Free easy slingshot (gomera f�cil y gratis)

Cuando yo era un niño, allá por el pleistoceno, los juguetes se compraban, con mucha suerte, solamente para las grandes ocasiones: cumpleaños y alguna otra fecha excepcional. El resto del año nos teníamos que arreglar solos para jugar con lo que teníamos a mano. Si queríamos una cometa, conseguíamos cañas, piolín (hilo) y papel, y la hacíamos nosotros mismos. El hilo lo íbamos "ahorrando" durante meses, recuperándolo de los paquetes de las compras o del que se usaba para coser las bolsas de cereal.

Con las gomeras (tirachinas) pasaba lo mismo. Era impensable comprarla hecha. Íbamos a la gomería y pedíamos un trozo de cámara vieja de auto, la cortábamos en tiras cuidadosamente con la tijera de mamá (sacando la lengua para un costado, porque nos parecía que así el corte iba más recto) y eso era el elástico impulsor.

Hoy es todo más fácil, y les voy a mostrar cómo se puede hacer una gomera en un rato sin gastar un centavo.

IMPORTANTE: ¡antes de empezar, lee meticulosamente lo que sigue!

• Usa este juguete con responsabilidad, no me hagas culpable de los estragos que podrías hacer con él. Mira que es peligroso y puede producir lesiones graves, tanto como un rifle de aire comprimido o un cañón lanzapatatas.
• No la uses en el interior de tu casa o departamento.
• No la uses en un parque, playa u otro lugar donde haya gente.
• Hazte blancos de tiro con latas, cajas de cartón, maderas o cosas así.
• No les tires a los pajaritos, porque podrías acertarles.
• Antes de tirar, asegúrate bien de que no haya personas adelante, ni animales, ni objetos frágiles
• Los proyectiles apropiados son pequeñas piedras o cascotes de entre 1 y 2 cm de diámetro. El barro o arcilla amasado y secado al sol va bien.

When I was a kid, back in the Pleistocene, the toys were bought, with luck, only for special occasions, birthdays and any other sunset date. The rest of the year we had to arrange to play with what we had on hand. If we wanted a kite, we were getting reeds, thread and paper and made it ourselves. The thread we were going "saving" for months, recovering it from packages or that used to sew the grains bags.

With slingshot was the same. Purchase it was unthinkable. We went to the tire shop and asked for a wasted piece of old car camera, we cut it in strips carefully with mom's scissors (sticking out our tongue to one side, because we felt that this would cut straight) and that was the elastic drive.

Today everything is easier, and I'll show you how to make a slingshot in a while without spending a dime.

IMPORTANT: Before you begin, carefully read what follow!

• Use this toy with responsibility, don't make me guilty of the damage you could do with it. See that it is dangerous and can cause serious injury, like a compressed air gun or a potato cannon.
• Don't use it inside your house or apartment.
• Don't use it in a park, beach or other place where people.
• Make shooting targets with cans, cardboard, wood or whatever.
• Don't shoot the birds, because you could hit them.
• Before shooting, make sure that there are not people along, no animals or fragile objects.
• Appropriate projectiles are small stones or dirt debris around 1 and 2 cm in diameter. The mud or clay kneading and dried at sun goes well.

Step 1: Find a fork (encontrar una horqueta)

Este paso solía insumirnos horas, porque implicaba recorrer los árboles de la familia, incluídos los abuelos, tíos y tías, hasta encontrar la horqueta ideal para nuestra mano. Probablemente la primera que encontrábamos habría servido perfectamente, pero en ese sentido éramos un poco pretenciosos, nos sentíamos como el Cid Campeador eligiendo espada.


This step typically took hours, because it involved travel the trees of the family, including grandparents, aunts and uncles, to find the ideal fork for our hand. Probably the first that we found would have served well, but in that sense we were a little pretentious, we felt like El Cid choosing his sword.

Comments

[mole1]

Wonderful! We used bent wire coat hangers instead of sticks. Coat hangers were much heavier when I was a child.

Another caution for parents: Make sure you know which hand a child uses naturally. And practice shooting empty, before adding an acorn or pebble. I was told to hold everything like my brothers. But when I pulled, I reversed what my brothers did. I pulled the sling in front of the Y, and shot myself in the face. (I was very fortunate to have only hit my chin!)

[rimar2000]

WOW, that same thing happened to a mine aunt. Surely if you allow the child manage both hands without interfere, he/she will do the correct movements.

Thanks for commenting!

[farzadbayan]

I really love this project! I will make it as soon as possible!

_{// Sorry, but the texts have a unpleasant style. You don't need to use h2 size.}

[rimar2000]

Thanks for the comment.

I use the standard Instructables style, I don't change anything.

[farzadbayan]

Do you see the page like below image? I think it's not so good. I think the texts of "IMPORTANTE" part are a few big and mixed. What do you think?

