90 replies to this topic

[harpersgrace]

JoergS, on 21 July 2010 - 09:50 PM, said:

Believe me, if someone sues you, you have lost 1000 dollars quicker than you can say "lawyer"!

Say lawyer you're lucky if you can even talk to one for a $1000

[USASlingshot]

LOL, I am lucky that Devan is in charge of that stuff. But we will seriously talk it over

[NaturalFork]

The legal issue is major. However if proper liability is explained in documents shipped with the slingshot it should be ok. Another way around this is to just sell the forks and label them divining rods or something. lol.

[USASlingshot]

Yes. There is no 100% way to avoid these conflicts. We just have to do our best and hope

[ZDP-189]

To be fair, Sam stepped up and 'fessed up. While the quote posted by USASlingshot is a bit short of tact, maybe it was intended by Sam as constructive criticism. Many of us, myself included, have also suggested that USASlingshot ups their game and that underpricing is no substitute for a better product. In addition, we don't know the circumstances of the PM; perhaps it was an unsolicited and unwanted offer and I note that the response was by PM and that it was USASlingshot that took it to the public forum. I don't hold it against Sam and nor should USASlingshot. After all, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but a decent bandset sure helps" or something like that.

[ZDP-189]

Today I received my slingshot from Devon.

Communication and customer service was reasonable. The purchase was of an existing slingshot offered for sale (link). The price was US$12 plus shipping totalling US$22. Paypal payment of US$22 (fees paid by sender) was made on June 26th and the postmark was dated July 9th. USPS postage was US$3.96 as stamped. No offer to refund surplus postage was made.

Total fork length is 5", fork gap 2 7/16", tips 13/16" on one side and 3/4" on the other. The board is 9/16" thick.

It appears to be made of pine board, or a similar fast growing coniferous. I don't think it's heat or pressure treated, as it is very absorbant and drinks water very much like a sponge. The slingshot offered for sale was offered as polyurethane coated. There was in fact no such coating. The wood is very soft and marks under fingernail pressure. Tree rings run diagonally, but are wide with narrow bands of lignin. Nevertheless, it feels strong and there is ample wood where at the weakest part of the fork at the base where the grain runs contrary to the direction of the fork's flow.

Fit and finish is basic. Symmetry is so-so. There are deep tie grooves that are parallel to the tip and well defined. The tie bands sit firmly in these grooves. Ties are possibly Thera-band Gold The edges are rough hewn and show many tooling marks, dings and places where the wood has chipped out. I managed to give myself a splinter in the pinkie. It is stained with a penetration of about 1/16". The stain is not uniform and there are streaks that did not take up the stain. Sanding marks of a coarse grit are apparent and the inside of the fork V has been Dremeled inexpertly with deep gouges where the top or bottom of the sanding drum has dug in. There are rough inside angles where the vertical cut up the handle has terminated. The appearance is like something from a pre-war English schoolboy's locker; I wouldn't write it off as it's possible the overall look is deliberate and artistically applied.

Ergonomics are mixed. The thick board is comfortable but light. Forefinger and thumb wrap around. There is no palm swell or bridge support. The biggest fault is the handle offers little grip. Combined with stretching to get my forefinger and thumb around it and under torque from the heavy bands, it forces my hand open. After 20-30% of shots, the slingshot would leave my hand. They probably wouldn't be so much of a problem for someone with a bigger hand.



I believe the band to be Thera-band black, although I see no logo. It appears to be untapered at 11/16" on one side and and 13/16" on the other. It measures 6 3/4" from the fort tie to the pouch tie on both sides. They are folded in fourths. One side is perfectly folded and the other is semi-reversed at the pouch resulting in a twist. The pouch is nice split leather 4" in length and 13/16" across. It pulls like Hunter Bands but feels and sounds faster in contraction as I'd expect from Thera-band black. Overall, the bandset is good and I like it. I haven't target shot it or bench shot it yet.

Here's a video of it in action at 1,000 frames per second.



The release action is nice and linear.

I summary, there are several areas to be addressed. On new models, I recommend the board should be upgraded to a harder, more durable material and the overall fit and finish should be worked on. The bands are good performers and as long as the bottom of the handle can be given more palm swell and finger purchase then it should be a good shooter.

