Hi everyone,<br><br>for the last week or so I've been trying to make a Good Slingshot out of a seasoned maple fork. Every time I think it's finished, I decide that it's not perfect enough, so I change it.<br><br>This is what my first attempt looked like: <img src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag39/Hatchet777/Slingshotjourney001.jpg" border="0" alt=""><br><br>I know the picture's horrible, but hopefully you can make out something. At first I thought it was pretty good for my first ever try, but I soon decided that I could do better. Whenever I tried to shoot it, it would did into the soft part between my finger and thumb. I realised that the problem was that the forks were to tall. I also wanted to re-shape the forks and make them more rounded, put a finish on it a thin the bands down a bit.<br><br>This is what it turned out like: <img src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag39/Hatchet777/Slingshotjourney002.jpg" border="0" alt=""><br><br>I was pretty pleased with it. The oil and wax had made the handle very smooth, so I put on a handgrip of jute twine. However, I was still hitting the forks with the ammo, and when it didn't hit the forks, it would veer off to the sides. I did some research, and found out that the 'around the forks' method of attachment wasn't the best for narrowish forks. However, if I was going to use the 'over the forks' attachment method, I would have to cut of the top of the forks because they had notches cut in them. Also I wanted to shorten the handle a bit, and the pouch was to big, and plus I wanted to re-shape the forks a bit more.<br><br>And this is how it finally turned out: <img src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag39/Hatchet777/Slingshotjourney003.jpg" border="0" alt=""><br><br>I'm really pleased with it. There have been no more fork hits, and I really like the shorter forks. The handle fits my hand better, and the smaller pouch is easier to grip. <br>I did like the jute hand grip, but it kept coming loose, so I decided not to use it.<br><br>I would like to somehow mark it with my name, or initials, but until I find out how, It's finished.<br><br>Thanks for reading this far!<br><br>Hatchet7<br><br><br><br><br><br>
Nice work! If you wanted to mark it with your initials or name you can always use a dremel tool, it will do fine enough work to not ruin your shooter.
Thanks guys for replying!<br><br>Mikehunt: thanks for the suggestion, however, unfortunately I don't own a dremel.<br><br>Toksick: Really? I would have thought that naturals were easier then the board ones. But then, I've never made one with a board.
My mother brought me two forks from morocco, one from a fig tree and the other one from an olive tree. I will try again and i hope it will be ok this time <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" longdesc="15">. I have to leave them drying for a while first.
<table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="center"> <tr><td><span class="genmed"><b>tokSick wrote:</b></span></td></tr> <tr><td class="quote">My mother brought me two forks from morocco, one from a fig tree and the other one from an olive tree. I will try again and i hope it will be ok this time <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" longdesc="15">. I have to leave them drying for a while first.</td></tr> </table> <span class="postbody"><br><br>Dry them after cutting because green wood will be easier to cut</span>
Toksick: You have an olive tree fork!? That's an awsome wood for a slingshot. You probably know this already, but you can microwave it to speed up the drying. <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" longdesc="2">
That was always my problem... the drying process. I tryed 90 sec sessions in the microwave, i got crack. I tryed to leave it dry on the radiator, got cracks. Anyway i will try again and if i got cracks i just gonna fix it one way or another.<br><a href="http://theslingshotforum.forumotion.com/t2103-the-prosthesis" class="postlink">THIS</a> is how i' ve fixed the last one. But i got other ideas if it happen again <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" longdesc="15">.<br>I heard that olive wood is a great wood and everytime i saw a slingshot made out of it, it was a beauty. So i hope i will be able to make something decent.
<div> <table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="center"> <tr><td><span class="genmed"><b>tokSick wrote:</b></span></td></tr> <tr><td class="quote">That was always my problem... the drying process. I tryed 90 sec sessions in the microwave, i got crack. I tryed to leave it dry on the radiator, got cracks. Anyway i will try again and if i got cracks i just gonna fix it one way or another.<br><a href="http://theslingshotforum.forumotion.com/t2103-the-prosthesis" class="postlink">THIS</a> is how i' ve fixed the last one. But i got other ideas if it happen again <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" longdesc="15">.<br>I heard that olive wood is a great wood and everytime i saw a slingshot made out of it, it was a beauty. So i hope i will be able to make something decent.</td></tr> </table> <span class="postbody"><br><br>Are you putting it in a gallon zip bag with a paper towel? I have been dong it that way and zapping it for 45 seconds. After I (carefully) open the bag, I take the fork out and put it in the fridge to cool so that I can zap it again sooner. When the bag stops inflating, you're done.</span> </div><div class="clear"></div><div class="signature_div"> <br>Failed perception is when you have a gun, I have a slingshot and you think you are the only one that is armed. <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" longdesc="7"> </div>
Nice job mate! Your step by step improvements are nice explained. Your research did work for you. <br><br>Yeah, the result looks great!
that is slingshot evolution, i like the end product <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_biggrin.png" alt="Very Happy" longdesc="1">
<table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="center"> <tr><td><span class="genmed"><b>tokSick wrote:</b></span></td></tr> <tr><td class="quote">That was always my problem... the drying process. I tryed 90 sec sessions in the microwave, i got crack. I tryed to leave it dry on the radiator, got cracks. Anyway i will try again and if i got cracks i just gonna fix it one way or another.<br><a href="http://theslingshotforum.forumotion.com/t2103-the-prosthesis" class="postlink">THIS</a> is how i' ve fixed the last one. But i got other ideas if it happen again <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" longdesc="15">.<br>I heard that olive wood is a great wood and everytime i saw a slingshot made out of it, it was a beauty. So i hope i will be able to make something decent.</td></tr> </table> <span class="postbody"><br><br>Dont dry in direct heat like radiator or microwave. just take it slow leave it in the sun for about a wek after cutting then you will not get any cracks</span>
<table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="center"> <tr><td><span class="genmed"><b>tokSick wrote:</b></span></td></tr> <tr><td class="quote">That was always my problem... the drying process. I tryed 90 sec sessions in the microwave, i got crack. I tryed to leave it dry on the radiator, got cracks. Anyway i will try again and if i got cracks i just gonna fix it one way or another.<br><a href="http://theslingshotforum.forumotion.com/t2103-the-prosthesis" class="postlink">THIS</a> is how i' ve fixed the last one. But i got other ideas if it happen again <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" longdesc="15">.<br>I heard that olive wood is a great wood and everytime i saw a slingshot made out of it, it was a beauty. So i hope i will be able to make something decent.</td></tr> </table> <span class="postbody"><br><br>I also read somewhere that after you cut the forks, put some glue or varnish to the ends so that the fork will lose water only through the bark. It will be much slower, but hopefully there will be no cracks. Also it depends very much on what wood you use. E.g. plum mirabelle or plum cracks always and very easily <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_sad.gif" alt="Sad" longdesc="3"></span>
