I seriously don’t understand. I can understand taking three hours max for an awfully intricate sling but 15? 30! How? What do you spend all of that time doing? Are my braids just too simple? Am I doing something wrong?

Making Balearic slings can take a long time, as they can be 5 or 7 strand, and when you braid with loose fibre you have to splice fibre in regularly. Processing the fibre also soaks up time, as well as sewing leather onto the sling afterwards. I heard an expert sling maker say that it takes him 10 hours from the raw materials to completion (for a good one).
It's easy to spend a lot of time making something if you thing the end result is worth it.

Archaic Arms wrote on May 24^th, 2020 at 8:16pm:

Making Balearic slings can take a long time, as they can be 5 or 7 strand, and when you braid with loose fibre you have to splice fibre in regularly. Processing the fibre also soaks up time, as well as sewing leather onto the sling afterwards. I heard an expert sling maker say that it takes him 10 hours from the raw materials to completion (for a good one). It's easy to spend a lot of time making something if you thing the end result is worth it.

I just can’t fathom a braid being so time-consuming. What kind of braids require that much time? How do I learn them?

There are lots of intricate braids , some of the sling makers are pure artists

Mersa wrote on May 24^th, 2020 at 8:30pm:

There are lots of intricate braids , some of the sling makers are pure artists

So you’re saying that these slings take so long to braid because they’re purely artistic? After searching up Andean slings, I can definitely see a sling taking hours and hours to braid. But for practicality, is anything more than an hour really necessary?

For practicality, one can make a sling in 5 minutes. But usually they don't perform as nicely as a nicely braided/woven sling. I have quite a few that I made quickly and they just don't function as well as my braided/woven slings.

I was in Maui and didn't have a sling with me, but after a trip to the local grocery store and about 30 minutes, I was lobbing egg sized stones into the ocean. I still have that sling at home, but I don't use it, because I'm just not as consistent with it as my other slings.

That is my practical opinion.

Aesthetically, a pretty sling is just great to look at. Making a sling that is as pretty as some of the ones you see on the "Pictures of slings" thread is just very satisfying. But I doubt that the makers of those slings use them for everyday slinging because slings do wear. One typically has a workhorse sling or two that take a beating, and some nice slings that are just an accomplishment in and of themselves to have finished making.

My personal design the “Mersa” sling takes less than a hour and is about the most functional sling in my collection. But I also have some pretty ones that other forum members put hours into.

There is no perfect sling there will always be trade offs

Some of the braids are quite intricate as was mentioned. A 4 strand braid sling vs a 32 strand with lots of core changes and weaving are two entirely different beasts. For me the longest or at least the most tedious process is setting up all the strands.

lets don't forget splicing, dropping and tapering

The "making" is where a large part of the enjoyment comes from.  Like any other craft, if someone doesn't like braiding (or whatever technique is being used), they're not going to do it.  And that's completely fine.  I have multiple 20-minute leather pouch and paracord slings (and love them).  But I also enjoy braiding.

The braid I regularly use is an 8-strand herringbone.  I like it because it's pretty simple, yet versatile.  I generally don't rush braided slings because I like the process.  I'll spend a little time here and there, and stretch the process out over weeks.  Sometimes I feel as though I don't want to get to the end.  There have also been multiple times that I completed a sling, and immediately started measuring out cordage for the next one, so it would be ready at any moment if I felt like braiding.

How do people spend hours making a sling?  The same way people spend hours on any hobby.

Ich mag Balearic slings. Meine sehen aus wie eine Balearic sling, ist aber verschieden im Aufbau. Ich arbeite mit zwölf Strängen. Man braucht sehr viel Kraft für die Herstellung. Aber es lohnt. Ich schieße sie viele Jahre. Eine grobe Schätzung ergab mehr als 300000  Schuß. Ich habe vier große Siege damit errungen. 😁. Vierzehn Stunden ist also nicht zu viel.
Dann mag ich die Ästhetik und das Handwerk.
Ich untersuchte eine sehr alte sling in der Schweiz. Ich bin immer noch fasziniert wieviel Wissen und können verwendet wurde. Sie selbst zu fertigen, lässt mich an Gedanken älter Meister teilhaben.
Nehmen Sie sich Zeit. Es wird sie verändern. 😁

