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366 Posts
I've bought a lot of Snipersling darts and they are superb.
I've got 20 of the older version with glued on fletchings and 110 of the new version with the moulded flights.
I've repaired one of the older types, a fletching became torn and I was able to remove it and put on a replacement made from a cut-down arrow fletching, it worked out perfectly.
I was thinking about repairing a new type dart, then I started to think maybe I could make one.
I ordered some 3mm carbon fibre rod, 6mm & 5mm aluminium rods, 6mm HSS steel rod and 10 tonne hydraulic crimping tool.
I used my micro lathe (2.5") to make the aluminium parts, they're mostly a copy except that the grip on the Snipersling dart is actually a very loose screw thread - I just put rings spaced along the knob.
I used my big lathe (10") to make the steel tip, setting the compound slide 10 degrees off angle cut the pointed tip and the string notch was cut in with a die grinder.
The flights were 3D printed, having taken measurements from the Snipesling flights.
Assembly was just a case of fitting the parts in the correct order and using the crimping tool to secure the metal parts in place.
The dart is pretty close copy to the Snipersling and shoots just as well.
In total I spent about 4 hours making this one dart, it was my first one so another would be quicker because I've figured everything out already. But I'm not intending to make another at the moment, it was an exercise for me to see if I could do it.
I have to say that at just under £4 each delivered from China, the Snipesling darts really are a bargain and this project has made me appreciate them all the more! I will be ordering more and now I know I can repair and rebuild if necessary.
I've got 20 of the older version with glued on fletchings and 110 of the new version with the moulded flights.
I've repaired one of the older types, a fletching became torn and I was able to remove it and put on a replacement made from a cut-down arrow fletching, it worked out perfectly.
I was thinking about repairing a new type dart, then I started to think maybe I could make one.
I ordered some 3mm carbon fibre rod, 6mm & 5mm aluminium rods, 6mm HSS steel rod and 10 tonne hydraulic crimping tool.
I used my micro lathe (2.5") to make the aluminium parts, they're mostly a copy except that the grip on the Snipersling dart is actually a very loose screw thread - I just put rings spaced along the knob.
I used my big lathe (10") to make the steel tip, setting the compound slide 10 degrees off angle cut the pointed tip and the string notch was cut in with a die grinder.
The flights were 3D printed, having taken measurements from the Snipesling flights.
Assembly was just a case of fitting the parts in the correct order and using the crimping tool to secure the metal parts in place.
The dart is pretty close copy to the Snipersling and shoots just as well.
In total I spent about 4 hours making this one dart, it was my first one so another would be quicker because I've figured everything out already. But I'm not intending to make another at the moment, it was an exercise for me to see if I could do it.
I have to say that at just under £4 each delivered from China, the Snipesling darts really are a bargain and this project has made me appreciate them all the more! I will be ordering more and now I know I can repair and rebuild if necessary.