Fimo is a soft modelling clay that hardens in the oven. I have used it before but somehow, for no apparent reason, stopped using it.
It is ideal for modelling a Panther handle, any shape you like. The advantage over epoxy putty is quite obvious: You have all the time in the world to form it. You can even completely remove it and start anew. Only when you are completely happy with the result, you carry it in the kitchen and bake it much like a frozen pizza.
Fimo is available in many stores, but I buy it online. You need four or five 56 g blocks for a Panther. It ain't expensive, about two dollars for one handle.
Here is a sample auction on ebay.com
After hardening, you can sand it, polish it, spraypaint it - anything. I sanded it to remove the fingerprints and soften the shape a bit. But you can leave it raw, every crease and line of your hand will be there.
It takes only a few minutes to make YOUR handle, full blown ergo, and it will last. This is just about the perfect solution for those who are not experienced in woodworking, or simply have no time for that.
It is also possible to use different colors and knead them in a way that you get a "marbled" finish - quite appealing.
this is very nice.i have no words to express myslf
ReplyDeleteawesome. Looks really good. I will probably end up doing that to a metal frame one day
ReplyDeletenice!
ReplyDeleteI like your slingshots verry much!
And now you can make them in 5 minutes!!!
hhmmm, that gives me some ideas of how to modify a sling, sort of a concealable staff sling concept...
ReplyDeleteYellow
ReplyDeleteI have a question about this fork: how wide flat band (I use gold theraband) can you mount on this, and does it tend to break when its stretched over this little “horns”? :)
As for the fimo: isn’t it brittle? Can it chip off when dropped on the ground?
Damn, it look very good on this polished fork :) I have been using similar clay when I was in the kindergarten. Great stuff :)
Cheers
Rafal
Never tried Fimo before,, but i might be trying sooner or later, by the way, awesome slingshot :).
ReplyDeleteNice idea to make easy to produce but perfect fitting handles. My only concern is will fimo last a long time or can it break?
ReplyDeleteFimo isn't brittle at all. It may chip or break when abused, but not more than a piece of wood.
ReplyDeleteI have Fimo slingshots that lay on the shelf for three or four years, they are as good as new.
Nice, gotta try that. btw nice new channel background
ReplyDeleteYes, Thomas Kole did a great job once again, did he not? :))))
ReplyDeleteBeautiful mod :)
ReplyDeleteI remember Fimo also and had forgotten about it until now. It also comes in a wide variety of colors, so a handle could be very interesting.
ReplyDeleteGood to see this again. You have made some very interesting looking sling-shots using this before. The several colors used before really gave an unusual appearance when they were kneaded together. There is a lot of room for experimentation there such as embedding solder, glitter, jewels, acorns, whatever. Using a razor to cut into layers of different clays can also expose the different underlying layers of clay and produce unique appearances. Good to see it being used again. (and thanks for the English buttons.)
ReplyDeleteI´ll tried the "Fimo"-Grip, but got one little Problem. The Material seems to "Shrink" somehow in the coolingphase so it gets loose on the metal centerbar of my slingshot. Any tips for that kind of problem?
ReplyDeleteFor German Users:
Ich hab die Fimo-Griffvariante probiert, aber ein kleines Problem fest gestellt. Scheinbar schrumpft das Fimo etwas beim Abkühlen,wobei es sich etwas vom Metallkern der Schleuder lockert. Gibt es tipps um dieses Problem zu lösen?
I'm always nervous about putting non-food stuff in my oven, but FIMO seems to be pretty safe from what I've read. Just to be safe I think I'll use an old toaster oven, instead of the one I use for cooking.
ReplyDeleteVery nice slingshot.
ReplyDeleteWith Fimo you can do a lot of things. I've tinkered so much sooner with it
The slingshot is so flush and it's a really good design. It would be a really good hunting slingshot and a joy to shoot with. From your number1 fan Julian casallas.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! good idea! your Phanter manual is also a very good thing!!
ReplyDeleteHumm, I never heard of Fimo, but seems a nice material to make model! Your work is great, guy, keep it up!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Brazil, we love slingshots here too!
I know you make it!
ReplyDeleteThis is very impressive. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog from your Youtube videos, which I really enjoy. I love slingshots and have plenty of dogwood trees on my property which may turn into some. But I hope I win one of the ones you are giving away. :-)
ReplyDelete@Hired-Gun: I use original Fimo and never saw this effect. The "Panther" has these slots in the handle that go all the way through, so if the material shrinks, it would stick even more to the frame.
ReplyDeleteI've used Sculpey, a modeling compound, polyform oven bake clay, to custom make some figures but it turned out really badly. Yours looks professional! Thank you for the free Panther Manual!
ReplyDelete-Wmpyr
Hmm... Maybe i made an error in the process. Or the shaft was to smooth. I´ll give it maybe another try later on.
