Ok, so I am going to make a sling for a archaeology project and I was wondering if you all had any tips as to the kind of sling I should make.  My goal is to make one that I could potentially learn how to use.  I would rather not make a really simple one with cord attached to some material.  I need to do something that I can put some effort into.  I like a bit of a challenge!
Anyways...I was looking through this site and I liked the braided ones, and there was one that was braided into a leather pouch that I liked as well.  But just because I like the way it looks doesn't mean it will work I guess.
Do you have any suggestions as what has worked for you?
Fully braided versus braided and a leather pouch??

My other option is to make a sling that is more authentic/old looking.  Like a design/pattern that was used a long time ago.  

Unfortunately I am a college student and I don't have access to a ton of different materials.

Thanks for any advice.

Quote:

Unfortunately I am a college student and I don't have access to a ton of different materials.

Greetings General guest to the forum. What's your Major or favorite area of study?


TS

here is a pretty authentic looking and working sling that you can make for maybe $5 or less.

how:
go to the hardware store, walmart, or garden store and buy a roll of 1 mm jute or sisal or hemp twine.

take this, and braid it into the sling seen here:
http://slinging.org/20.html

to this, you can add a pouch cut out of a leather chammy (also from walmart) used to polish cars and stitch it on the sling in this fashion:
http://slinging.org/articleimages/22/apacheSlings.jpg

though only using the braided part workes fine, even great.  that is the sling that i used for a long time, and it works well.  when you add the leather pouch it is called an apache style sling.  the only difference between the two slings is the pouch sewn on to the braid.

looking at alot of different "artist's renderings" and classical referances, just a split pouch seems prevelent, though it is often depicted as having leather sewn over the braid to protect the cordage material, as seen here:
http://slinging.org/galleryimages/022_19ass.jpg

and here:
http://slinging.org/galleryimages/BalearSlingContest/detalle.jpg

it is a little hard to see, but they are pretty good examples.

siguy - just double checking....when you say stitch the leather onto the braided pocket, do you mean with just a needle and thread?

Thanks for the help!

TechStuf - we shall see, but I am leaning towards Anthropology.

i personally use upholstery thread with a normal needle, for durability.

you can use normal thread as well though, and it will last just as long.

welcome guest... this is just one Idea for a sewn leather pouch from http://www.slinging.org/membergallery2.html

http://www.slinging.org/galleryimages/4slings05.jpg

Just glance around through that gallery, there are several pages of slings and to my knowledge all of them are fully functional. You'll get a lot of specific answers if you find one of those that you like and just ask about it.

Good luck!

wrote on Apr 27^th, 2006 at 6:52pm:

Fully braided versus braided and a leather pouch??

I would suggest making a fully braided one, then adding a pouch if you find that your ammo is slipping out or your ammo is damaging your braid.

Welcome Guest!

I'd start with siguy's advice and go from there.  Be careful, slinging can be very addictive!

Good luck,

Tint

Good site for balearic style braided

http://www.mallorcaweb.net/foners/inici/A_index.htm

intresting site :o espesially those rules on the sporting events themselves i just found out that i would be a contender in the first 2 to 3 ranges :o

wrote on Apr 28^th, 2006 at 10:39am:

Good site for balearic style braided http://www.mallorcaweb.net/foners/inici/A_index.htm

 Slingers!                                                                                    
    I just had a look at this site and it is quite interesting. Hot damn,
that is a nice looking sling! Steven, kudos to you for bringing this site  
to our attention. Thanks, Steven!!                              .......Dan    

 Greetings, Guest,                                                                      
      I think you may find that long after your project is finished, your sling will still be with you! Since you are interested in archaeology, have you seen the artifacts from the excavation of the ancient city of HAMOUKAR, in what is now Syria? The pictures of the clay sling bullets are particularly interesting. I am tempted to try making some.  
     Try googling Hamoukar and University of Chicago ( this excavation was apparently a joint project between Syrian archaeologists and the U of Chicago. )                                                                            
     Best of luck with your project!                        .......Dan          

Yeah!  Thanks Steven