Quote:

Make a Sling from “scratch” using only “natural”, un-prepared materials

can this be cord and leather pouch sling or does it just refer to a braided sling ?

ie: I have braided a three ply jute cord and attached to leather pouch I made.
so produced a sling from all natural materials. (okay I didn't raise, slaughter, skin and cure the cow hide - but then I didn't grow the jute either)

Would that count ?
If so I'm  a level 4 - if you're just after braided slings - then I'm only ever going to be level 3 :-)  
I just don't like using braided slings enough to ever bother making one.

I think he means down right raw material slings. Straight from the cow or the woods.  :)

I've got one entirely made from raw agave and I think tinmann has some from grass. I think it'd be something along those lines.

Because dang near every slinger has a sling that is made from jute and leather so that'd be like participation award.   :)

Quote:

Craft Five different types of slings / Use all of them / Post Pics / teach someone to make a sling or post a tutorial on how to make one.

Does translating a knitting pattern count as making a tutorial ?

Dan wrote on Jan 17^th, 2013 at 3:04pm:

I think he means down right raw material slings. Straight from the cow or the woods.  :) I've got one entirely made from raw agave and I think tinmann has some from grass. I think it'd be something along those lines. Because dang near every slinger has a sling that is made from jute and leather so that'd be like participation award.   :)

Exactly Dan!  Can you, wearing nothing but your undies, go off into the wild and craft up a sling?  You want to butcher a cow for the leather?  Okie dokie, but you can't buy it from somewhere!  Maybe I should call it a "survival sling" instead of saying "all natural materials".

And as far as never progressing past a certain level, I'm afraid that's going to be most of us at some point.  I'll probably never get around to writing a thesis or published article either, so I probably won't get much past level 2-3 historian..  If I'm not willing to do it, how can I do it?  :)

Perhaps. To be fair geographically, survival slings would be the preferred term over something like natural. Made from found materials "harvested or salvaged". Nothing may be purchased and a very minimal amount of tools used.

Some of us live in urban and suburban environments in a whole spectrum of climates. Suitable cordage bearing Flora may not be available and using animal parts could be out for various reasons.

If an urban dweller makes a usable sling out of shopping bags or electrical wire stripped out of a junk appliance. Heck I think an Aussie seatbelt sling is fair if everything is pure salvage.  The honor system would be pretty important here.

The honor system is just about the only way.  After all, the only person you are cheating is yourself.  

LightSlinger wrote on Jan 17^th, 2013 at 5:08pm:

Exactly Dan!  Can you, wearing nothing but your undies, go off into the wild and craft up a sling?  You want to butcher a cow for the leather?  Okie dokie, but you can't buy it from somewhere!  Maybe I should call it a "survival sling" instead of saying "all natural materials". And as far as never progressing past a certain level, I'm afraid that's going to be most of us at some point.  I'll probably never get around to writing a thesis or published article either, so I probably won't get much past level 2-3 historian..  If I'm not willing to do it, how can I do it?  :)

I think it might be a good idea to clarify what is actually required for Sling Crafter level 4, because, in certain environments, it is very simple to make a "Survival sling" from raw materials. For example, I was once at a campground by a large pond, and I made a quick sling by taking stalks from some of the local cattails or bulrushes and tied them together into a simple split pouch sling. It worked fine for launching stuff into the pond, and I suppose would technically fit the level 4 requirements, but it was hardly a masterpiece, and most beginners' first slings are of significantly better quality. Perhaps the requirements could be more along the lines of last part of the level 4 Ammo Crafter, something to the effect of:

Must construct a sling using advanced techniques (e.g. raw materials processing, complex design/function, detailed construction methods, etc. - Moderator discretion)

Just an idea.

-Timothy Potter

so..... If i made those Yucca leaves i picked from a plant I grew from seeds a neighbor gave me into cordage, and then amde a sling from it, I could call it natural materials?

In my book, absolutely.  Now, the question is whether my book is worth a tinker's dam.

Quote:

In my book, absolutely.  Now, the question is whether my book is worth a tinker's dam.

haha...
Well, Lightslinger, Would a Tut or woven pouch >8 strands count as complex?
Also, would a ground biconical stone work for the ammo requirement?
Thanks,
Squirrelslinger

Timothy Potter wrote on Jan 19^th, 2013 at 3:16pm:

I think it might be a good idea to clarify what is actually required for Sling Crafter level 4, because, in certain environments, it is very simple to make a "Survival sling" from raw materials. For example, I was once at a campground by a large pond, and I made a quick sling by taking stalks from some of the local cattails or bulrushes and tied them together into a simple split pouch sling. It worked fine for launching stuff into the pond, and I suppose would technically fit the level 4 requirements, but it was hardly a masterpiece, and most beginners' first slings are of significantly better quality. Perhaps the requirements could be more along the lines of last part of the level 4 Ammo Crafter, something to the effect of: Must construct a sling using advanced techniques (e.g. raw materials processing, complex design/function, detailed construction methods, etc. - Moderator discretion) Just an idea. -Timothy Potter

   I like your idea actually...  

   Originally, this was the concept that I was going to put forth, but during the time when we were discussing this System, it seemed that the status quo was indicating that the subjectivity required for this method would not be well received.  However, since this system was written for all and not just for me (or even a few), I am more than willing to take a vote on this one...  

I think the criteria should be that you harvested your materials, processed them then made a working sling. I know that not everyone is going to have access to or the ideal place to gather something like yucca for example but nearly anyone can process grass fiber to make a sling or to use fiber from a basket or even animal/human hair to make a sling. I don't remember who exactly got sinew from a butcher to make slings but even that requires gathering and processing natural fibers even though they did not slaughter the animal to harvest the muscle casing. It just means that someone has to be creative on getting the materials to begin with.

