The Slingshot Channel Thread

[airheadnoob]

cool i like the magnets its just the "screw down to tighten" why don't you make one with a latch you can lock with a thumb.

[grock]

cool, im following too

[mark.f]

I like it!

I've made what are classified as 'inertia knives' in the U.S. by taking cheap folders and loosening their construction slightly. Out and open and locked in about the same time as a gravity knife with only a slightly different wrist motion.

But again, I like this design. How good does the screw lock down the blade, though? I know you said it was 'solid', but can you stab any dense materials without the blade recessing into the knife?

Also, could be a bit sharper. Not that it's 'dull', but lately I've become obsessive over the edge I have on my knives, and I see loose fibers on those cuts.

[john bunsenburner]

Maybe a construction that is rock soild when you press on it with your thumb but loosens when you don't would be better over a screw, easy to make but works well.

[psycix]

Never bring a knife to a gun fight.

Well if you were in a gun fight, an auto-locking blade wouldn't do you much good, would it?

At least it is somewhat more throwable.

[moonmaster]

Never bring A knife to a gunfight.
[youtube][/youtube]
However, bringing several knives is perfectly fine.

Video embedded by jrrdw.

[JoergS]

But again, I like this design. How good does the screw lock down the blade, though? I know you said it was 'solid', but can you stab any dense materials without the blade recessing into the knife?

Also, could be a bit sharper. Not that it's 'dull', but lately I've become obsessive over the edge I have on my knives, and I see loose fibers on those cuts.

I have replaced the locking screw with a knurled head type (is that the correct term?), easier to turn. There is a groove in the grip so it locks the blade perfectly well, I can ram the thing into a piece of wood with all my (considerable) strength.

The knife is really sharp, but remember it is a bayonet blade. Those are thick, and the steel is made to be tough, not very sharp. I guess there is no way to make it any sharper, at least if the edge needs to survive serious work.

Jörg

[D_Hall]

Never bring a knife to a gun fight.

Well if you were in a gun fight, an auto-locking blade wouldn't do you much good, would it?

I guess we have different perspectives. I see quick-opening knives as useful tools in every day life (I have a spring-assisted opening knife in my hip pocket probably 90% of the time.). I don't consider them particularly useful for self defense. Better than a fist, of course, but still... If I expect to need a knife in that role I'm either (a) staying home, or (b) bringing a gun (actually, more than one gun!).

[JoergS]

The "V" with its pulley based self centering system is still one of my most popular designs. But it has two drawbacks:

- The grip is edgy and not very ergo-like
- The fork is narrow, if you don't watch your angles you can hit a fork arm

So I have modified it!

Here:

[youtube][/youtube]

[spudtyrrant]

very nice work!
you truly make some quality slingshots.

I also had a question for you, I recently got about 30 sheets of theraband green but they come very wide(about 20cm).
So my question is how do you recommend cutting them, and how wide do you recommend cutting them?
TY in advance

[JoergS]

Spudtyrant, the width of the Theraband should be more like 14 cm.

I recommend cutting it 14cm (fork end) x 9 cm (pouch end), make it approx. 24 cm log so you have enough room for the attachment (the final band should be 20 cm long from pouch to fork).

You may want to use two layers, as green is fairly thin.

The band has to be folded lengthwise in order to fit, which you can also solve by cutting several thinner slices from the 14x9 cm material.

Make sure to sue a roll cutter, or else a dramatically sharp knife. The smallest nick leads to a tear in the band.

Jörg

[JoergS]

Hello,

as an active member of several "survivalists" forums, I am constantly asked for advice about how to make a slingshot with standard supplies. So no fancy Thera Band or Linatex. No power tools. Maybe not even a nice natural fork.

I spent some time thinking about it. The most obvious question is where to find good rubber. Inner tubes and so on are, as we all know, usually not appropriate, and the few types that work are hard to find. Then I found the solution: Condoms. Those are made from natural latex and are of pretty good quality. Of course you need a bunch of them for a good slingshot.

Next, how to make a fork when you have nothing that looks like a fork? Mels page had the answer, the "African" way. Simply cut two 20 cm pieces from a broomstick, carve a wedge from the same wood and fix everything in place with duct tape. It works, and it is very solid and surprisingly comfortable to hold.

The result is a truly ugly, even disgusting slingshot - but one that works really well.

I made a video about it, here!

[youtube][/youtube]

Greetings


Jörg

[psycix]

Haha, well done.

So "ghetto slingshots" exist!
You should enter it into the ghetto competition as you have succeeded to build a "launcher" from everyday materials plus duct-tape.

[spudtyrrant]

I guess you could classify this as a "protection" slingshot also , very nice
I'm going to have to make myself one

[JoergS]

Thanx for the tip, I have tried my luck and entered this monstrosity into the ghetto contest! Seems like I am the first contestant.