How many people here prefer braided over leather? Vise Versa
I was wondering which would be a better for a beginner. I've discovered that:

-braided works well with golfballs but not with common found rocks

If anyone has any ideas or anything interesting post it!  ;D

Are you speaking about the pouch when you say braided or leather? Do you mean a pouch that has the pouch braided into the sling as apposed to a solid leather pouch that is attached to the cords?

I like the braided cords stitched through the one piece leather pouch. It holds the tennis balls or stone securely and I have only had a stone slip out when I was trying to sling one that was bigger than tha pouch.

I would say for beginners, the sling I described above (Jeff's 20 Steps type sling) would be the safest to use.

As an animal sympathetic vegetarian, I'm not too into leather.  What I use instead is ducktape.  Cheap, kinda tacky, but works great.  My pouch is pretty different from both leather and braided.  The problem I have with the leather is that when tention is put on it, it just folds in half, and doesn't give a nice cup for holding the ammo in.  With a cupped pouch however, it doesn't always release nicely because the ammo can't come out streight.
My pouch has two strings that come in on each side. the duck tape is wrapped around them with a space of about two inches from each string.  (The strings are parrallel with the rest of the string going up to the fingure loop)
I like this pouch because when presured, it creates a nice pocket, but when released, it looses that shape.

I'll try and get a photo up soon, but I don't have immediate access to a digital camera.

I started out with leather.  I wore a couple of those out over a couple years.  After reading articles written by James Burdine I began making braided fiber (nylon).  I don't think I'll ever go back to leather.

At various times I have made satisfactory slings out of Parachute chord with leather pouches (my hiking kit contains both).  Last year I experimented with Yucca fiber.  I found it stiff and really didn't have the patience to properly process it.

It is very nice to know that slings can be made out of many materials including duct tape (how about some detailed description/pictures).

All in all I've never found anything that I like as well as braided nylon.

Doesn't the duck tape tear quicker than leather or a braided sling? If it does why use it.

Ok completely new to this so please be patient but in the articles section there are instruction on how to make a braided sling that shows no pouch what so ever. How is the ammo held in this? Am I simply reading the directions wrong? It would seem to me that the ammo would simply fall through the opening.

Welcome S_Allen!

I believe you are talking about what is termed a "Split Pouch" The projectile must be large enough or laid cross ways in the pouch or it will slip through the split as you said. Many of us ordered a Peruvian, hand braided split pouch sling and you can view them in our Gallery. Though they have a split pouch, you will see that they could be used to sling stones since the woven pouch,though split, is more substantial than the braided one you are probably referring to.

I made one from the instuctions you read and only use it now and then for slinging tennis balls. Even tennis balls have to be carefully placed in it or they will slip out before the desired time.

First of all, I have never had the duck tape tear.  Second of all, the beuty of ducktape: if it tears, who cares! (hey, that rymes!).  If the duck tape begins to wear thin, just add another layer.  or you cant cut out the old pouch, and add a new one in a matter of minutes. Also makes for a very adjustible sling.

Duct tape is great!

I use it on the release cord where it connects to the pouch to keep the concrete from cutting through the cord over time. Just replace it every now and then.

I also us it around my finger where the finger loop causes blisters. I also put some on my index finger where the release knode blisters my finger. Even though I am a trim carpenter and my hands are fairly tough, when you sling 100 plus chunks of concrete in 30-40 minutes it can do some damage--especially in cold weather. It  c r a c k s  the skin.

Yep, love that duct tape. I have said many times that I was going to write a book called: The Many Uses of Duct Tape

wrote on Jun 13^th, 2004 at 11:40pm:

Welcome S_Allen! I believe you are talking about what is termed a "Split Pouch" The projectile must be large enough or laid cross ways in the pouch or it will slip through the split as you said. Many of us ordered a Peruvian, hand braided split pouch sling and you can view them in our Gallery. Though they have a split pouch, you will see that they could be used to sling stones since the woven pouch,though split, is more substantial than the braided one you are probably referring to. I made one from the instuctions you read and only use it now and then for slinging tennis balls. Even tennis balls have to be carefully placed in it or they will slip out before the desired time.

Thanks for the info, could you be so kind as to tell me where to get a peruvian sling?

S_Allen, there is a person that ordered some braided slings from peru not to long ago (sorry I don't remember who). I was wondering if that person was ever going to import some more for some other people who didn't get one or who wants another. You could put me do for two right now. S_Allen the price is very cheap for these slings also.

Quote:

S_Allen, there is a person that ordered some braided slings from peru not to long ago (sorry I don't remember who).

His nick is Whipartist, he is one of the moderators here.

Whipartist is there going to be any future orders from Peru?

I would be interested too.

I'm also intrested, assuming that the slings were better than average self made slings.
With one sling I would learn to make more of the same kind. With two slings I would dare to use the other one.

By the way, what kind of a sling will I get if I contribute the $7 to slinging.org ? :D

braided are strong, easy and quick building  and looks more traditional, but a bit more tricky to load stones and slinging cause of the splitted pouch,  anyway if material braided is not too stiff its easier to load.
Smooth design, no knots around the pouch so it don't  (or seldom) entangles when launching.
If cordage is nylon or polipropilene is a lot wear resistant.

Whipartist is not so active on the site because of a recent surge in his work load.  I don't know if he'd have much time to import additional slings, but people who are interested can email me, and I'll gauge the demand.  info@slinging.org  It's quite an involved process importing them from Peru and then sending them out to people.

Chris

I'm interested! How much are they? Wrist or finger loop?

The ones from Peru were less than $10 US currency including shipping. That was about 6 months ago.

They had a finger loop. They were made with Alpaca wool and are in the Gallery---tan and brown with a split pouch.