The first phase of my long journey to restore the antenna has happened today. I got the new slingshot band in today and fixed the slingshot. Now I have to order some 10-15lb fishing line and some sinkers. The antenna will be a reality soon.
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The first phase of my long journey to restore the antenna has happened today. I got the new slingshot band in today and fixed the slingshot. Now I have to order some 10-15lb fishing line and some sinkers. The antenna will be a reality soon.
Cool! Where did you get your strap? I had to order my slingshot online because they are illegal here in Illinois. 1 month later I spotted the straps at Wal*Mart. Can't buy the slingshot but you can buy the strap. I bought 2 just in case.
Oh yeah, then the neighbors called the cops because they thought I was stealing cable.
Good luck, these projects can take years.:roll:Quote:
Originally Posted by n2ize
In the time John's been talking about doing this, I could have easily erected a 100' tower (the government of the Islets of Langerhans is easy on ham radio ops), including shipping time from the factory, the permitting process and digging the foundation hole.Quote:
Originally Posted by w2amr
Buy highly rated safety glasses next, John.
...and wear them. I've had some pretty close calls when the reel hangs up.
Well George, these jobs take proper planning. That can take many years... Now I have to put the slingshot through extensive safety, reliability, and effectiveness training before I can approve it's use for the actual job. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by w2amr
Don't shoot your eyes out......;)
Even some online stores refuse to ship slingshots to certain states. For example "Slingshot World" cannot ship to Massachusettes or New Jersey and probably other nanny states as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by KA9MOT
In any event I got the replacement strap from these folks.
http://www.slingshotworld.com/
and this is the band I bought from them
http://www.slingshotworld.com/marksman_3330band.htm
Their service was fast. They ship out of Maryland. I had the band in 2-3 days. I recommend them
I am only hoping I can get the string up high enough. I want to get it as close to the top of the tree as I can. At least >=65 feet. If the slingshot maneuver can't get enough altitude I'll have to settle for a lower antenna installation until I can get a bow and arrow up there.Quote:
Originally Posted by PA5COR
Thanks... good safety advice.Quote:
Originally Posted by ki4itv
I bought an EZ-Hang a few months ago to do antenna work here as this really screwed up state won't allow sling shot sales. If they had them at Wallyworld or the neighborhood gun shop I would have saved about 90 bucks. The EZ-Hang came with an extra band, too.
My experience, don't use those silly 1 ounce weights, first one I shot up into the tree is still there and won't come down. I used a 5 ounce that I have a few of and on the first shot got it over a 50 foot high limb. I detached the weight, attached my roll of yellow mason twine that I've had for quite a while and hauled that back over the branch with the fishing reel. Then used that twine to haul up my primary black rope and then my Off Center Fed Dipole. It's currently at 45 feet because of a lower branch that is in the way.
Having fun on HF all over again. We've had some wet and windy weather so haven't been able to shoot it higher because of that. And the leaves have come out really fast this year, too. I'm hoping to shoot it up over another branch about 70 feet up. The tree is really close to the house so it's almost a straight up and straight down shot.
Surgical tubing + tennis ball + 15 lb fishing line + some sticks = Slingshot for antenna... :snicker:
Boy, when I saw the name of the thread, I thought it was going to be another photo of MOT in his, well....you remember.
EYE BLEACH THATAWAY------------>>>
Heck, when I saw the thread reappear, I just knew John had put his wire up and I had finally won this harrowing test of antenna erecting procrastination skill.
I'm becoming concerned about his tenacity, and I need to misplace a few parts for a while.:)
What photo? :rofl: :rofl:Quote:
Originally Posted by K7SGJ
Attachment 5766
LIke I've offered before....I could have an all-set-to-go slingshot launcher up to you in Yonkers in about an hour. That's MORE than "reality [sic] soon." Could do it this afternoon.Quote:
Originally Posted by n2ize
AND that gives us the chance to get to know each other beyond lifeless, ordorless, tasteless bits, bytes and pixels -- an experience that is always very, very nice!
How 'bout it, John? You can have it on loan for as long as you want it.
Matter of fact, you'd be doing me a favor. It's been a while since I've had the car out & it needs to be used occasionally.
BTW....the hanger I got at a hamfest was very simply but effectively built. It's a braced slingshot with a Zebco fishing reel attached with hose clamps. Haven't used it yet...looking forward to that. And there are other ways of making them that google-fu can turn up.
Slingshots illegal in NJ... I am forced to climb my trees to put up wire antennae.
Illegal in Illinois too! That's why I had to go online to buy one. Wal*Mart sells the straps real cheap here though. Sometimes you just have to ignore the stupid laws
Fishing pole and heavy line all day long. Done.
Go out and practice in the yard or get your fishing permit and practice on the water.
You don't need a slingshot or specialized tools. A spinning reel, 8 or 9 foot rod, 2 to 3 oz sinker, 50 lb test and a steel leader.
If you're a real American, you should already have all these things. Are you, a real American?
