Can You Please Recommend A knife

[Chubbs]

Hey Guys

While out with my son last week I decided to try my hand at whittling a catapult for the first time.

A week later I'm still at it, doing a little every night but the knife I am using is really not up to the job.

What would you recommend as a general allrounder for this purpose.

Cheers Neil

[FishyFolk]

Any Mora Knife will do the job. I like the Mora 711, as it got a very comfortable grip.

And they are probably the best value for money you will ever find.

[CanadianMike]

Heck, for that type of thing, good old Swiss Army Knife works well enough. ;)

[AL...]

I use a stanleytype knife to whittle catapults . There are a couple on one of the threads here so ye can see what they are like.

Cheers
AL

[AL...]

Here ye go

Cheers
AL

[Richie]

A little Opinel No6 is about £7, has a great blade and really easy to sharpen.

[Tony1948]

A mora is about the best starter knife you could buy,you can get them on ear for about £8or9 carbon steel one you wont.

[Suba]

Hey Chubbs, I've made a couple of naturals with this -
http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Erik-Frost-120-Wood-Carving-Knife/Pr205439000
and a dremmel!, but, for whittlin' and carvin' stuff, I've found it to be a great little knife.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w439/Subabloc/IMAG0088.jpg
http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w439/Subabloc/1stnaturalcattyfinished02.jpg

[CanadianMike]

I have that exact knife, is my main carving knife (when I carve), love it, so easy to handle.

[Chubbs]

Thanks for the really great, informative comments.

With all this info I'm sure that I will be placing an order soon.

AL and Suba

They really are great looking catapults. How long does it usually take to knock one up with that sort of quality.

[AL...]

Cheers Chubbs Glad ye like em . Takes me a day to make one from start to finish .
Great wat to spend a rainy day and up here we have had more than a few of them lol

Cheers
AL

[Chubbs]

I'm spending an hour or so every now and then creating one in front of the fire.

Where do you the rest of the supplies from. Are there any woodwork/craft forums that you use.

Neil

[AL...]

No I dont go on any woodcraft fourms .. Might be a good idea to find one though lol
I also make bowls out of Elm Burls all done with hook knives and a surform to shape the outside of it.
Its a great way to relax and not have to think of much other than making sure ye dont lose a finger lol
Look forward to seeing your Catty when its done.

Cheers
AL

[Chubbs]

Being a complete newbie to catapult making/whittling etc etc, what sort of finish do you guys use on your finished work. Is there certain dyes for certain woods, do some just use varnish and is there any sort of rules you follow e.g. varnish and sanding back so many times before applying a topcoat.

Neil

[AL...]

I sand them down with 60 grit then move on to 100 grit and finish off with 150 grit sandpaper.
If I want to colour the wood I put it in a tub of water with 2 spoons of Instant coffee for 24 hours (gives it a bonnie dark brown colour) then let it dry for another day then light sanding again with the 150 grit then a couple of coats of Butchers block oil.
Hope thats a wee bit of a help for ye.

Cheers
AL

[Chubbs]

A wee bit of help Al, that is excellent, thanks mate.

For my first attempt I am just going with the flow, seeing what is evolving as I sand away. I have learnt one thing pretty quickly though. That is not to pick an oversize piece of birch before I start !!.

Cheers Neil

[AL...]

If ye do find a big fork of birch or any other wood for that matter you can always take off the wast with a surform or a rasp .. Thats what I use. and glad to be of help .. Look forward to seeing your work when its done.

Cheers
AL

[Chubbs]

I've seen the catapult bands on fleabay and noticed the different sizes and strengths. Which one should I be aiming for, considering its my first one.

It would have been completed ages ago but I can't stop adding detail to it. Nothing special, its just because I'm only using a knife and lots of hard work !!.

[AL...]

Go for a light to medum set of bands bud easier for praticing with The ammo you can just get some marbles for shooting at cans great for that but dont use them for hunting.
Hope thats a help

Cheers
AL

[Suba]

Hi Chubbs,

I finished my catties with fine sandpaper
and then soaked in linseed oil overnight for one of them.
The other had a few coats of polyurethane varnish.

As for the bands, a lot of people use Gold Theraband,
either single for target using marbles or 9.5mm steel balls
or doubled for hunting using 12mm lead balls for ammo.
You can calculate your bands with this here -
http://slingshotchannel.com/band_calc.html

There's lots of different sizes of bands though,
depending on draw length, and preferred shooting style,
such as Albatross! See this -
http://wn.com/1611torsten

The red bands you can see on mine are Asda fitness bands!

You can attach them like this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRPTocVmeIA&feature=related
or this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bjSxWOWEH0&feature=relate
or this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqICuPixK94&feature=player_embedded

Not sure about square bands or tubes though, never used them.

This is good for targets -
http://www.targetz.com/targets01.htm

A forum worth checking and joining -
http://theslingshotforum.forumotion.com/

[CanadianMike]

Now I have a question, I found four feet of black Theraband tubing at a store, bought it, tried making slingshot bands from it, found it was either too long and slow shooting, cutting down, too heavy a pull and still slow. Should I cut in half or just open up with a single slit or something? This is workout band, no idea what to do with the rest of what I have (went through most of it on my slingshots, still never got something useful out of it.)

Ammo, well, we have large supplies here of 1/4" and 3/8" steel shot at hardware/hunting stores, so easy enough to stock up.

[AL...]

Hi Mike ..
You can try opening it up and cutting the bands Thinner . Something like 20mm at the forks and 15mm at the pouch .
That should give ye a better draw if the single bands aint good enough you can double them as in 2 bands on each fork. Kinda like I have done on the SS that I have made.
Give it a go and let us know how ye get on mate.

Cheers
AL

[CanadianMike]

Thanks Al, has me wondering about splitting at the forks, more because I have the slingshots that you slide the tubing over on each fork (a Barnett and a Marksman), not tied to. But, also sounds like a good little project, grab a saw and go for a stick wander. Lol

[AL...]

YUp go for a stick wander Mike :D

Cheers
AL