In a world of robots (even though they're way cool, especially our instructables bot, much love to you), technology, and machines for every single thing on the face of the earth, sometimes it's nice to go back to the older ways and do something simpler, even though it might be way easier to just whip out the scroll saw and a dremel. This is by far the easiest and funnest no-power-tool project I've ever made, so grab yourself a cool drink and a chair, and get to it! You can make as many modifications to design and size as you want, and I would really love to see what you guys come up with if you remake this!

Step 1: What You'll Need

Materials:
- 6.5" x 4" x 1" Ash wood (16cm x 10 x 2.5)

- 2" x 0.6" x 0.5" (5cm x 1.5 wide) Scrap piece of exotic wood (optional)

- Wood glue

- 2" x 1" (5cm x 2.5) piece of synthetic or leather strap for the pouch (make sure it's pliable)

- 14" (38cm) Strong rubber band or tubular slingshot tube (cut in half)

- Oil for finishing

Tools:

- Ruler or tape measure

- Notebook for drawing templates

- Good quality wood rasp

- G-Clamp

- Handsaw

- Sandpaper grits from 80 to 400

DOWNLOAD THE TEMPLATE AND INSTRUCTIONS PDF FOR PRINTING

InstructablesSlingshot.pdf
Download

Step 2: Rough Shaping

Cut out your template (I attached a printable version of the one I designed, but feel free to make as many modifications as you'd like) and trace it onto your wood. Roughly cut it out using a handsaw (it only took around 10 minutes) and then use a rasp or wood file to finish the edges.

Step 3: Shaping the Back

Round out and bevel the edges on the BACK of the sling, until it feels comfortable in your hand, but leave the front side flat until you glue on the extra decorative piece

Step 4: Add the Overlaying Wood

Just about any cool wood works for this, I'm using cocobolo because I just absolutely love it, but black wood, purple heart, or anything exotic will make it look much cooler. You can also cover the entire handle in another wood, I just didn't have enough at the moment. Sand the front of the handle till flat with 100 grit sandpaper, same with the overlay you want to use. Add wood glue on both surfaces and clamp tightly together or put something heavy on top of it until completely dry.

Step 5: Finish Shaping and Sanding

Using a rasp, and then 100 grit sandpaper wrapped around a 1 inch pipe or dowel (works much better than just your fingers), finish shaping the whole thing and add beveled edges to make it look way nicer.

Sand the whole piece going from a 100 grit up to 400-500. You could use a clear varnish at this point, but personally I think it looks ugly on white woods, so just finish it up with some linseed oil or whatever you think looks best.

Step 6: Attaching the Tubes

Using a fine saw or sharp knife to cut in small slots for the sling tube and string (see pictures).

Cut two holes in the leather pouch just barely big enough for the tube to fit through, and pass each of the 18cm rubber tubes in their respective holes, going through about 3/4 of an inch. Bend the tube, and begin to wrap the string* very tightly around the two. Once you give around 10 turns, make a simple knot with the other end of the string, tighten again, trim the ends and burn them to prevent fraying and loosening.

Once you're done with the pouch, do the same on the wood slots (make sure to tie the tubes on the back of the sling, see pictures, so that they bend over the top) Tighten them as much as you possibly can before tying the knot and trimming the ends.

This was the hardest part for me to explain, so please let me know in the comments if you don't understand.

*I used a waxed string I got from a leather shoemaker, I'm not sure exactly what it's made of, but it's super strong and thin, and doesn't stretch at all. Just make sure you don't use anything hard like wire since can cause bad accidents if it happens to come loose.

Step 7: Shooting!

Get yourself some small steel balls, pebbles, or dry cherry pits (they really work!) and a target board and have fun!

p.s. please don't aim at people or animals since it hurts badly. (you can break wine bottles with it so imagine it wouldn't be fun to get hit with it)