A slingshot is a small, versatile tool. Slingshots have been used over the years for everything from hunting small animals to practice shooting targets in the yard. Dimensions and mechanics have many variations because they can be made from a variety of materials. However, a good slingshot should have 3 main things: a sturdy 'Y' shaped frame, rubber straps, and small projectiles or bullets that will shoot off after being pulled and released.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making an Outdoor Slingshot
Step 1. Find a strong Y-shaped wood
Do a search on tree branches that can be cut to make a slingshot. Any type of wood can be used as a slingshot, as long as it is strong enough to hold the weight when you pull it. However, the most comfortable and easy-to-use wood is one that is about 15-20 cm long and 3-5 cm thick.
- Look for slingshot material in areas with a lot of vegetation. A place like this gives a lot of options for a slingshot.
- Peel off any loose, wet, or mossy outer bark so you can grip it better.
Step 2. Dry the wood
Hang the slingshot frame over a heat source, such as a stove or campfire, and rotate it periodically. Let the slingshot material dry for a few hours. When heated, the moisture inside the wood will slowly escape. This means, when the slingshot is used later, the wood will not deform.
- Be careful not to expose yourself to fire when drying the slingshot material.
- If you're at home, you can wrap the wet wood in a towel and then heat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds at a time until the moisture is gone.
Step 3. Make notches (indentations) at the ends of the branches
Use a sharp knife or stone to make a shallow indentation around the 'Y'-shaped branch. Make a notch about 2 cm from the end of the branch. This will form a neat little slit through which to attach the rubber cord that will be used to fire the bullet.
If the notch is made too high, the tension from the stretched rubber can cause it to fracture. If placed too low, the ejected bullet could become trapped under the slingshot frame
Step 4. Prepare a rubber rope to be used as a thrower
Any elastic and thick object can be used as an effective thrower. Thick rubber cords, latex sheets, and even medical hoses make for a high-strength slingshot catapult. When the rubber band is ready, make two identical cuts. Each piece of rope must be at least the same length as the slingshot frame.
- The exact length of the catapult will depend on your preference for shooting and the material used. Short ropes provide more force, but are more difficult to pull.
- By making the rope longer, you can adjust the level of slack or start pulling it back from the beginning if something goes wrong.
Step 5. Attach the rubber strap to the slingshot frame
Take one of the strips of rubber and wrap it in one of the notches you made, then tie it tightly. Do the same for the other rubber strap. Cut the ends of the rope that are left after you tie the knot. Now you have your own slingshot.
- In order for the slingshot to shoot the bullet accurately, make sure the rubber straps are the same length. Otherwise, the bullet mount will tilt.
- Test the knot tying the ejection bag to see if it's tight. You can be in pain if one of the knots comes loose when you fire a bullet.
Step 6. Create the ejection pouch
Prepare a strong cloth and cut it 10 cm wide and 5 cm high. Make a hole about 1.5 cm from the edge of the fabric. The hole should be big enough for the rubber band to fit through. The fabric you make will produce a ejection pouch, which will hold the bullet before it is fired.
- The ideal material is a stiff, strong sheet, such as canvas or leather.
- Make holes in the fabric using the tip of a knife or other punching tool. You can also slice it to make holes, but it can tear after several uses.
Step 7. Tie the rubber strap to the ejection bag
Insert the end of one of the rubber straps into the hole in the pocket. Tie the rope tightly. Repeat this step on the other rubber strap. Now the slingshot will be one long object, with ropes on both sides and a pocket in the middle.
- If you want, you can strengthen the tip of the ejection bag by wrapping the rubber band with dental floss and tying it tightly.
- Use this wooden slingshot to blast small stones, marbles or burlap at maximum speed.
- A slingshot is a useful tool, but it can also be dangerous. Never shoot a slingshot at someone, even if it's just for fun.