I hope this isn't taken as something of a pasting. It's not meant as such and I am content with my purchase.

[USASlingshot]

I am sorry I did not polly. However we will will be making laminates to avoid all of those dings

[shot in the foot]

Why dont you get just a oblong bit of wood, not make a slingshot but sand it and learn how to finish it so its nice and smooth, then start making them, jeff

[USASlingshot]

Yes. We will still make board cuts but laminates are stronger and better looking

[ZDP-189]

Check out my Blog entry (link), where I have Chrony numbers for this and other slingshots.

[bunnybuster]

Ok
these boys are doing their best to make some shooters that work, and shoot well.
Give them a bit of a break. {ZDP-189 edit: most recent offending posts referred to above have been removed}
I agree that they should spend a little more time in finishing the pieces they make.
Put your heart in every fork that you make. Quality is much more important than quantity.
You have to love what you are fabricating. When you get to the point that you want to keep all the ones you make....other people will like them also.
Take pride in your details and craftmanship. try and make every piece special.
You have to put your heart in it.
BB

[Peresh]

(D)evan, keep it up. Do not be discouraged by anything or anyone. Within no time, you will be up there selling like the rest.

[dgui]

Skit Slunga, on 20 July 2010 - 11:43 PM, said:

USASlingshot, on 20 July 2010 - 06:57 PM, said:

well, we have been using a dremel to round the edges but my father has to teach us how to safely use the router for the edges. and as of now the SS3 (3rd one) is the strongest and best looking(in my opinion)

Awesome that you have a good selection of tools *and* a willing accomplice...er.. teacher to show you the safety aspects but if you have a dremel and can use it with some dexterity that's all you really need (files and sandpaper along with elbow grease and above all- patience, works very well too) Have you watched Geko's "Carving" vid? If not let's try to keep it a diy until you get the training you need on the router.

Keep at it and looking for inspiration.

A Table Top Shaper would be far superior to a Router. You move the wood around instead of clamping the wood and moving the router. With the Table To[p Shaper the wood allways stays flat and very Easy once you get the feel of how the Shaper works. Very professional.

[USASlingshot]

look, unless i am going crazy when we first started making slingshots people said power is the top priority! now we have learned that is not the case and we are trying our best to fix the problem (hence starting this thread) so please do not say bad things when you guys are the ones who told us you like power over function and looks

[harpersgrace]

Ok according to the poll you started
Durability was #1 followed by High quality parts, cool look and cheap price..
on the USA forum it was Durability tied with quality parts, cool looks and cheap price...

Yes a lot of people here are from the more power crowd but they are still looking for a quality piece...do you need to work on the quality of your product ? yes! Do people need to chew you a new one? no.
Unfortunately the internet has done more to kill common courtesy than just about anything else. We can say exactly what we want, when we want with out fear of reprisal and with a degree of anonymity and pretend that it is a virtue, "I'm being straight forward" "I'm being honest" "I'm strong willed" "I have a strong personality" basically we're being rude because we know we can get away with it, or because we haven't been taught better... I'm as guilty as the next person, which is more of a shame to me because I was taught better..

So here it is USAslingshot,
you need to work on (perfect) the looks and quality of your product,
you need to come up with a style that is your own,
you need to charge a fee that is fair to you and your customer both for the product and the shipping,
you need to protect yourselves from the idiots in the world who feel that getting a splinter is cause for a law suit ,
you need to work on your marketing especially your photos,
you need to develop a thick skin when dealing with the public, when some one criticizes your work take it for what it's worth, but don't take it personally or too seriously.
You need to have fun or it's not worth doing, too much of your life will be spent on doing things that you really don't want to do.
You need to keep making slingshots even if you never sell them, because it's always good to have something to do when you just want to get away from it all.
Good luck guys maybe if I would have had the ambition to start a business at your age I'd be a lot happier now.

[USASlingshot]

Thanks. We will start making laminates as soon as we get practice... And we will try our best to fix the problems you have found. Thank you everyone who has contributed