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Which plant fibers for slings? (Read 2846 times)

Branmun Tiro Offline Never drink and sling Posts: 15 northwest ontario Gender:	Which plant fibers for slings? Dec 3^rd, 2008 at 5:04pm Hey. I live in north western Ontario, and was wondering what tree/plant fibers can I use to make a sling from. Here is two links of SOME things I have around me: www.borealforest.org/trees.htm www.borealforest.org/glossary.htm If you don't know if it grows where I live then post it anyway. Thanks ?
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Re: Which plant fibers for slings?
Reply #1 - Dec 4^th, 2008 at 4:18pm

If getting some natural fiber string in local hardware shop is an option then go get some hemp - it's great for slings because is heavy and flexible and they make nice whip cracks Wink

I've also tried flax but it's not so great as hemp. Maybe because I tried "dirty" flax (the string used for packaging) it's fibers are coarse and the string isn't as flexible as hemp and is much lighter so my flax slings barely makes whip cracks (just lousy "soft" ones)

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slingbadger Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Don't Badger a Badger Posts: 3220 Akron NY Gender:	Re: Which plant fibers for slings? Reply #2 - Dec 4^th, 2008 at 5:26pm None of the trees listed are good for fibers. What you want are smaller, bush like, or plants Nettles , reeds, or phragmites, cattails. The best tree for cordage is the inner bark of the basswood tree, but it takes time (almost 2 weeks) sometimes to prepare and make it
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David Morningstar Slinging.org Moderator Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 3419 UK	Re: Which plant fibers for slings? Reply #3 - Dec 4^th, 2008 at 5:34pm Making a sling from nettle fibres: http://www.zinfinium.net/index.php?id=130 This whole site is excellent.
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Branmun Tiro Offline Never drink and sling Posts: 15 northwest ontario Gender:	Re: Which plant fibers for slings? Reply #4 - Dec 4^th, 2008 at 8:31pm Thanks guys I Think I have some dogbain(Indian hemp), probable nettle,phragmites , and maybe some sort of flax around here. I've been looking into retting, and already know how to make rope. Anyways how does Nettles , reeds, phragmites, and cattails sound when "in action."
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slingbadger Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Don't Badger a Badger Posts: 3220 Akron NY Gender:	Re: Which plant fibers for slings? Reply #5 - Dec 4^th, 2008 at 9:33pm believe me, you have phragmites around. There's nowhere on the Eastern half of north America that doesn't have them. It's an intrusive European plant that crowds out cattails. It grows up to 9 feet tall, and has reddish seed clusters in the fall
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Branmun Tiro Offline Never drink and sling Posts: 15 northwest ontario Gender:	Re: Which plant fibers for slings? Reply #6 - Dec 5^th, 2008 at 4:15pm Here is a list of things I have to chose from: (I'll have to get the plants next year because of snow) stinging nettle phragmite dogbain cattail now, which one
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slingbadger Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Don't Badger a Badger Posts: 3220 Akron NY Gender:	Re: Which plant fibers for slings? Reply #7 - Dec 5^th, 2008 at 8:27pm I looked at the site, and the technique they give for the nettles will work. The way you make the cordage will work for any type. What I didn't see is how to weave the cords together into longer ones. I would try the nettles first. I'm suprised you don't have beech trees by you.
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Branmun Tiro Offline Never drink and sling Posts: 15 northwest ontario Gender:	Re: Which plant fibers for slings? Reply #8 - Dec 5^th, 2008 at 9:49pm Yeah, I'll start with that, I'll probably try all three at one point or another. Thanks, now all I have to do is wait for winter to be over
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slingbadger Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Don't Badger a Badger Posts: 3220 Akron NY Gender:	Re: Which plant fibers for slings? Reply #9 - Dec 6^th, 2008 at 2:53pm If you have phragmites around, you could probably start now
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Branmun Tiro Offline Never drink and sling Posts: 15 northwest ontario Gender:	Re: Which plant fibers for slings? Reply #10 - Dec 6^th, 2008 at 3:34pm I saw some patches of cattails and phragmites in the city Next time I'll try to grab some.
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lobohunter Interfector Viris Spurii Offline where be a rock and a string there be a sling Posts: 1945 Cottage Grove or Gender:	Re: Which plant fibers for slings? Reply #11 - Dec 10^th, 2008 at 2:55pm great site hmmm no stinging nettles not since this summer hmmm
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