For those who honestly don't have any raw natural materials, there are enough of us on the forum who can help them out. It would be another way of mentoring the craft which should be a criteria of experienced or 'master' crafters.

I might even agree that anyone who takes a short piece of large diameter fiber rope, tears it down and retwists the strands into long cord for braiding would qualify. I've often thought of making cord from the hair left over after brushing the cat. I've twisted foot long strands like you would wool. Over time I know I could have enough cordage to make a sling.

Ha ha ha!  That Would be awesome!  You might be the only slinger in the world with a Cat-Hair Sling!  You made my day with that Pikaru!

Someone made a sling from twisted and braided grocery bags, I think someone did one out of paper too. The plastic is not a natural fiber per se but the vision to take a simple and everyday item like plastic bags was awesome and is still an idea I carry in the back of my mind as a way to make strong cordage for a sling or anything else. Anyone remember the movie 'Castaway' where the actor Tom Hanks used video tape to lash his escape boat together? Probably not a crafter criteria but inovative nonetheless.

Pikåru wrote on Jan 24^th, 2013 at 1:11am:

Someone made a sling from twisted and braided grocery bags, I think someone did one out of paper too. The plastic is not a natural fiber per se but the vision to take a simple and everyday item like plastic bags was awesome and is still an idea I carry in the back of my mind as a way to make strong cordage for a sling or anything else. Anyone remember the movie 'Castaway' where the actor Tom Hanks used video tape to lash his escape boat together? Probably not a crafter criteria but inovative nonetheless.

Well, now that Sling Crafter 4 is a Peer Based Review, these types of things can be taken into consideration by the Crafter's Fellow Artists!  

Peer board can be subjective. Make the rules and stick to them. If they need to be amened, then make amendments to the rule.

Pikåru wrote on Jan 25^th, 2013 at 1:36pm:

Peer board can be subjective. Make the rules and stick to them. If they need to be amened, then make amendments to the rule.

  True.  That is originally why I did not write the requirements to allow for a peer based review.  However upon further consideration I realized that to be considered a Master is not always the determination of one, but of many.  It was the intent of the ranking system to be a way to recognize each others overall contributions, work, skill and dedication to the Art.  And I think that everyone will be fair for the most part.  
  Rest Assured that I will be certain to remind everyone before voting of what they should consider when reviewing the submission.  Additionally, when other experience crafters post their reasoning for the vote they gave (should they choose to do so) I'm certain that newer, less experienced voters will take note.
This way, the experienced and most skilled crafters, while they have only one vote, will still be able to add some weight to the proceedings..
   If it seems that the judging does not work well, we can always change it!

Maybe a comittee should be used for disputes and interpretation after clear critera has been set. Try and remove bias out of the system.

Quote:

All level three requirements / Make a Sling with a high complexity level, Difficulty, or with a unique Material(s) or all three...  The Master Level Review will be posted on the board as a poll lasting for three days.  During this time, all members of the Organization may vote on whether or not the sling qualifies.)

Judging from this, I'd say I'm a 4. (Although that depends on how biased my personal judgement is on the Lvl. 4 criteria. I also have to post a Master level review before I'm considered.)

Craft Five different types of slings / Use all of them / Post Pics / teach someone to make a sling? Check, check, check, and check. (Barely made it on that last one though.)

Make a Sling with a high complexity level, Difficulty, or with a unique Material(s) or all three?
Well, that depends: the most difficult slings I've made would be a Tut sling out of jute, a decently-detailed Andean sling out of acrylic yarn, and two Balearic slings out of raw sisal, and am currently working on a third Balearic sling. (Made of sisal twine that has been soaked, untwisted, separated, and combed; the experience almost identical to spinning and braiding loose fibres)




(Now all I have to do is contribute some sort of research to the community, and I'll go from "Tiro" to qualifying for "Artifex"/"Funda Technicus"  :) )

Donnerschlag wrote on Jan 31^st, 2013 at 5:51pm:

Quote: All level three requirements / Make a Sling with a high complexity level, Difficulty, or with a unique Material(s) or all three...  The Master Level Review will be posted on the board as a poll lasting for three days.  During this time, all members of the Organization may vote on whether or not the sling qualifies.)   Judging from this, I'd say I'm a 4. (Although that depends on how biased my personal judgement is on the Lvl. 4 criteria. I also have to post a Master level review before I'm considered.) Craft Five different types of slings / Use all of them / Post Pics / teach someone to make a sling? Check, check, check, and check. (Barely made it on that last one though.) Make a Sling with a high complexity level, Difficulty, or with a unique Material(s) or all three? Well, that depends: the most difficult slings I've made would be a Tut sling out of jute, a decently-detailed Andean sling out of acrylic yarn, and two Balearic slings out of raw sisal, and am currently working on a third Balearic sling. (Made of sisal twine that has been soaked, untwisted, separated, and combed; the experience almost identical to spinning and braiding loose fibres) (Now all I have to do is contribute some sort of research to the community, and I'll go from "Tiro" to qualifying for "Artifex"/"Funda Technicus"  :) )

  No doubt you'd be in the running.  I dunno if you've recently read through the requirements for rank advancement lately but I made a couple of changes that may make it a bit more challenging to achieve Artifex and certainly Funda Technicus...  Under the old requirements, even [b]I[\b] darn near qualified for Artifex.  But no longer, LOL.  I am only a lowly Tiro!  I'm gonna have to put out a bit more effort just to get to Funditor!  
  I'm actually glad you mentioned this cause I think that while I may have mentioned these changes in passing in other threads, I've never really announced it..  Thanks Donnerschlag!

[edit]whoops, as I was..  I see that you have read it recently!  And again, thanks for the heads up![/edit]