Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Cave Men only "Oooga Booga" => Topic started by: swamp monkey on January 09, 2011, 04:40:31 pm
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One was a simple leather project with no big deal about it. The other was a stinging nettle cordage project that required some finger weaving. I saw one in a photo collection from the Smithsonian and had to try it. It took about 60 feet of cordage. Both throw fine as far as I can tell. They can more than triple or quadruple the distance I can throw a rock by hand!
Accuracy takes practice.
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that's cool.
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I used to make slings when I was a boy. I was pretty good with them too. May have to put some together again.
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accuracy takes practice? heck, just getting your release down takes practice! lol. i still havent found a suitable place to practice slingin but nice slings!
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Thats something I wanna do in the next weeks. When I was a boy I made one, but didn`t get the skill how to use it. May be its getting better 40 years later.
Regards Uwe
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you are making some great stuff. keep it up.
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I made a few slings many years ago when I was getting frustrated with making bows. Mine were made out of scraps of leather, old show laces, or woven cotton string. My little brother and I got pretty good at flinging rocks across fields or into lakes. I was able to sling those stones about 100 yards. I have no idea if that's good or not, but I was impressed. Of course, accuracy was a different matter ;)
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I've ran across numerous threads mentioning the use of Stinging Nettles as a source of cordage. How/when does one gather this plant and yet avoid the very real hassle of the stinging aspect?
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Collecting stinging nettle needs to be done in September or October but before the second frost. Here is what I do. I touch the stalk with the palm of my hand and that is the ONLY part of my body I allow to touch the stalk. ANY other part of my body and those little trichomes will poke acid into my skin making me itch. The trick is our palms have thicker skin than any other part of our arms.
Once the stalks are cut I let them dry and then remove leaves. Once dry you can store until ready to remove the pithy center and work your cord. Stinging nettle does not do well with rot and will decompose quickly, so getting it before it goes bad is vital.
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So once it's been cut, dried and de-leafed the acid/irritation is gone? Thanks
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Yep. When de-leafing I sometimes wear a leather glove as I shuck leaves off. That keeps the crock between my thumb and forefinger form getting some acid. After that no worries about itching. I don't know what is out there for processing nettle but I have found it easier to simply use my pocket knife to split the dried stalk and then pop the pith off like you would dogbane. No crushing of the stalk needed. Once the fibers are removed from the pith and clearly dry, they store very well as a bundle or in a box. best of luck.
Oh and if you are like me you will take that first grab of stinging nettle while holding your breath. Then when the pain does not come you will be surprised and happy. Enjoy!
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Super cool! I learn something new on here everyday.
I have always been leery of Nettles after I "found" a patch as a young kid. I had access to a lot of woods, fields, creeks to roam when I was young and would spend most everyday out roaming and just enjoying the things boys enjoy. One particular day, a VERY hot one, I was dang near naked in just a pair of cut off blue jean shorts...my younger brother and I were running hog wild through the creek bottoms and I started to wade through a fairly thick patch of "weeds" as I raced my brother. Long story short, that patch of weeds was Nettles and by the time the stinging/itching registered I was so deep into this thicket that there was no short way out. I was left itching and stinging over my entire bare belly, back, legs and arms...it made or than an impression and it became one of those FEARED plants during my childhood ;D
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According to the green pharmacy, if you do get the sting, use something to crush the leaves, and use the juice on the sting. It is supposed to nullify the sting. ;) I have them in Montana, and there were some by my Workshop, and I didn't know what they were, but it didn't take long to find out. I mowed them down with the weed eater! ;D Didn't know they had any useful fiber. I know that in certain times of the year, they are edible. I weed eat them! ;D >:D
Wayne
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When I was a little kid, my Friends and I used to make slings out of old leather shoe, and boot tongues. Don't know how accurate we were but as well as I can remember I think we could come pretty close to what we were throwing at, but our main goal was just distance, and how large of a rock we could fling out there. It was fun. I have been thinking about making some again. Got lots of room, and rock in Montana. ;) At the huckleberry festival in Trout Creek, Mt., I met a Japanese woman who was doing fingerweaving, and she said she would teach me how to finger weave. So I will have to look her up, and then see if I can make a woven sling. I also have to get another book on Macrame, and try to make one that way also.
Wayne
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i tried making one of these a few years ago....... lets just say last year we finally replaced the largest window on our house >:D
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Dang fishfinder, isn't the way it goes. You make something interesting, and fun, and it ends up costing you a bundle. ::)
Wow the largest window in the house! :o So ...... uh, any more hobbies you tried your hand at lately? I mean at home..... ;D
Just keep that trebochet you are building, a secret for now...... ;)
Wayne
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Dang fishfinder, isn't the way it goes. You make something interesting, and fun, and it ends up costing you a bundle. ::)
Wow the largest window in the house! :o So ...... uh, any more hobbies you tried your hand at lately? I mean at home..... ;D
Just keep that trebochet you are building, a secret for now...... ;)
Wayne
how did you know, ;D to tell you the truth i am actually plannig to bbuild a trebuchet and a 2000-3000lb crossbow, now what damage could those do O:)
noel
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Well, if you try to shoot it in the house....... ::) Dang a 2-3,000 lb. cross bow? You going to shoot shovel handles? :o
Wayne
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Well, if you try to shoot it in the house....... ::) Dang a 2-3,000 lb. cross bow? You going to shoot shovel handles? :o
Wayne
not sure what to shot, but i will be using boat trailer winches to do it. i going to use it with regular arrows and pick of terrorists in the middle east from my yard >:D
this will be interesting ;D
noel
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Heck you could pick off a Brinks truck or two...... ::) ::) ;D Whoa Bob! What the hell was that, that just flew through both sides of the truck, I don't know, but I'm getting outta dodge! :o
Wayne
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i just got an awesome idea...... i could launch my self while holding a bow and hunt dear from the air ;D, it would be fun until i land and then SPLAT!!!!!!!!!!!
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It's all about the landing. :o Flying is the easy part. ;)
However it might make a few of those hunters who like to take snort or two before heading out to the stand, stop doing that.
Naw man it was real!! :o This guy was flying, like real fast, and shot my deer from the air, before I could take aim! You should have seen his eyes! :o They were huge, and his mouth was like real wide! :o Then I saw him go in for a landing, on the other side of the hill. It looked like he was trying to adjust for the cross winds or something. There must have been some other hunters over there, because he commenced to hollering, and cussing, something fierce! They must've been in his landing strip. :o No, no, I don't need a drink, and I don't think I need one ever again! I think this is a sign! ::)
Wayne
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is it a bird, a plane,...... no its an over weight teenager with a weapon flying through the air ;D
noel
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Love them,that brings back old memories,I use to make them when I was a kid out of a boot
tongue ,suprising ,I got pretty good with it. :) Very nice work,you sure have some talant with you hands. :)
Pappy