Assuming you are making braided there are several points:

It depends a lot on the thickness of the cord you use and the type of braid. Doing a 3-strand with fairly thick cords and no tapering or splicing is very fast. A fine braid might have 10x as much actual braids per a given length of sling and so take 10x as long to braid. Working with fibre adds a lot of time too. It requires a lot more care and nearly constant splicing of material into the braid (and cleaning/cutting loose strands off)- Not to mention you have to usually deconstruct and soak/dry rope or twine to make the fibre which in itself can take a lot of time. Even if you are using twine but untwisting/twisting together as you go it can add a lot of time. In fact splicing and tapering braided cord in general is IMO essential to a nice braided sling (unless it's fairly thin) and adds time and difficulty.

Add onto that the little odds and ends that make a nice sling really nice, synthetic material spliced into the end of the sling for durability, a woven pouch, or one with leather sewed on perhaps, a woven or leather lined fingerloop, a woven tab, a 'knee' transition to split, whipping around weakpoints perhaps...

Basically braiding can be simple and fast but to make the nicest and best performing slings it requires much more finesse and time.

Basically, that's how you built magical items: you put all your love and craft in it.

All bow before the sacred sling of unlimited fun!

my twisted cord-woven pouch jute slings took about 3-4 hours to complete, but that's working in front of the telly.

The thing that takes most time is weaving the pouch as tight as possible.

I have made braided slings in the past they are pretty subpar in comparison to properly braided ones.
At 3 hours is right about where my patience ends.
Twisting the strands is more amateur friendly and you still get a nice traditional sling.

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The sling my daughter made following some tutorial was a lot of work, 24 strands of wool or something like that. I don't have a picture of the whole thing, but it's pretty cool for a 13yr olds first attempt, the braid comes out very tight and square, not round.

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Jaegoors balearic sling.  You start with the eye.  12 strands.  If you put it together there are already 24 strands.  The letter is part of a network.  12 strands to the left, 12 strands to the right.  You add another 12 strands on each side.  That adds up to 48 strands.  These are tapered until 4 strands remain.  Have lots of fun with it.  😁

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All honor to the sling-artists!!!!


But, I just want to slinging. So I make them in 15 minutes.

Jaegoor wrote on Nov 1^st, 2020 at 4:49am:

Jaegoors balearic sling.  You start with the eye.  12 strands.  If you put it together there are already 24 strands.  The letter is part of a network.  12 strands to the left, 12 strands to the right.  You add another 12 strands on each side.  That adds up to 48 strands.  These are tapered until 4 strands remain.  Have lots of fun with it.  😁

Wow! Have a tutorial or resource on how to make them that way?

Unfortunately there is no tutorial yet.  I always wanted to do one.  Never made it.

uwe pelzer makes 16 strand braids with intricate patterns throughout.
It takes time - and yes, while you can hang them on the wall to impress ANYONE, they also work as great practical slings/

Something can be both decorative and practical :-)

http://slinging.org/forum/yabbfiles/Attachments/ST832596.JPG

I would dearly love to get a sling from him.

Frag ihn. 😁

I'll get round to it :D Last I heard he had a long waiting list so I don't want to bug him :D

We have the technology!  For the low, low price of $10,000 (plus tax and shipping) you too can subjugate your very own robot slave to make slings for you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjwDAP35bQo

lol uwe makes money by making slings.
As jaegoor says: Ask him :-)
ever known uwe to turn down a sale.
But he does haggle well !

I suspect he's made more than a few in the last 6 month or so :-)

NooneOfConsequence wrote on Nov 11^th, 2020 at 8:04am:

We have the technology!  For the low, low price of $10,000 (plus tax and shipping) you too can subjugate your very own robot slave to make slings for you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjwDAP35bQo

That thing looks genius!


