Was activated over a week ago but have not yet had time to make a single post, swamped by life atm, but figure a proper introduction is at least in order now (thank you Joe for activating me). Will try to keep it semi-short; tend to drag text out...

My name is Filip and I'm from south-western Skåne in southern Sweden. How I got into slinging...

Well I have loved throwing rocks far/into the water at the ocean and at my grandmother's ever since I was a small child; just to hear the splash (simple mind) and simply because throwing is fun. Then saw some immigrant here in Sweden use a sling randomly at a protest. That + the David and Goliath story sat in the back of my mind... Then randomly saw a Youtube video one day a few months ago and from there went down the figurative online rabbit hole and decided to look up how to make one/ordered some paracord. Partly learned for nefarious reasons (just being honest here), partly for wanting to use it to hunt rabbits (maybe nefarious as well depending on who's asked) and partly because it just seemed plain fun.

I have now made 6 completed paracord-slings in total using both round- and flat braids, been pestering different people on Youtube for tips here and there over the past months (all have been cool about it though so the community seems great), and having never done braiding or anything paracord-related at all before would say that the improvement is a LOT between my first/last sling; currently waiting for more paracord to arrive to make more of them. Sling-making + music/interesting video = very relaxing.

Wanted to become a member partly to get tips on how to better make the slings (especially the transition to/from the pouch at this point and how to incorporate the extra strings better/smoother) and how to make custom ammunition with clay (have yet to try making that in the first place).

Actually found this forum trying to look up how to get consistant ammunition and there being an image of the 3D-printed custom glandrollers (RIP to CA; never knew you but with the impact left on here must have been a very cool person). Will be looking to either aquire one of those through contacts here in Sweden or get into 3D-printing too further down the line.

Still have ZERO accuracy with the throwing, have so far mostly practiced by the beach, so feel comfortable blaming small random rocks as ammo and extremely windy conditions so far for that, but can at least throw far now using both figure 8 and balearic style; both decently well (thank you to Blind Squirrel RockChucker, idk for sure but would just assume he's on here too (?), for the video that showed figure 8. Had issues with it due to not starting it from high but from the waist like I would the balearic; no bueno).

Used to juggle (the diabolo mainly but also ball-juggling, yoyos etc) VERY seriously for many years: MANY hours practicing alone so this hobby fits right in with that. No longer as serious about juggling, bit too old/injured/lazy, and the international diabolo forum closed fairly recently so guess that's just another reason I'm here (one of these oldschool forums discussing hobby directly in exchange for a different one). Slinging and juggling seems to overlap a bit as far as hobbies are concerned (fairly easy to get into but harder to master, fringe hobbies with endless possibility to practice alone for cheap, relaxing, a reason to touch grass etc) so this seems like it'll be a good and rewarding activity for all of the above reasons.

Next project is to try to make a better single loop sling (so far just been folding up BSRC's adjustable double loop designs), to make a 6-strand 3x braid thicker sling (length inside of thumb-armpit which so far seem to be preferred length), and to learn how to make ammo with clay from outside as mentioned above.

That's a decent amount about me; almost completely new to the hobby, found randomly, and I currently enjoy both making slings and throwing with them though so far the throwing part has taken a backseat. Excited to get into the hobby more and being a member here is a great step in achieving that. Attached is a photo of ALL of my first completed slings (not that many yet). The colorways aren't very fun perhaps but yeah... Just got two different sets of paracord and some mistakes meant losing a chunk of available material. There has also been a LOT of experimenting that led to loss of material. Will be better looking stuff in the future hopefully.

So yeah hello everyone, you all seem like cool people, will hopefully be reading/posting/bugging you for advice more in the future when time allows. 

Welcome from Pennsylvania, USA!

Nice slings!

Welcome from Sherwood Forest.
😁👍

Welcome from New Jersey, USA.

Welcome!
Those are some great looking slings. Well done!

I do feel you about the sling making. It can be very relaxing to be making slings, and enjoying the proces.

You are progressing well.
My braiding station is ths back door handle !!
I suggest you try slings from different materials.
Jute, hemp, sisal, cotton, wool but definitely a seat belt sling.
When it comes down to it, the only way to sling is with a sling you like in the style that feels right.
How do you which sling you like untill you have tried many ?
Ditto style.
There is many years of information gathered here and yes C.A. was a gentle man.
Be happy

xud9a - call me zud 👍 wrote on Jul 6^th, 2024 at 8:10pm:


I checked out image-resizers but moderator has been here already. Thank you Rat Man; will try to resize pictures in the future as per zud's tip above and see how that goes.

Thanks for the encouragement and tips. OK so not alone in doing the braiding while standing. I put on some Super Mario piano jazz arrangements and go to town. Am lazy though so would be nice to be able to sit and watch crap while doing the braiding as well. 

Different materials in the future sure (have seen single string slings) but for now this is my project and then maybe a few more 4- and 6-strand ones first to REALLY get the hang of it before experimenting further. I was planning on doing an 8 string in the colors of a sunset, yellow>orange>pink>purple, once done with this but probably months away as would need to purchase more string again, it's REALLY used up quickly when I don't know measurements for different things. Also want to try a more open single fingerloop design with a folded snakeknot á one of Road Dog's tutorials.

Reached the desired length to start the pocket for the 6 string btw (onger than my two favorite rock slings, inside of thumb to armpit, but figure with a tennis ball being a bigger projectile I'll make this ever so slightly longer) and am now unsure... What would be the pros and cons with braiding this pocket in a zig-zag pattern (if you know?) like I have previously with the 4-strands vs doing a normal 3-string braid on each side to equal length and then resuming) please?

I currently lean towards the 3-string due to 1. not having tried it before 2. seen a video of a guy who got gifted a BSRC-sling (sorry don't know that guy's name off the top of my head or would credit for the video but I guess he's here on the forum too) where the pocket was made this way. Also figure it'll use less material (already cut WAY more than I needed, the opposite problem of what I tend to have, for this so can maybe save some pieces to use for pockets/fingerloops if doing this unsure) and expect it to possibly line up better with the rest of the sling. Does it grip equally well? Can a "smile" be inserted after the braiding part or would it have to be done during in this case?

Edit: also forgot to use grip glue on all the latest slings (just melted the ends nothing else). Is this something you tend to do/is it very required for lastability?

Just to add; My braiding station is... my couch.
I just put a piece of cord around one of the legs of the side table, and use that as an anchor.

You don't need much, just something that gives you some resistance.