Method 2 of 2: Making Slingshots from Household Items
Step 1. Cut the cardboard from the toilet paper roll lengthwise
Move the scissors on one side until the roll turns into a sheet. Make sure you only make one cut. The roll should remain intact, not split in half.
- Do not bend or squeeze the cardboard rolls when cutting. The smoother the edges, the easier it is for you to arrange them.
- If you don't have a tissue roll, you can also cut the center of the roll lengthwise to open the roll.
Step 2. Roll up and stick the tape on the tissue roll cardboard
Bring the two ends of the roll together so they stick together, then roll it like a newspaper. When finished, the diameter of the roll will be half the size of the original roll. Wrap tape around the roll to secure it, leaving about 3 cm at one end of the cardboard.
- This piece of cardboard will be used as the slingshot shaft to place the bullets.
- The inside of the toilet paper roll should be tight enough so that it doesn't bend when you fire the bullet. Maybe you should pay attention to the density of the roll before locking it with tape. If the roll is too loose and less dense, roll it back tightly until the result is satisfactory.
Step 3. Make two holes in one end of the cardboard roll
The hole should be big enough for the pencil to go through. The two holes are made at one end of the roll, not at both ends. You may have to look at the roll from top to bottom to make sure the holes are perfectly straight and aligned.
You can use a pliers-shaped hole punch for good results. If you don't have a punch tool, use the tip of a pencil or scissors to make a hole
Step 4. Insert the pencil into the hole in the slingshot shaft
Insert the pencil into one of the holes until it penetrates the other. The pencil will stick in the middle of the roll straight. Keep pushing the pencil until both sides are the same length.
- Ideally you should use a thick, short pencil because it is less likely to break.
- Be careful not to damage the holes when you insert the pencil. The hole should be big enough for the pencil to go through. If any of the holes are torn, flip the paper towels over and make 2 new holes at the other end.
Step 5. Prepare another sheet of cardboard and make a slit at one end
Use a pencil to make 2 long vertical lines about 1 cm apart from the edge of the cardboard. The width of the gap is about one finger. Turn the cardboard sheet and make an exact match on the opposite side of the paper, then carefully cut the line with scissors.
This second cardboard serves as the body of the slingshot, which will be placed in the thinner first roll
Step 6. Wrap the rubber bands on both sides of the cardboard
Attach the rubber band to the gap you made. You will need one rubber band for each side of the cardboard for the slingshot to work.
For best results, use the same two types of rubber straps. If you don't have one, try to use a rubber strap of almost the same size and thickness
Step 7. Attach the cardboard that has been lined to the tissue roll
Tie a rubber cord at both ends of the pencil so that the pencil and string are on opposite sides. Slide it in position until the pencil is firmly attached to the cardboard roll.
Step 8. Pull the rubber string tied to the end of the pencil
Pull the rubber band strap carefully so that the slingshot shaft is not bent. If you have the projectile/bullet in place and then pull the slingshot string with the pencil as a handle, the bullet will fly across the room.
- Remember, don't pull the slingshot too hard because it can break it. This slingshot is only made of cardboard.
- This slingshot can throw marshmallows (a type of chewy candy), foam pompons, or other soft bullets for fun and excitement.
Tips
- A powerful slingshot can be used for hunting, a versatile tool for survival, or simply to practice aiming.
- Wrap the slingshot handle with foam sheet or twine for extra cushioning.
- Experiment with making slingshots of different sizes so you can shoot with different types of bullets.
- Some good types of slingshot materials include guava wood, mulberry, coffee, and mahogany because they are strong and flexible. These woods are flexible enough that they don't break easily, but that doesn't reduce their strength and range of fire.
Warning
- Never aim a slingshot at someone's face. Even a seemingly harmless bullet can cause injury if it hits the wrong target.
- When aiming at the slingshot, do not position it at eye level. It is prone to accidents. With enough practice, you can improve your shooting accuracy even by placing the slingshot in front of your body.