Curious Aardvark wrote on Nov 11^th, 2020 at 8:08am:

I suspect he's made more than a few in the last 6 month or so

That's a good point. I assume he's made it through the backlog by now :D

Put on a movie, grab you a a cold drink and get to braiding. I've spent many hours braiding while watching movies and it's a lot of fun.

Now if you really want to figure out how to spend a long time making slings process your own fiber into cordage first. Oh buddy that takes a little work.

Morphy wrote on Nov 12^th, 2020 at 3:21am:

Put on a movie, grab you a a cold drink and get to braiding. I've spent many hours braiding while watching movies and it's a lot of fun. Now if you really want to figure out how to spend a long time making slings process your own fiber into cordage first. Oh buddy that takes a little work.

Funnily enough I started just yesterday using lime bast to make string :D I had this log on the balcony I was saving for a walking stick but didn't know what it was. Turns out it's linden/lime, the bark of which can be used to make cord. Strong cord at that. I've made two slings out of nettle fibre and I'm going to make a braided sling out of the lime bast soon. I've found it very meditative.

Oh yes I am quite aware lol. I stalk your Instagram looking for project updates frequently. You see I only have two hands so there is technically a limit to the amount of mischief I can create therefore I live vicariously through some of my Instagram fellows projects. It's called 4d chess and I'm playing it.

Vet is another that gets stalked on the regular.  ;D ;D

I wish i could  have the time to actually spend to learn hiw to kumihimo.  I even have all the equipment and mutiple  books. But eventually i will, but one of my projects this year is to make cordage.  But we shall see if i do.

On a side note Jaegoor, You should really think about joining the SITH this year. PLEASE????

Unfortunately, I don't have time for that.  My gymnasium was broken into.  Slings for my group were stolen.  I have to replace them.  There is also a sling project for Switzerland.  Reconstructing this slingshot is a mammoth task.  I already made a couple of replicas.  But there is new knowledge.  Then I have some orders for slings from friends.  I am a trainer for two sports groups and I work full-time as a teacher.

Braided slings are faster on a Marudai.
It takes a while to set up the strings and bobbins though. The action is quicker though.
My paracord slings with a leather pouch take about half an hour to do properly.
Details take time. No way around it. The more you sling the more you will demand of your sling. I use a very simple non braided sling but it has a lot of design features even at a basic level.
Don't skimp!

well you don't need to spend $10,000 on a robotic solution.

A reasonable programmable 4/5 axis robotic arm can be had for less than $1000 these days.
get two, teach them to braid and leave them to it :-)

Hell get three and really go to town !

20 or 30 sold slings later and you're into profit !

Jaegoor wrote on Nov 12^th, 2020 at 8:05am:

Unfortunately, I don't have time for that.  My gymnasium was broken into.  Slings for my group were stolen.  I have to replace them.  There is also a sling project for Switzerland.  Reconstructing this slingshot is a mammoth task.  I already made a couple of replicas.  But there is new knowledge.  Then I have some orders for slings from friends.  I am a trainer for two sports groups and I work full-time as a teacher.

What!?!? They stole your slings?

Morphy wrote on Nov 12^th, 2020 at 3:21am:

Put on a movie, grab you a a cold drink and get to braiding. I've spent many hours braiding while watching movies and it's a lot of fun.

As Morphy said it. Return from work, go for a run, have a hot shower and dinner while pondering the problems of the day for a last time, and then braid in front of the TV or with some good music and a good cup of tea. It's very relaxing and will put your mind at rest. Some call it meditation  :D.

Rooibos, 24 strands diamond variation (for ear rings), and otava yo it is tonight.

Teg wrote on Nov 12^th, 2020 at 2:02pm:

otava yo it is tonight

I love their music although I dont understand russian

Jaegoor wrote on Nov 12^th, 2020 at 8:05am:

Unfortunately, I don't have time for that.  My gymnasium was broken into.  Slings for my group were stolen.  I have to replace them.  There is also a sling project for Switzerland.  Reconstructing this slingshot is a mammoth task.  I already made a couple of replicas.  But there is new knowledge.  Then I have some orders for slings from friends.  I am a trainer for two sports groups and I work full-time as a teacher.

