Making A Slingshot Out Of Solid Aluminum Rod

Making a metal slingshot, or bent wire slingshot! In this video I build an incredibly accurate, ergonomic, aluminum slingshot, using only a propane torch, hand tools and lots of hard work!
→ Purchase My Handmade Metal Slingshots Here: www.etsy.com/shop/joshsblacksm... ←
Link to my latest metal slingshot build: • Hot Bending A Custom P...
Links to the tools, equipment and materials used or mentioned in the video:
3/8 Inch Aluminum Round Stock: go.magik.ly/ml/8rgw/
Bernzomatic TS8000KC Premium Torch Head: go.magik.ly/ml/8qfe/
Bernzomatic MAP-Pro Gas Fuel: go.magik.ly/ml/84p4/
Lenox Tools High Tension Hack Saw: go.magik.ly/ml/8qfl/
My Blacksmith Shop On Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/Joshsblacks...
Filming Equipment: sharpshooterjd.com/filming-eq...
Hammer: I refurbished one that I got at an antique shop. But you can also get some semi-decent ball peen hammers from Home Depot: go.magik.ly/ml/84p6/
Anvil: I refurbished one I got from a friend.
Tongs: I made my own.
(The text above contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on a product link, or purchase a product through those links, I might receive a small commission. This helps support the channel! Thank you for the support!)
I made this design with the intent of creating something that was comfortable, easy to use, and very effective. I took inspiration from many sources, most notably from Wingshooters older designs. These slingshots feature no complicated mechanics, no bells or whistles to take away from the shooting (however I do pay special attention to keeping the forks perfectly parallel and level for accurate shooting). Just a good old fashioned ergonomic slingshot that is one heck of a shooter! I love them so much I pretty much only shoot these anymore!
Hey everyone, thanks so much for watching my video! I spent countless hours filming and editing this one, so if you liked it, please show your support by leaving me a comment, or a like and by sharing this video on social media! Every little bit helps! Thanks, Josh
Isaiah 40: Verse 28-31
"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Playlist Links:
Slingshot Tutorials Playlist: • Slingshot Tutorials An...
Slingshot Shooting Playlist: • Slingshot Shooting
Slingshot Unveiling/Shooting Playlist: • Slingshot Unveiling/Sh...
Blacksmithing Playlist: • Blacksmithing/Metalwor...
Miscellaneous Weapons Playlist: • Primitive Weapon Tests...
Wood Working Projects Playlist: • Woodworking
Social Media Links:
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/Joshsblacks...
Twitter: / sharpshooterjd
Pinterest: / sharpshooterjd
Google Plus: plus.google.com/b/10215755591...

[@caduceus33]

First shot, right on the money!

[@sharpshooterjd]

I was so stoked about that! It was legitimately the first shot too, no movie magic lol. Thanks for the comment :). Happy holidays.

[@dereksuddreth8672]

Good Job! I'm glad you are a good shot with a slingshot... I would have broken the garage window!

[@aydeenwajdi]

Simple like this one

[@sidamarali3030]

Very simple , very nice, and seemingly very effective

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you! They're very accurate for sure, and can be quite powerful with the right bands and ammo.

[@chriskaiser3389]

Nice job! I enjoy your videos and your slingshot creations.

[@minjongyoon1448]

super talented!

[@peterpryde962]

that's awesome, thanks for sharing brother

[@sharpshooterjd]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching and for the comment!

[@apugnr]

Pedaso de gomera hiciste man... la precision de esa cosa es una locura!!!

[@christopheranichol9982]

Awesome job...thanks for sharing!

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you very much! My pleasure :).

[@DGA2000]

Great job. Great slingshot

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you so much!

[@vladimirtsyruk3552]

Thanx a lot for your video! Some ideas was born in my head inspired by it. Now i want to do something similar. GL, man!

[@gulloorandhawa2287]

pretty neat project and well done.

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you very much!

[@rustamgani6826]

Very nice!!! Thanks and good luck!

[@terapiadoestilingue1277]

Muito bom. Saudações do Brasil

[@S2RiCeGuRlS2]

excellent job thanks for uploading

[@sharpshooterjd]

+S2CHIS2 Thanks! You are very welcome!

[@adrizzalscasillas5887]

Keep you and your family in my prayers hope things get better for you.awesome work

[@sharpshooterjd]

Wow thank you so much. Means the world to me :).

[@antonioguerrero9496]

VERY GOOD SHOTS

[@misfolgales9089]

Интиресно.спасибо. У тебя крутая мастерская.так держать;)🖒😀

[@sharpshooterjd]

Glad you guys are finding this video enjoyable! I had annotations/captions on the video that explained a bit more of the process, but sadly, youtube decided to remove all annotations from their platform which deleted all of that information from many of my videos. My apologies.

