Super shooters! With bottle caps and balloons, you can easily make yourself a powerful pocket slingshot. So grab a marshmallow and start shooting!
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POCKET SLINGSHOT
SAFETY KEY:
+ Adult supervision + Projectiles + Safety shades
WARNING:
Avoid using ammo harder than a marshmallow because as innocent as this looks, it packs quite a punch and it’ll leave welts.
SKILL LEVEL:
EASY
INTERMEDIATE
ADVANCED
APPROXIMATE TIME:
20 minutes
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
+ Wide-mouth juice bottle
+ Hacksaw
+ Sandpaper
+ Latex balloons
+ Mini marshmallows
LET’S BEGIN
BUSTING CAPS
1. Get yourself one of the juice bottles with a really wide mouth. Any kind will work, but Gatorade bottles seem to have some of the biggest mouths.
2. Use a hacksaw or a pair of scissors to cut through the bottle just below the top so it’s flush with the bottom of the plastic flange.
PRO TIP: If you don’t have a hacksaw, scissors will work, but you run a greater risk of cutting yourself.
3. Use some sandpaper, or the sidewalk, to smooth down the cut side of the plastic flange. Rubbing it around in circles will remove any plastic burrs and get it ready for adding the balloon.
4. Use your fingernails to remove the plastic band around the cap but don’t cut or break it. You’ll need this again a little later on.
PREP THE BALLOON
1. Find a balloon, any color you want, and snip the neck off about a quarter inch above the main body curve.
2. Stretch the balloon and pull it around the flange until the mouth lines up with the top edge of the bottle.
PRO TIP: Make sure the balloon is perfectly centered, and smooth out any wrinkles around the threads. If the balloon is out of alignment, your ammo may not shoot straight.
3. Replace the plastic band over the balloon so it’s back in position at the bottom of the threads. Then roll the top of the balloon down until it nestles neatly into the groove just above the plastic band.
4. Give your balloon a test tug from the bottom. When you pull the balloon, the ring should hold the top firmly in place.
READY, AIM, FIRE!
1. Your Pocket Slingshot is finished and ready for action. Hold the cap between your thumb and forefinger and load it by dropping a mini marshmallow into the balloon. Then pull back, aim, and release!
2. Practice makes perfect. Focus on pulling the balloon straight back so that upon release, it springs completely through the bottle top to the other side. Pulling at an angle could cause the balloon to snap back against your fingers, and that doesn’t feel great.
3. When you’re done using your slingshot, you can store your ammunition in it as well. Just load it up, screw the cap back on, and collapse it into a little puck that slides easily into your pocket. It is portable, inconspicuous, and tons of fun.
WARNING:
It’s important not to shoot projectiles at people or animals. These things can hurt a lot. So have fun, but be responsible about it.
FUN FACT: Loading your pocket slingshot with a pinch of salt can remove pesky flies from your house without damaging the walls.
Powerful pocket slingshots are cool but can be expensive. What makes this super shooter especially mind-blowing is that it can be made on a budget and the good times are never compromised. Persistence and curiosity always pay off!