Short - shot device

If you add latex tubing to your throwline, you can shoot your weight.

Here's a video link to demonstrate it:

Video of Latex Tubing Shooting a Weight

is that like slingshot tubing? very cool setup!

I like your short shot design.

I think vinyl tubing has almost no elasticity and you might mean latex tubing.

At the Mississippi Rendezvous my demo was of latex tubing used to launch throw weights. Since then I have sewn many new ones using all kinds of latex.

It all started with a hand launched Flying Monkey toys that found on-line. See the site: SUPERFLYMONKEY.com

Be sure to click the "TRY ME" button to hear the sounds and see the story of the Magic Bananas.






See you at the top,
Dan

Treetramp,

You're correct that it's latex tubing, not vinyl tubing. I'll eventually edit vinyl out, which will certainly place our exchange out of context for someone reading at a later date.

Like you, I've been modeling the launch toy. In fact I'd like to hunt down the tubing that they're using. After seeing my son with one, I've been making prototypes that dispense line since 2005. I finally sat down to simplify the entire system, which resulted in something inline for a conventional weight. Since my son has out grown this toys, I may have to dissect them. Hopefully there isn't a PETA for animal toys.

Tweaking gear is a Sudoku type of pastime.

Flying Monkeys? - Magic Bananas?
This is too good to be true!

I went to their website and found out I can order the new limited edition “White” Superfly Monkey and, if that’s not enough, they are having a liquidation sale on defective Funky Chicken launchers. <no joke here>

With a promised range of 50 feet, these little monkeys are sure to add to my range & accuracy.



I’ll be attaching some light throw line to his… ankles… and report back here with the results.

Treetramp, Nice Find!
-Ej-

Y'all got to laugh at some of the funny things I say but I did find out that my monkeys respond better after I removed their helmets and cut slots for their ears. Now they can hear better and enjoy that wild laugh when they fly. My corgi goes ballistic each time they scream and will come a running from anywhere in the house.

Be good and don't make me send the Flying Monkeys!!!!

JimK,
Is your surgical tubing throw weight launch system ready for prime time?

I found that a length of surge-tube between upper & lower ascenders on SRT works way better than the old bungee trick. Way better!

Also. . .
A while back I came across a factory in Australia that manufactures hi-tech bungee cord for marine use which boasts a stretch & recovery rate of five times greater than surge-tube. I never did follow up on it though.

So Jim, does your Short-Shot device have a future?
Can it be refined?
Even 30 feet would make it a handy short range gadget.
Looking for more info on this,
-Ej-

---

P.S. “Hooded screaming monkey attacked by mad Corgi”.
Gee, I’m finally starting to feel at home here on the TCI board!

Hey EJ,

To me this is ready to implement on the fly. I think there's more definition on the type of material and length of segment to be worked out. There are some nuances to explore. There's an early indication that this will boost a conventional throw. Probably a tweak of technique and configuration will provide the best yield on performance. I know of one other climber that has that underway. If you're able to explore bungee material that would be very cool. Having others pass a technique around and finding ways to optimize it is fun. Though I'll play with a concept like that for a couple of years, I'm very frugal about exploring all possibilities. For me it has to be off the shelf from the local hardware store or something that I can sew with my basic skills.

If you map out the climbing process step by step, a list of opportunities for improvement bubbles up. I recognize that a shrewd machinist could whip up widgets right and left - which may or may not be economically practical. Based on how I grew up, I'll always take the Apollo 13 approach where you dump out the available materials on the table and reassemble them into a new process flow.

For example the simplest implementation of this is to attach a 10 inch "latex" tubing via a Pile Hitch to the throw line. It juts out perpendicular to the throwline. It ain't pretty, but it works. Because of that feature, I'll keep a piece of tubing on me as an option.

Please furnish us with some more specific specs. What size latex tubing do you use? Where do you get good tubing? What size weight do you use? What kind of throw line are you using?

What is a Pile Hitch? My knot books do not list it. Could you show us how to tie it?

You show an underhand grip while shooting. Could a top of the hand pinch grip (thumb and index finger) be used?

What is the misfire ratio? Is it dependable?

Jim, I didn’t want to push you for the engineering details but since the Treeman has set the table here, I might as well ask. . .

Is the tubing simply tied between the end of the throw line and the weight?
I have a few different tricks for attaching tubing to hardware but they are mediocre at best. How do you do it?

I’m sitting here on this cold winter night with 2 foot of tubing, a throw weight, some line, and the burning desire to build a better mouse trap.

Tutelage welcomed,
-Ej-

Treeman,

Let me know if this list answers your quesitons. There's an early indication that the 5.b. configuration (described below) will add power and height to the conventional swing and throw method.

Specifications
1. Wgt 8 oz.
2. Latex tubing 3/8" OD x 1/4" ID part no. 048643-065222
3. Throwline type shouldn't matter. The one depicted is 1/8" polyester from Sears Hardware.
4. Tubing length 10"
5. Configurations:
......a. Line threaded through the tubing
......b. Tubing connects the line to the weight.
......c. Only one end of the tubing connects to the throwline via the Pile Hitch below. This is the quick and dirty set-up done on the fly.

Throwing Procedure
1. Think of this as adding power to a flick of the wrist throw. It's not a sling shot type of shooter.
2. Holding the end of the tube in one hand and the weight in the other hand, stretch the tubing out.
3. Aim with the hand holding the end of the tubing.
4. Keep the wrist and elbow bent
5. Feel the force. Want the target. It's reliable on hitting it.
6. Release the weight.
7. Flick the wrist and add arm motion.
8. Release the tubing
9. Do this in any position on the body where the arm has ~1 foot of follow through. It can be a flick or a full arm extension.


Details on the Configurations
5.a. Once the 10" tube is placed on the throwline, the throwline is attached to the weight. A long tail is left. That tail is tied to the tubing. Thus far the Buntline Hitch has been highly successful in gripping the tubing over repeated cycles of throws. The advantage is that the integrity of the original throwline isn't compromised. The downside is that it's more cumbersome to reach maximum throw.

5.b. Here the tubing is the last 10" of the line. Slits small enough to run the throwline through are made in the tubing 3/4" from the end. Once the throwline is brought inside the tubing and back out of the slit, it's tied with a Buntline. A ~6" segment of throwline is made to connect the tubing to the throw weight in precisely the same manner. The advantage is that maximum distance is easily achieved. A second advantage is that it adds power to a conventional swing and throw. The downside is that the strength of hold is unknown.

5.c. This configuration is for the scenario where you have a conventional weight and no good option to swing it. Since we all carry 10" latex tubing in our pocket, you quickly pull it out and attach it via the Pile Hitch (below). The Pile Hitch holds one end of the latex tubing on the throwline. The other end sticks out away from the line. This configuration ain't pretty, and it ain't aerodynamic. It simply shoots a conventional weight, where a swinging throw can't go. The advantage here is the quick set-up on the fly. The negative is that it results in the shortest throw.

The Pile Hitch is commonly used to attach the throwline to the climbing line.

This will show the throwline connecting to the weight. A long tail is used to connect back to the tubing with a Buntline.

Though I've made configuration 5.b., it hasn't been photographed.

This one puts a smile on my face. It's quickly set up. That's all I have to say about it.

It uses the Pile Hitch to make the connection.

hey JimK, i tried your idea out today, on a tree just down the street. works pretty damn good. I can definetly see the advantage for this up in a tree.

thanks!