[@waseembirdsfishingtv198]

Sad

[@manjunathshetty7515]

Which is rubber used and what is the measurement. Please let me know wheather this is ava for sale ok amazon

[@tombeckett4340]

Cool thanks 🇨🇦👍

[@plumbum4291]

Если бы я там стрелял, окно бы рассадил в дребезги)))) Мне как-то подарили на ДР рогатку, но как-то побаловался и забросил, сегодня достал, интересная вещица))) снарядов мало только.

[@joepalermo3836]

I still have the one ya made for me 👍

[@nescaurocha173]

Ola, sou mecânico industrial, e observei que você também é da Área. Gostei muito!

[@robertohernandez2707]

Awesome my friend 👍👍👍

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thanks so much!

[@olechuga2]

Great job!

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you!

[@TheSlingshotKing]

Very nice! I didn't know you could forge/hotbend aluminum!

[@sharpshooterjd]

+The Slingshot King Thanks! Yep! It is very strong but has a low melting point, so a little heat and you can shape it at will! Just don't heat it up too much or it will melt on you, which would be bad lol :).

[@raymondaloies2543]

Tou good vary vary nais

[@angel-vd1xk]

Very powerful slingshot 😯 i like it

[@flysomethingdamitdotcom8788]

Right next to the window beautiful

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you! I thought so too

[@tarashankardutta5729]

You have made a awesome slingshot. I realy like it.

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you

[@Rk-kk2jy]

Nice job done and thanks for the video.

[@mahemahendra5052]

Thank you

[@sharpshooterjd]

You are very welcome.

[@sharpshooterjd]

Hey everyone. I thought I would clarify a bit. This video has been in the works for way too long. I drafted this edit a little a while ago, but just thought something was missing. It took me a long time to get it where it is, and I am super proud of it now that it's done. But in all actuality I filmed this over 6 months ago. So in response to some of your comments I still am in the same hotel :(. This was filmed in my old shop. I hope one day soon I will be making things again, but not yet. If you guys could pray for us to find a house soon I would very much appreciate it. Have a good day everyone, and I hope you enjoyed the vid :). Josh

[@jacobhunter725]

do you sell your slingshots

[@sharpshooterjd]

Yes I do. I sell them on the forums, and at www.etsy.com/shop/joshsblacksmithshop. But not currently as we still do not have a house.

[@sofianechaklal2475]

Jacob Hun

[@spersuchen1613]

SharpshooterJD

[@carminecuomo9072]

What material the spring is made of

[@Bangladeshivloggersumikabir]

Very nice slingshot ❤❤❤

[@007355300]

I need to try a build. That 1 looks awesome.

[@sharpshooterjd]

+jesse harris You should! You might not want to start with hot bending metal, but if you careful it's actually not that hard. Thank you!

[@007355300]

+SharpshooterJD I like the shape of this one. I am working on getting more tools to hopefully build some hdpe stuff. Btw I just got a killer metro prototype that I will do a vid on very soon. I think you will like this frame.

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thanks :). Sweet man! Ah that's cool, metro makes some rockin stuff. I love his new hydra design :D. I generally don't buy slingshots, but I should probably pick one of his up.

[@ravshanr4264]

Beautifull Super

[@gregkoe60]

Good work!

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you!

[@normcote270]

Nice job!!!

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you!

[@zeangelinofishing961]

nice to watch bud!!😀 I hope the move wented all right let us know how you're doing!!

[@sharpshooterjd]

+Slingshooter PT Thank you! And thank you for the concern! We are still in the same place sadly, this was filmed back in my old shop. Sorry for the misconception. Regardless I am doing good though :). We are still looking for houses. It's just hard because it's my parents retirement home and we want it to be perfect so we don't have to move again. We just have to trust I guess :).

[@charltonskirving7133]

Nice work

[@sharpshooterjd]

Charlton Skirving Thank you :).

[@juanitotecpile6333]

Good amigo.

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thanks!

[@walmiraraujo8810]

Ficou muito bom

[@zwillenfink9729]

nice video👍 thank you

[@gunterkeller8171]

Massageöl

[@angnguyen6298]

Quá đẹp bạn ơi.

[@CondensedComments]

I liked finding the Bible scripture in the description! Nice sawing skills too! Right down the middle. :D

[@sharpshooterjd]

Glad you liked them! Thanks! One day I will get a bandsaw to make my life easier :).

[@Broskidile]

Glad to see you back doing what you love!

