind. Physics wise, it wouldn't be quite the same as having a metal core, but the overall effect should have some similarity, and it'd have the advantage of being adjustable.

Anyway, it's just a free idea tossed out there, for the benefit of the vendor community.

Cheers.

 

[USASlingshot]

We have been looking into drilling holes in out naturals handles to hold ammo. Maybe we could put lead in permanently for a greater heft

 

[Darb]

I'm more inclined to keep my ammo in a pouch on my waist, so I think a lead plug inside the handle would make more sense than an ammo cavity.

 

[USASlingshot]

It would be more for a survival situation. Esentaly just in case

 

[Darb]

Another option (this one irreversible), for an all wood slingshot, might be to drill a wider hole, and install a substantial lead core directly inside the handle. I dunno how cured wood might respond to molten lead, so you might have to pre-cast it, or perhaps use a cut section of a metal bolt and glue that in. If you file the bottom level and paint it over, you wouldnt even see it.

Again, just some random ideas.

 

[USASlingshot]

I have been trying to think of stuff to put Inbetween wood to make some heavier slingshots. So far nothing that will work but keep the slingshot safe

 

[Darb]

Hmm ... another option ... if you cant put the lead inside the handle, I suppose you could put the lead AROUND the handle. In other words, you could use a ball-peen hammer and some lead sheet to beat out a lead sleeve to fit over the handle/grip, glue it into place, then wrap it in bicycle grip tape. However, that'd adversely affect the appearance and might make the grip a bit larger than desired.

Again, this is just random disposable brainstorming of ideas.

 

[Brooklyn00003]

I like the weight of my slingshot which is 68 grams.A heavier one might give you more stability but I just cant stand if there is something heavy in my pocket.

 

[USASlingshot]

I'll look into a heavier material for a core. Pure lead wouldn't be healthy but effective

 

[baumstamm]

best thing might be to drill a hole in the handle and fill it with quick silver, this might reduce the release shock.

 

[USASlingshot]

Does anyone know how much an acrylic sheet weighs? If it's heavier than oak it might help

 

[Darb]

best thing might be to drill a hole in the handle and fill it with quick silver, this might reduce the release shock.

Neat idea. Mercury is comparable to lead in terms of mass, and eliminates the need for shaping/melting. You'd need a solid plug though, which would take up part of the room in the handle.

 

[USASlingshot]

To bad mercury is very unhealthy. If only there was something healthy but heavy

 

[baumstamm]

they have done this in the 70´ with costum gun stocks 4 heavy callibre and it worked good, i don´t know if it is possible nowa days;-)

 

[Darb]

To bad mercury is very unhealthy. If only there was something healthy but heavy

Unhealthy yes, but only if it's in contact with your skin, or if you're inhaling the vapors. In the idea above, it would be inside a sealed cavity inside the handle, and thus neither mode of exposure would apply.

As for alternatives, the periodic table is replete with them, but unfortunately, many of them are either rare & expensive, radioactive, extremely short lived, and often all of the above. Mercury and lead seem to be the most readily available, and inexpensive options in the high-mass end of the table. A solid cylinder of steel, brass or copper would work too, but is harder to work with, and is less massive, than lead or mercury. They'd be heavier than aluminum however.

 

[USASlingshot]

It would be unhealthy for the person putting It in t he handle.

 

[Darb]

It would be unhealthy for the person putting It in t he handle.

Feh ... a fairly short exposure.

For comparison, just think of what all those workers in ancient China endured when building the underground tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who had all those terracotta soldiers guarding him, surrounded with rivers of mercury, complete with boats.

 

[baumstamm]

of core in a sealed cavity!

 

[USASlingshot]

I wouldn't put my body near mercury if I had a choice. Lead isn't as bad

 

[baumstamm]

in most lights like neon light ore this energy saving light u have lots of mercury and more dangerous vapors when they break.