10 replies to this topic

[Big Sandy]

Greetings.
This question may be hard to answer without seeing the frame, but im working on my first boardcut, just something i drew up and cut before i learned about all the different variable in catapults. Once its ready for bands, what determines whether I use flats or tubes? Over the top and through the forks is another mystery I have yet to figure out as well. All advise is greatly appreciated.

[Hrawk]

It's all personal choice man, part of the fun is working out what works best for you.

For a lot of people, their first bands are based on availability.

[M_J]

Rubber is pretty cheap. Try them all.

[Dayhiker]

Here is what I would do. I would start with #107 Alliance Sterling rubber bands from Staples (they're cheap). I would cut them to varying lengths and try different band sets until I found one that suited me.

Then I would order some of Bill Herriman's (Tex-Shooter) latex bands (he sells just strips for you to cut to length) and I would experiment with those for a while. Then I would order a sheet of latex from Tex and get a rotary cutter and self-healing mat and start experimenting with tapers. There are plenty of posts and tutorials in the archives about this.

Good luck.

[mattardel]

Dayhiker, on 01 February 2012 - 06:24 PM, said:

Here is what I would do. I would start with #107 Alliance Sterling rubber bands from Staples (they're cheap). I would cut them to varying lengths and try different band sets until I found one that suited me.

Then I would order some of Bill Herriman's (Tex-Shooter) latex bands (he sells just strips for you to cut to length) and I would experiment with those for a while. Then I would order a sheet of latex from Tex and get a rotary cutter and self-healing mat and start experimenting with tapers. There are plenty of posts and tutorials in the archives about this.

Good luck.

Probably the best idea. If you don't want to order or assemble anything, however, Trumark RR-T tubes are great and usually available locally. Check a sporting goods store such as Big 5.
Here's how to set up #107's:
http://oldpeddler.co...aper/index.html

Edited by mattardel, 01 February 2012 - 06:58 PM.

[RedRubber]

Great tutorial!

[mattardel]

RedRubber, on 01 February 2012 - 07:09 PM, said:

Great tutorial!

All credit goes to Henry in Panama. It's his website and tutorial. He also has other band assembly tutorials up.

[Sharkman]

Hey Big Sandy! Greetings from Inver Grove Heights. Thanks for asking this question. Just finished my first board cut myself. And I agree - excellent toutorial. Thanks Henry and thanks to Mattardel for sharing.

[Karok01]

It's one of those things I'm quickly finding is all about trial and error. That said, I've recently been having great results from simple chained #64 office bands. You'd be surprised with the velocities you get with them, and they are cheap. If you are trying a lot of different designs, it might be a good idea to use these to test them, then upgrade to better band material like theraband (haven't used theraband myself but this is my way of doing things as a newb so far.) Hope that helps. Cheers! (P.S. I like the weaved bands better than the typical tie chain.) Check Charles' post here . http://slingshotforu...__fromsearch__1

Edited by Karok01, 02 February 2012 - 02:19 AM.

[Big Sandy]

<sub>Thanks guys. I read Henry in Panama 's awesome write up on the #107 bands, so im heading to Staples when I get off work today. I was at Walmart and they had some exercise bands in their "Gold's Gym" branded packages. They have 3 different bands in the pack, ( light,med,heavy) for $10, so i grabbed a pack of those. I also wanna try the chained bands. I used to work in an elemetary school and some of the asian girls would make what they called 'chinese jump ropes', and they were office rubber, braided, not tied, 2 bands per link, but these things were like 10ft long. So I used to help make them, that was fun . Im getting very excited to start shooting again. I may not pull my Longbow out this spring. Happy shooting!!

Hey Sharkman, glad theres another local on here, when we get up and shooting, we should have a meet and greet.</sub>

[mattardel]

You probably won't find #107s in their store. They are listed on their website as online only, and this was confirmed when I went to buy some last week. They have free shipping to US anyway, but they might be cheaper if you go in store and ask them to ship to store. I read that someone got a pack for $5 doing this. The flats you bought are the best non-theraband flats, but they're kind of weak, so stick with the heavy bands in the pack.

Edited by mattardel, 02 February 2012 - 05:34 PM.