ReplyDeletePS: Did you ever tryed to use a pipe bracket for a cheap DIY-Slingshot? Those parts are Cheap and you can get them everywere ;)
For all the Germans:
Hmm....Vielleicht hab ich irgendwo einen Fehler bei der Verarbeitung gemacht, oder die Oberfläche der Metallstange war zu glatt. Vielleicht versuche ich es später noch einmal.
PS: Hast du schon mal versucht, aus einer Rohrschelle eine Eigenbau-Schleuder zu bauen? Die Dinger sind billig und fast überall bekommen ;)
I like the new website look!
ReplyDeleteNice job i miss the old welded monster frames but slingshot cannons will do. Nice Background!!
ReplyDeleteThat is such an awesome slingshot! I love the blue color. Its amazing how that only took you five minutes! By the way, I really like your new blog back round. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of this stuff before but it looks really handy so I just hopped over to ebay and ordered some. You're an endless source of cool ideas and inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to try fimo too,if i win a Panther!!
ReplyDelete;-)
Very nice look you got with this, what is the "bake time" you recommend for the clay to harden properly?
ReplyDeleteBTW, nice web page design update!
Nice,thanks for the reminder. I may have to try that.
ReplyDeleteBake time is 30 minutes at 130 degrees centigrade. Bake it longer or hotter, it will turn brittle. Bake it shorter and less hot, it will stay a bit spongy, which sometimes may be desirable.
ReplyDelete@porcelanowy: I always cut my Thera Gold 2,8cm at the fork side and 1,8 cm at the pouch. I use several layers for heavy ammo. At the slingshot party last week, we shot a Panther with four layers per side, 29 cm active band length. None of us could draw this out beyond half butterfly, but it is really powerful and lasts a long time. It was as good as new at the end of the evening.
I have no woodworking skill at all... but I could probably do this. Thanks for the GREAT Tip.
ReplyDeleteLove the handle idea. Never thought to modify a slingshot with a custom grip. Hope I get a chance to fire one of yours someday.
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ReplyDeletesir your slingshot's are great! you are very skilled at what you do
ReplyDeletelooks fantastic jeorg!
ReplyDeleteAwesome stuff Joerg.Sad to see you leave the forums but onwards and upwards,we need more guys like you to break from the norm and show more innovation,that's how things improve and evolve.Always a fan,keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteno more slingshotforum?
ReplyDeletei have used fimo before it is amazing i recomend it
ReplyDeleteNo, I left the slingshotforum after people insulted me there. Life is too short for that stuff.
ReplyDeleteHallo Jörg,
ReplyDeletesieht klasse aus. Du hast bei allen deinen Schleudern ein gutes Händchen fürs Design. Ich mache nächste Woche mit ein paar Kumpels auch eine Slingshot Party. Die Frauen machen Tupper, wir großen Jungs Slingshot Party. Einwandfrei und gute Idee.
Viele Grüße aus dem Hunsrück
Nice solution to make ergo handles! That way, everyobody can do something reasonable and pimp their slingshot..
ReplyDeleteLooks great, sure i,m gonna give that a try on one of mine :) question: do you use a cutting torch for making the frames ?? I,m making a metal frame , but i have the feeling that i,m very slow :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best.
Realy nice slingshot Joerg. Again :) Btw. I like new blog design :)
ReplyDeleteNice stuff...you could alsso use it as an positive, if you want to do a grip out of latex(dunno if i mean the right stuff at the moment)or something like that
ReplyDeletenice slingshot there
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Ever thought about a "tactical" sling shot? lights, laser site, ergo grips, black plastic, etc. Ridiculous, I know. :)
ReplyDeletefimo is a good cheap way of making handles, ive used it for replacing knife handles and fixing my fishing reel handle three years later and its still as good as new
ReplyDelete5 minutes wow thats a really fast mod!
ReplyDeleteThat slingshot looks really amazing, very elegant.
ReplyDeleteI've seen you use this modeling clay a lot i seriously need to get some and try it, it just looks so comfortable.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing you use fimo for your slingshot, I have thought about all of the other possible ways to use it. It seems like some neat stuff.
ReplyDeleteTake care
very convenient apparently, nice work!
ReplyDeleteYellow
ReplyDeleteThanks for the explanation’s about the fimo and the toughness of TBG.
I have never thought bout that stuff until a sh…tty rubber tube broke at the fork and poked me in the chick real hard :) Probably have to buy some safety glasses anyhow.
Cheers
Rafal
Looks awesome, but can the winner chose the handle style?
ReplyDeleteWow this looks so sexy! I'm always watching your channel now
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome. Thanks for the tip on the clay!
ReplyDeleteDude, you are so beast. Not to brown nose, but I don't think I've ever known or heard of anyone that 'specializes' in slingshots. Good work!
ReplyDeleteI cant wait
ReplyDeletecant wait to see yuur cannon iam new to making slingshots due to seeing your youtube site can you make one from a horse shoe i tried but was no good as i am crap at the moment.
ReplyDelete