[@sharpshooterjd]

+Justin Bereczki Not yet I am afraid, this was filmed back in my old shop. Hopefully soon. And thanks for watching man :).

[@Broskidile]

Brutal! Well I hope you get it figured out soon. I've been perusing your Etsy shop and am waiting for some new stuff!

[@sharpshooterjd]

It's not too bad. Just the fact that I have a place to shoot videos is a blessing, otherwise I might have had to stop posting until we found a house. Awesome! Ha believe me I can't wait for those new items either ;).

[@sharpshooterjd]

Did you enjoy the vid?

[@Broskidile]

+SharpshooterJD i havent got to see it yet because im in class! but i look forward to it when i do!

[@henryduasrodas]

Quero uma dessa!

[@airgunmaintenance429]

Nice man

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thanks man :).

[@srkhansrkhan3687]

ډير ښه زبردست good

[@daniele_trioni]

Nice!!!

[@mjunaidjutt1948]

well done.

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thanks!

[@niloalejado3983]

+SharpshooterJD very good

[@shepherdden9281]

thanks for sharing this awesome video

[@sharpshooterjd]

Your are very welcome! Thanks for watching and for the comment!

[@user-qf9gm7zo8l]

shepherd den

[@SANAD_GTX]

Impressive 👍

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thanks!

[@Joeboken]

Very cool, and looked easy to make. Have you thought about maybe wrapping some paracord around the handle?

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you! I have, but I like the grip so much as is, I have not tried it yet :). One day I will.

[@Joeboken]

@@sharpshooterjd Well of course it's a personal choice, whatever is more comfortable for you. For me, I think I'd go with the paracord, it would give it another level of usefulness too, and if you should ever need the paracord, you already like the bare handle so no loss, lol.. Thanks for the reply, and good luck.

[@sharpshooterjd]

@@Joeboken Totally. A friend of mine, took one of my steel rod frames and paracord wrapped it. It was pretty cool.

[@adamk.u.t2636]

عشقي للمصيادة لا ينتهي 😆 ما اعتقد يوم من الايام ماعندي مصيادة

[@user-vo1qg7ju4v]

เจ๋ง!!

[@TheMarti123456789]

Nice video Josh! I wish to see more videos like that! What about making a dankung? there aren't much videos showing how to make it and I love how you make your videos( i mean the quality, the camera perspective, etc.) Hope you can find a house soon!

[@sharpshooterjd]

+martipf Thanks!! And thank you for your input! I hope to make videos like this more consistently when I am making things again. Build videos are my favorite :). I am definitely planning on doing a Dankung style shooter sometime in the future, it's a little difficult to make without a bending jig, but I am sure I'll try it at least once. I am so glad you like my videos! And again thank you!

[@josemansurlemos4580]

Muito bom, very Good!

[@santoshpareek9031]

It is a wonderful creation, strong and perfect,and has given an idea to me also to make one। Out of a stainless steel rod thanks alot। Chap, sk pareek Bhawanimandi Raj INDIA

[@user-tl5uc9xb4u]

good!

[@antonneubauer9344]

Found it on etsy looks pretty sweet

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you!

[@aldosotti5925]

bravo, ottimo lavoro e ottimo tiratore!! per caso le vendi? ciao

[@airon908]

How does one manage to reach Chuck Norris Level of this bad assery.

[@sharpshooterjd]

Trial and error man! Also a lot of tinkering, youtube watching, sweat, blood, and tears :D.

[@airon908]

SharpshooterJD​ :0

[@TheDIYMaster]

nice job man:) I didn't know you could do that!

[@sharpshooterjd]

+TheDIYMaster Thanks! Yep :D. I didn't know either until I tried it :).

[@TheDIYMaster]

+SharpshooterJD haha:) what phone or camera do you use?

[@sharpshooterjd]

For this video I used a cheap android phone. For all of my new videos I use a LGg4 filmed in 4k and down ported to 1080p.

[@TheDIYMaster]

oh cool you should down port it to 2k it would take long to process though if your like me i wouldn't do that:)

[@sharpshooterjd]

+TheDIYMaster I don't have the software to do that, my free software just automatically downgrades it to 1080p lol :).

[@floorsixteen.2796]

The Window lol

[@BRTTENBRG-ST150]

just gunna do a shooting test ( right nect to a window ) yeah perfect

[@raulmatute9677]

Allityte Graphics.