[rimar2000]

Ah, I forgot that detail. You're right, maybe I used too much emphasis. But it happens that this toy is also a weapon, depending on how it is used. And raised a lot of suspicion in some people.

[cloudifornia]

NOW you're talking (in 2 languages) ! I teethed on a homemade slingshot. GOOD work!

[rimar2000]

Almost all my instructables are bilingual.

Thanks for comment!

[Phil B]

This is a good reminder that even today toys can be made from common materials often regarded only as waste, and that imagination is a better resource than a parent's purse. I also grew up during a time when my parents often told us "Money does not grow on trees."

[mrbrian1969]

good thing money doesnt grow on trees, todays youth wouldnt have the ambition to go pick it!

[Phil B]

Good point, although the older generation has been saying things like that about the younger generation ever since the days of Socrates.

[rimar2000]

Yes, it is. And both have reason... ;)

[rimar2000]

Phil, you changed your photo! I should change mine...

Many times I think that is a blessing to have problems, to can solve them. Lack of money is seen as a damn for some people, I think it is an opportunity. Obviously, one thing is not having much money, and quite another to be miserable.

I remember when I told my father: "dad, I want to go to the movies", and he replied "if you have money, no problem". Another time, I want to buy balsa wood for make a glider, but there was no money for that. Then, I cut a branch of ceiba, it is almost so light as balsa, and problem solved!

[Mr.Sanchez]

Wise words Osvaldo...remember that " Necessity is the mother of Invention", according to Plato.
De acuerdo al filosofo Platon: La necesidad es la madre de la Invención.
Y hay gente tan pobre pero TAN pobre que lo único que tiene es Dinero.
Grande Osvaldo...pronto subire mi HOBO versión de mi "Cauchera"o como uds les dicen Gomeras.

[kostya]

Whe I was a boy of 12 I used to make it. We used pebbles as ammunition. As far as I understand it is a catapult not a slingshot.

[rimar2000]

Hi kotya, thanks for comment! Yes, pebbles are good for this... I don't know what is the best English word for it.

I speak Spanish only. As far as I understand, a catapult is different.

[Dr Qui]

I found the metal one, it is made by Milbro between 1950 - 1970


http://www.google.co.uk/search?um=1&hl=en&biw=1440&bih=742&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=milbro+catapult&oq=milbro+catapult&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=2393969l2402735l0l15l15l0l8l8l0l306l1310l0.5.1.1

[rimar2000]

OK, thanks. English is not my metier...

[Dr Qui]

It is in fact both a slingshot and a catapult, in the UK and Ireland they are known as catapult.

I have a vintage cast metal slingshot / catapult handle that is branded catapult if can remember, if I can find it I will post a picture.

[kostya]

Thanks for the explanation! Yesterday I was talking with my friend from Canada. She told me that "catapult" means "to throw something". Both words (a catapult and a slingshot) are in use. I always thought that "a slingshot" is an acient weapon that David killed Goliath in the Bible with.

[rimar2000]

Yes, you are right. Both English and Spanish are a lot confuse on this word. I allways said "honda" to this toy –or weapon–, that is the equivalente to slingshot, that of David. After I learned to name it "gomera" (goma=rubber).
But if you seach "honda arma" (honda weapon) in Google you found this, where the images are all mixed.

[kostya]

In Russian this toy is called 'rogatka' - a small Y-twig. "Rogatina" - a big Y-twig with sharpened ends was a hunting weapon. In the old times Russian peasants would hunt bears with it. During Napoleon ivasion in Russia, almost 200 year ago, Russian peasants often used it to attack French infantry men.

[kostya]

Hello! I still believe it is a catapult made of a forked twig. Never mind! You made me recall my green years. Thank you! I wonder if you ever tried to hunt with it. I used as a target empty tin cans.

[rimar2000]

I shoot the birds, confident that my aim was so bad that never would hit them, but once I killed a small goldfinch, and gave me so much pain and shame that will never again bothered them.

[cloudifornia]

I did that to a woodpecker when I was a kid. Not a good feeling.

[cammers]

Well said. I totally agree.

[cammers]

Thanks Rimar for another beaut instructable. I'm sure it will do well in the contest. I tried to enter my "glove gun" but unfortunately since I submitted it just before the contest opened it doesn't qualify.
I will just have to think if something else. Anyway, it's worth the effort just to show my kids what can be done with some imagination and no money.

[rimar2000]

Thanks for the comment, cammers. I don't hope win anything, there are very good instructables better thwn mine.

The good thing is that the today's boys can learn that it is possible the life without PS3, MP3, MP4, MP5, etc.

[mrbrian1969]

puede vivir sin mp3? imposible!

[rimar2000]

Yo suelo preguntarme cómo pudimos vivir sin Internet!

I often wonder how we could live without the Internet!