Just did this very thing to rehang my 40m dipole.Quote:
Originally Posted by KG4CGC
Then you my friend, are a REAL American!Quote:
Originally Posted by KJ6BSO
You need to buy a special strap?
I question your amateur radio operator credentials, then good sirs!
Patch of cloth + 4 rivets + 8 ft of surgical tubing.
In fact, I'm a liberal (formerly) pot-smoking hippie commie rat-bastard. But I still like fishing.Quote:
Originally Posted by KG4CGC
Doesn't it just make you swell up with pride, knowing that you're a real American and not some pansy commie coward?
Poke out that chest boy. You've earned it!
Hmmmmm...Quote:
Originally Posted by KG4CGC
I'm using a Japanese-made spinning real. Does that count against my status as a Real American™?
Yer cathin' Merkin fish, ain't cha boy?Quote:
Originally Posted by KJ6BSO
I'm just saying you are able to purchase the strap in Illinois but not the slingshot....... :rofl:Quote:
Originally Posted by KC2UGV
That is how I used to do it when I wanted to loop it over the top of the tree. I prefer to shoot through the tree's canopy so I can use a large branch close to the trunk. It is hard to do that with a fishing pole. I've been a fisherman all of my life, but my aim just isn't good enough to shoot through the canopy. I only use a 3/4 oz weight though. Maybe I should try it with a larger weight.Quote:
Originally Posted by KG4CGC
2 to 3 oz weight. Arch high and let it chunk right down in the middle or spread your arch out a little and catch the top. Where it will sit varies by type and age of tree. Use common sense too. Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from falling branches. Use UV proof rope. Don't have stock plastic insulators? Get creative.Quote:
Originally Posted by KA9MOT
Last time I checked, the law was written so that they aren't illegal if you have a lawful explanation. Don't know, really, how that works out.Quote:
Originally Posted by N2RJ
So go to the Wal-Mart just across the state line in PA and buy a slingshot, the cheapest spin-casting or maybe even spinning reel you can find, a package of weights from the fishing tackle display, and two hose clamps of the appropriate size (the slingshot you're carrying by that time will be a good guide for that). Won't cost very much money at all.
Then, in the parking lot, find a place to mount the reel on the slingshot with the host clamps, then mount it.
If the reel didn't come loaded with line, load it.
Tie one of the weights onto the end of the line.
Pack it up real nice so it's obvious it's a useful tool, not a toy. There's probably a stuff-sack in the Wal-Mart off the parking lot you're working in that will do nicely as a carrying case for your brand-new Antenna Erector. Viola!
I use 40# SpiderWire. Awesome stuff and you can pull the tree over with it. It can cut you though............
Bows and arrows are not illegal here, and that seems to be a better alternative for many. I might invest in a good crossbow. No permit required and there are no "no discharge" laws here. Funny how they don't have a problem with the bow and arrow but have a cow over a slingshot.Quote:
Originally Posted by W1GUH
In another club I used to belong to (Ramapo mtn ARC) they had one or two guys who were experts with a fishing pole. They were able to get the lead sinker up so high with just a fishing pole and casting reel. Field day was perhaps more entertaining watching them do that than actually operating.
Thanks! I looked at that, I may get some.Quote:
Originally Posted by KA9MOT
Be sure to wear one of these to protect your arm.
Attachment 5935
http://www.amazon.com/Neet-NY3V-Yout.../dp/B003DQZV8Y :-D
Yea, it was comical when I went to find a slingshot. There I was amongst high-power rifles and ammo, hi-power bows and arrows with razor tips and all sorts of other "safe" stuff. And when the guy answered, when I asked about a slingshot, that "They're illegal" in New Jersey I almost burst out laughing. He told me they're illegal in NY, too.
Bow and Arrow vs. slingshot.
Used both. Didn't like using the bow near other houses -- too powerful; not to mention not recommended if it's been, like, decades since you last shot one. But...with judicious "creeping up on" how far to pull back for the job at hand, I finally got an arrow where I wanted it. But I was worried that a cop was gonna hassle me, or worse, all the time I was doing that.
Slingshot -- MUCH easier (without practice) and, IMHO, safer than the bow. I found it a LOT easier to aim -- got the sinker right where I wanted it the first time I used it. So the time spent outside using it is much shorter than with a bow (at least for a non-expert). YMMV (and looks like it does!)
BTW...the bow and arrows came from a hamfest!
Quote:
Originally Posted by N2RJ
Deleted
What kind of heights are you achieving with that throwline ?Quote:
Originally Posted by WN9HJW
Once you have the strap the "slingshot" can be made quite easily. from spare workshop materials Wood, plastic, metal tubing or metal rod, sheet metal, etc. can all be used to fashion an effective slingshot. Matter of fact even the strap is pretty easy to make... surgical tubiny and a small piece of scrap leather. .Quote:
Originally Posted by KA9MOT
Oh and as far as the law goes remember, it is not a "slingshot". It's an "antenna installation tool". ;)