Hello all,

Since I will go to a celtic reenactment meeting next weekend, and as I have forgotten my period "leather and flax" sling, I started to make another.

The cords are 5 strands braids and the pouch is 9 strands woven with flax.

My problem is that the hemp I use for the 5 strands braids is really really hairy. Try to picture the hairiest sisal you've ever had. This sisal looks bald compared to what I'm working with.

Since it's the first time I'm working with such a crude material, I wonder if I can treat it by fire like some do for sisal ?

Plus, I plan to soak it in olive oil, to protect it for weather abuse, does anyone see it as a bad idea ?


This afternoon, I went to the forest to dig up some clay... Do you think it would be possible to have nice clay ammo before friday, knowing that I have... almost nothing here

Absolutely use the flame treatment. I've used bad sisal and after a run over the propane grill it looked pretty normal. If you want to make it look a little more primitive, mix some fine mud in with the olive oil to make a very fine paste, and then rub it in. Then use quick rub down with regular olive oil.

I've made 40 clay glands in a few hours (Includes diggin, mixing with water and a little sand, adding more dirt becuase I added to much water, making a long clay line about 1 1/2in wide and tall, cutting into equal sections, rolling by hand, keeping outside for initial drying, and then cooking at 350f degrees in the oven for a few hours) so I'm sure you could make enough in the allotted time.

I haven't waxed hemp but I've heard good things about it, and that it looks and works quite well.

Mauro : because I don't have any wax

Dan : the Celts are the ones who invented chainmail, so I don't need to go so primitive In fact, I could even go almost this far (using natural fibers rather than plastic ones)

Kid : It is what people where I am now used not so long ago to to tie off hay balls, and it is only very hairy, not irregular. It's just unrefined because they didn't took the time to spun it nice, only functional. So there is no glue in it, explaining the hair


Thank you
I will burn it, soak it and trying to make my clay ammo. But I'm not sure to share pictures... since I don't have my camera with me

If a sling is hairy I simply label it Rustic

A friend sent me a large roll of fiber cord. He said it was jute and it is rough. I dont' have any before pictures. It's furry but under the fuzz fairly consistent in diameter. I didn't do anything to it,  no wax or oil. I braided it first while it was damp so it was easier to work with then when the braids were finished I rubbed it firmly with cloth to bring up more fuzz before burning it all off. Then I rubbed it down with cloth to remove the ashes then I waxed the sling, buffed it with cloth then burned it again, then waxed and burnished with cloth again.
This process has been turning out good looking rustic slings that are polished without being too fuzzy. I've included a close up of a finished braid. You can see it's shiny and not furry.
Any wax will basically work, even old candle wax. YES, Other waxes are superior. I don't want to set off a wax debate but in a pinch I've used ordinary wax from canning and candles for numerous projects over the years.
If you melt up a couple chunks of wax and stir in a little mineral oil which is available at most drug stores (it's a laxitive) you can make a softer wax substance that melts easily into the fibers with a flame, a dryer or as you buff and burnish with a cloth. The oil seems to absorb into the fibers and the wax seals it all up. The finished product is not stiff, but very smooth.
I have a few yards of coconut fiber that is super, super rough and I have not been able to use for slings very well  because it is so inconsistant in diameter going from 3/16" to nearly 1/2" in diameter in just a couple feet. It's been pretty useless for sling making material so far but chunks of it thrown into the BBQ grill produces a mild smoke that adds great flavor to just about anything I've thrown on the grill.

Okay, so...

I made one clay ball yesterday evening... and since it was still in one part when I came back home, I made others, curently drying over the wood stove. Since the clay I dug up is not so pure, those will not be the best ammo ever, but they will still be good enough to be slung.

I still have a question about my sling ^^
Since no one told me "Don't ever try this, it's utterly stupid"... I listen to the sweet little voice of Laziness : I let my sling soak in a good mesure of olive oil for one night and half a day after some burning...
So, now it's quite nice but I can't take the excess of oil off.

Anybody with a nice idea to save my clothes ? This sling is a greater danger for them than frying donuts...

Pack it in saw dust and let it set. It may take a couple days or more. There is no reason to soak sling for that long. There are materials, some leathers (which is really a dense fiber material) and cordage that will actually weaken if oiled too much or soaked as you did. It is usually best to begin conservatively.

I just got a visual of you CA, happily shearing your slings with an electric shaver, meats slowly smoking in the background. Thanks for the chuckle and for the tip. I think I'm going to try it here soon. I have a hemp sling I got from timann and it's getting fuzzy from use. I'd like to dress it up a bit before putting into my collection.