[@RJ-xh3hs]

Allityte Graphics

[@user-vj7dc7ic9x]

لاءنالانمنايل لنكمامهغحهغنه كنااخو لله بلاد تننان أماااننا مع لملءتللر ملقي.لتو

[@user-vj7dc7ic9x]

@@RJ-xh3hsتمم

[@user-vj7dc7ic9x]

حسن لاا ىو

[@joenguyen-vlog8063]

Liked. 👍😀

[@elrayeshamido3905]

فكرة رائعة شكراعلى مجهودك

[@shepherdden9281]

el rayes hamido العفو اخي

[@user-qf9gm7zo8l]

shepherd den 😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣🤔

[@user-qf9gm7zo8l]

عيد ميلاد خاص جداا في كل

[@ivosleite]

congratulation Brasil 2018

[@mijit.859]

It’s a beauty !! Well made ! 😨

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you sir!

[@fearghalmorrissey2601]

Well done...why is there so many dislikes on this video??

[@2hot2shr]

Nice

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thanks :).

[@IndigoDroid01]

Esto es a mano 🤝

[@happymonk4323]

nice work ... you need to tighten those vise broe..

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you! Yeah, it's a cheap vise and at this time I didn't really have anything sturdy to attach it too. It's much more solid now.

[@brunotambari5691]

Такий гарний хлопчик. Далеко піде. Сам такий був.

[@antonioguerrero9496]

BEAUTIFUL HOW MUCH IS IT

[@Anmobgoccult20]

Well done, what can be said about such good and very meticulous work, I wish all people could be so detailed, but they can't, absolute respect from old BG. p.s. When I was a kid, I used the same detailed way to work slings and bows and everything.

[@user-ic6tr8ch8j]

فنان

[@brandon2076]

Very nice! A few tips when working with files and hacksaws: You should only apply pressure on the file when its being pushed forward, because they only remove material on the forward stroke. Dragging the file backward on the material will round over the cutting edges and prematurely dull the file. And believe it or not, it's the same with hacksaws! This only really applies and makes a difference when cutting metal. By the way, where the heck did you get that beautiful beast of an anvil? I'm searching for one right now, i want to get into knife making.

[@sharpshooterjd]

+brandon2076 Thanks! Ah you know what I have had people tell me that before, but I keep on forgetting. Makes sense though since the teeth only run in one direction. Thanks for the tip! I actually got it from a friend who had gotten it from someone else, who had it sitting in his garage for a couple of years. When I got it it was a hunk of rust, but man is it nice underneath :D. I was in the same boat as you are before I got this thing. I would just pick up a rail road track until you can find something better. They honestly work pretty well. You could also pick up a really big, cheap cast iron anvil. And then plate the surface in a piece of hard-enable steel. But that would take a serious forge.

[@MichaelWinesburg]

👍👍👍👍

[@janner2121]

Top job, will do the same , but you didn't show how you fixed the bands in place, please clarify for us , thanks

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you! The bands are attached using the reverse matchstick attachment method. A quick Google search will show you what it looks like. It used to be used a lot on wooden slingshots.

[@raresneagu9830]

Hello... Nice job... You should have shooted the way you put the latex on the slingshot.. How many centimetres is the slingshot?

[@ernestoarias2773]

But you did not show how you attached the band.

[@BAEESCOPE2010]

Neat

[@chriscarter9566]

Be even better bud with some aiming dimps filed into the outer folks

[@sharpshooterjd]

I've done that with some of them. It does work! I usually just draw a line on the band instead, a little more precise.

[@nathancastillo764]

Whats the total length of the aluminium rod you use ????

[@craigchisholm7399]

As above question "what was the total length of alloy rod used?" - keen to know

[@randybatholomew715]

Fabulous. How did you attach the rubber slings (bands) to the grooves in the slingshot? Excellent work.

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you! Check out my other video on matchstick band attachment

[@SH-sj5zm]

Is it comfortable to use?

[@johnhancock4303]

I was cringing with that window so close to target XD

[@sharpshooterjd]

Cringed though you may be, the window still stands, just as it was before 😇

[@EdwinDueck]

I would have moved the box farther from the window, accidents can happen.

[@sharpshooterjd]

That would have been smart for sure

[@EdwinDueck]

@@sharpshooterjd I meant it more in a joking manner. 😂😂

[@ssacra22]

Just curious, how long did you have to heat the aluminum rod with the torch to get it to bend so easily? Thanks and well done

[@sharpshooterjd]

Not sure. I do it by feel. The color of the flame starts to change subtly as you approach the proper temp. You got to be careful not to melt it too as it has a very low melting point. It all just comes with practice. Thank you!