SORRY to hear, but good luck on your tasks at getting everything done and figured out

That’s terrible Jaegoor. I’m sorry to hear that. How many slings were stolen? Was anything else taken? 

Can't stand thieves. Hopefully they brain themselves trying to use it.  ;) What a shame though you certainly make some works of art.

Morphy wrote on Nov 15^th, 2020 at 9:47am:

Can't stand thieves. Hopefully they brain themselves trying to use it.  ;) What a shame though you certainly make some works of art.

Imagine losing one of Jaegoor's slings  :( :-/ :'(

Curious Aardvark wrote on Nov 12^th, 2020 at 9:46am:

well you don't need to spend $10,000 on a robotic solution. A reasonable programmable 4/5 axis robotic arm can be had for less than $1000 these days. get two, teach them to braid and leave them to it :-) Hell get three and really go to town ! 20 or 30 sold slings later and you're into profit !

“Teach them to braid”
Ha! Is that all you need to do? Assuming you make around $10/sling, that’s only profit after 30 slings if you completely discount your time. That sounds like a nightmare to program several general purpose robots for braiding!  I’d rather pay $10,000 than spend months working out the software.  Plus, those $1k machines (plus the cost of grippers) are not meant to be operated close to each other. The collision avoidance capabilities come with a much heftier price tag.  You might have better luck teaching one robot arm to do kumihimo, but that still sounds like a really hard problem.

SerKraus wrote on Nov 15^th, 2020 at 1:18pm:

Morphy wrote on Nov 15th, 2020 at 9:47am: Can't stand thieves. Hopefully they brain themselves trying to use it.  ;) What a shame though you certainly make some works of art. Imagine losing one of Jaegoor's slings  :( :-/ :'(

Probably good I don't own one because knowing me I would lol.

I thought I made a lot of slings.  Also very difficult.  But already 1200 years before Christ someone had the idea to make one as complicated as possible.  😁

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;)

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:o

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Do the cards affect it's throwing properties? Looks like it would be a hit in Vegas. *crickets* Ill see myself out.

The cards are used for production.  This method is called tablet weaving.  The cards were made of bark, wood or leather.  It was used to make jewelry shelves.  You have to take and lose weight.  With a width of 5cm you need about 60 cards.  That's a hell of a lot of effort for a no sling.  The Swiss Cordaillot Sling was made this way.  In the picture you can see a replica.

What benefits is this supposed to offer over a more conventional production method Jaegoor?

Jaeggor, you said that the Swiss Cordaillot Sling was made with the method of tablet weaving.
Today, is it an hypothesis or is it sure ?
Because in this case, I try to make a replica for fun.
:)

This manufacturing method is safe.  The twisting of the threads is typical of tablet waeving.  I don't see any advantage.  On the contrary, it is very tedious.  But that probably didn't matter in the Bronze Age.

Have fun trying. ;)

Thanks Jaegoor.
I'll try.

Are you familiar with that.  Have you done it before

No.
I must learn. So, a long time before my sling.
I'm very interesting in the sling in Europe. So, Cortaillod is a "must".

Cordaillot is the oldest sling in Europe.  And the oldest fabric of this type in Switzerland.  I know of many more effective methods.  So this sling is something special.  There are still many questions.

Jaegoor wrote on Nov 12^th, 2020 at 8:05am:

Unfortunately, I don't have time for that.  My gymnasium was broken into.  Slings for my group were stolen.  I have to replace them.  There is also a sling project for Switzerland.  Reconstructing this slingshot is a mammoth task.  I already made a couple of replicas.  But there is new knowledge.  Then I have some orders for slings from friends.  I am a trainer for two sports groups and I work full-time as a teacher.

That's terrible, can't see why anyone would steal slings or break into a gym. I hope you get them back.

They were probably teenagers.  They practice football in this hall.  One of the slings turned up at a school.  😁 That's not very smart.  I have a lot to do with schools professionally.  The hint came from a child in my training group.  A teacher has secured the sling.  Let's see if the others show up too.