Hello everybody,
After experimenting, I've found that corrugated cardboard is quite usable to make reasonably sturdy slingshots - I used 3 mm thick cardboard from an old product packaging box for a large fist grip slingshot, and 1 mm thick cardboard from a used envelope to make a mini-slingshot. The "mini" has single layer "Asda" style bands tapered from 12 mm to 8 mm: not much, but good enough to send a 9 mm BB with a healthy force.
Cut cardboard strips, which are put together in layers, folded into shape, and held together by fibre-reinforced adhesive tape, seem to be quite strong when a force is applied to the cardboard edges. I used a folded double-layered cardboard triangle to prevent the fork section of the cardboard slingshots from collapsing once elastic tension is exerted with the pouch pulled back for a shot.
Although I clearly prefer birch plywood or metal for slingshots, I was quite surprised at the draw weight I could apply without affecting the structural rigidity of these layered cardboard slingshots: if no other options are available, corrugated cardboard can make a powerful slingshot (keep it away from water... <_< ). I had no problem attaching "Thera-Band" double layered bands tapered from 26 mm at the forks to 16 mm at the pouch, and shooting 12 mm steel BB's with plenty of oomph.
The key issue is to carry out safety checks with cardboard designs to avoid nasty surprises, but it does work quite well.
Check out my latest video, which includes a shooting test and a tutorial based on the method I used:
> Have any of you made cardboard slingshots? Please let me know what method you used, etc.
Pebble Shooter
After experimenting, I've found that corrugated cardboard is quite usable to make reasonably sturdy slingshots - I used 3 mm thick cardboard from an old product packaging box for a large fist grip slingshot, and 1 mm thick cardboard from a used envelope to make a mini-slingshot. The "mini" has single layer "Asda" style bands tapered from 12 mm to 8 mm: not much, but good enough to send a 9 mm BB with a healthy force.
Cut cardboard strips, which are put together in layers, folded into shape, and held together by fibre-reinforced adhesive tape, seem to be quite strong when a force is applied to the cardboard edges. I used a folded double-layered cardboard triangle to prevent the fork section of the cardboard slingshots from collapsing once elastic tension is exerted with the pouch pulled back for a shot.
Although I clearly prefer birch plywood or metal for slingshots, I was quite surprised at the draw weight I could apply without affecting the structural rigidity of these layered cardboard slingshots: if no other options are available, corrugated cardboard can make a powerful slingshot (keep it away from water... <_< ). I had no problem attaching "Thera-Band" double layered bands tapered from 26 mm at the forks to 16 mm at the pouch, and shooting 12 mm steel BB's with plenty of oomph.
The key issue is to carry out safety checks with cardboard designs to avoid nasty surprises, but it does work quite well.
Check out my latest video, which includes a shooting test and a tutorial based on the method I used:
> Have any of you made cardboard slingshots? Please let me know what method you used, etc.
Pebble Shooter