[@TimeWellSpentHere]

I am pretty new to your channel, but you seem to be a nice guy with some great skills and videos! Also that is a nice slingshot! Might have to try bending aluminum myself sometime :)

[@sharpshooterjd]

+LetsBuildIt Thanks so much! And welcome to the channel! I am glad you like it :). You should! It is a lot of fun. You can also hot and cold bend steel. If you want to get started bending metals I would recommend starting with 1/4 inch round steel and a vise and just see what you can make. 1/4 inch is thin enough that you can bend it cold, or you can use a torch and do crazy things like braiding it :D.

[@TimeWellSpentHere]

So it seems that 1/4 inch equals to 6,35 millimeters. I have found a store that sells 6mm thick rods, which should be possible to use for this. I really don't think 0,35 millimeter thickness will matter! I don't have a propane- or blowtorch so cond bending is the way to go. I think I could make a jig for better control and strength when bending!

[@sharpshooterjd]

Awesome! That ought to work. Just one thing, try to get hot rolled or cold rolled steel. I would recommend staying away from galvanized if you are going to be working it, heating it, or sanding it. It's kind of nasty stuff. Nice! Good luck man!

[@TimeWellSpentHere]

You're right, galvanized metal is some nasty stuff! I think I used it once when making an arrowhead from mild steel. Do you have any special method to tell if a metal is galvanized or not?

[@sharpshooterjd]

LetsBuildIt I'm lucky enough to buy most of my metal new. So I really don't have to deal with that. I would recommend going to homedepot and looking at galvanized products and familiarizing yourself with what they look like. Also run a search on it and see what you can find. Here is what I found after a little digging. It's in the context of forging, but it means the same thing pretty much. Galvanized metal is easy to recognize. It is a zinc coating over steel, usually applied by dipping the steel into a tank of molten zinc. A galvanized coating is going to be bright or even shiny to some degree. (the metal won't have a coat of rust) You do NOT want to put galvanized metal into your forge. The zinc coating will burn off in a fast and furious fantastic flame. (excuse me, I got a little carried away) It will put a nasty coating on the inside of your forge and the fumes are toxic. If you visit your local hardware store and look at all of the pipe fittings you will see that some are black or even rusty and others are a bright gray or silver. C Michael Graf (Mikegraf) Easy to recognize in all its faces yes. I wouldn't count on the shiny part though. Shiny to dull gray. You probably own a galvanized steel mop bucket.

[@MTZ_ZTM]

Can you please tell me what was the length measurements? Cheers

[@mikethepainter]

man would I be in trouble if I shot that thing toward that glass. i probably would have it the glass knowing my luck

[@sharpshooterjd]

Yeah, don't try this at home. It was a dumb thing to do.

[@crisshowe7668]

what did you use for the elastic band? How did you attach it to the slingshot? please show. I have subscribed

[@sharpshooterjd]

Criss Howe The bands are 3/4 inch to 1/2 inch tapered, die cut latex flat bands from simple-shot.com I have a tutorial on my channel on how to attach the bands. It's called the reverse matchstick slingshot band attachment method.

[@sharpshooterjd]

Criss Howe Also, thanks for the sub :).

[@juliosdiy3206]

Nice work i will be making one soon i just bought my rubber kit.

[@sharpshooterjd]

Thank you! That's awesome :). Good luck!

[@greenjoe4202]

I don't think you're allowed to show that on KZbin.

[@sharpshooterjd]

Show what?

[@greenjoe4202]

SharpshooterJD i was making a dirty joke, it fell flat.

[@sharpshooterjd]

greenjoe420 Yep.

[@sidamarali3030]

Which type of rubber bands did you use with it?

[@sharpshooterjd]

I normally use medical latex or theraband gold flatbands.

[@KJ7JHN]

But you never showed me how to anodize it.

[@AceOfThrowingCards]

Hey Josh, do you have any experience melting down aluminum to liquid and using the aluminum liquid to make completely new shapes?

[@sharpshooterjd]

I do not sorry. One day I'm going to try smelting/casting. But I have not done it yet.

[@AceOfThrowingCards]

You don't need to be sorry. facebook.com/aceofthrowingcards/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel I've been working on that recently. ^^^^ With some success, but my way isn't as efficient as I want it to be. Also I'm really surprised you've never done this before. It only cost me about 20 dollars to do this. Most of that was for a hair dryer. Oh well, I hope I gave you a good idea. If you try this and find a way to do it more efficiently then me please let me know.

[@sharpshooterjd]

+AceOfThrowingCards That's a good start! One day hopefully I'll get to try it :).

[@carminecuomo9072]

What material the spring is made of

[@jeremybrisbois4504]

How did u tie the bands on I have a vintage slingshot that idk how to tie the bands on

[@justicekaton8715]

There's a few videos,I would explain but I'd just put your band on and wrap another strong or rubber band around it and tie it off so it won't intrude