DIY Big Shot

[svenx]

Inspired by Jake Varah's slingshot, I wanted to try my hand at making something similar myself.

 

In the end, it turns out to be quite capable. It easily throws my quite heavy 350g/12.3oz bag up near the top of tall pines without problems.

 

* 2.1 meters of steel tubing, painted.

* M10 threaded rod to hold the rubber bands. Heat-shrink tubing around the rod to protect the rubber bands.

* Cheap exercise bands, rated "heavy". Wrapped in loops for twice the strength. 4-strand paracord constrictor knots to keep them together.

* Home-made pouch of cow's leather, glued and stitched together with 4-strand paracord. Dyed black. Ended up looking more like a BDSM accessory than anything else...

* AliExpress trigger for bows, gripping a 550 paracord loop. The trigger is surprisingly capable and doesn't let go even at significant tension.

* Cheap single block for sail rigging, attached to the trigger with stainless steel wire.

* Cheap rope cleat to hold tension, with some eye bolts to guide the rope.

* Cheap pulley at the end, so I can pull tension upwards or sideways.

 

We'll have to see how it fares over time, but so far it's been working well.

[kram]

Interesting, something I have thought about doing and I bought a set of excersize bands for it last year - I remember the thick one is something like 60 or 80kg pull strength and would likely launch a throw bag to the moon!

I dont know if I'd care for the trigger but its a neat solution. I'll watch the video later.

 

I wouldnt really want to carry an extra steel pole. I wonder if a launcher head could be affixed to my Magnusson pruner pole or to my ladders.