Topband: The Slingshot Option

[Niko Cimbur]

I would like to save you guys a few dollars.

In the following photo you will find a slingshot made out of 2x4 boards.  
 http://www.ac6dd.com/home/sling.JPG
The photo is from about 1995, when I first moved into my current house.  The boards were actually used for concrete forms.  The sling part is made of surgical tubing.  The weight is a fishing weight, and the line is fishing line.  The fishing line is first unspooled and laid out on the tarp in front of the sling.  

This contraption would clear 140' tall Eucalyptus trees with ease.  It would shoot the weight much higher than the trees, but you don't want that.  Any light wind will blow your line away from the tree tops, so you aim just above the trees.    Over time I made several of these slings as needed.  They are just put together with wood screws.  

My next experiment was a portable unit made out of 3/4" EMT conduit.  Same results as before, but not as sturdy.  I would need to weigh the front to prevent it from pulling up. 
 
http://www.ac6dd.com/home/sling1.JPG
http://www.ac6dd.com/home/sling2.JPG

Just a warning on the surgical tubing - it will deteriorate over time.

Niko - AC6DD