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TRUMARK ® Slingshots / Catapults
SLINGSHOT MAINTENANCE 101
Trumark Slingshot frames are made from high quality aircraft Aluminum which doesn't rust. You can clean and shine the aluminum frame with fine steel-wool. For an even better look, next apply some commercial aluminum cleaner to polish the rod's surface. FLITZ® brand polish does wonders, and you can find it at hardware stores. Let the cleaner work for a few minutes, and then wipe it off with a soft cloth. With a little "elbow grease" the rod's surface can be polished to a mirror-like finish. Also, the slingshot's latex powerbands, leather pouch, and sponge rubber wrist-brace recoil-padding can be made to last longer by applying some high quality 303 Aerospace Protectant. You know, the wonder stuff used on car dashboards, tires, etc. to give them maximum protection against the elements! Just one application, will give you months of protection! 303 contains a unique UV protection system that helps block damaging UV rays and slow the rubber aging process". You can also use it to "spiff up" the plastic handle to a deeper-black color..

To learn more about the many features of this very usefull product, go to: 303 Aerospace Protectant.
Some Tips on how to apply.
It's available in handy, 2 Fl. Ounce., backpack size, spray bottles. It's applied on jet fighter-plane dash boards to prevent cracking from UV rays at high altitudes. It has a SPF of 40, the most UV protection offered by any surface protectant. It will prevent drying, cracking, and fading caused by overexposure to the sun. (It can also be used on rubber, tires, diving masks, neoprene, latex, door and trunk seals, weather-stripping, EPDM rubber roofs, CV boots, waders and wet suits). Be sure to apply some to the ends of the slingshot's wrist-brace padding too.
THE SECRET STUFF
GUMMI-PFLEGE!
For all you guys and gals who can afford to drive cars like BMWs, and want the best, this is the way to go! (Whenever we mention this stuff, we are surprised how many look at us like English is our second language). Gummi-Pflege, - which translates roughly to "rubber maintenance" - is BMW's solution for exactly that. A bit expensive at about $7 at BMW dealerships, Gummi-Pflege is especially good at preventing your bands from freezing up in winter. Gummi-Pflege looks like an ointment, and you won't need to use very much. Apply the paste evenly and sparingly.
Application Tips:
(Notice the small nozzle hole)
The best way to apply Gummi-Pflege is with your fingers. This serves three purposes. Reconditioning the bands will give you the opportunity to inspect the bands thoroughly for any signs of degradation. Secondly, the heat from your fingers melts the Gummi-Pflege, and it will soak better into the latex. Thirdly, you will be able to feel when enough Gummi-Pflege has been applied. Just pay attention to how the rubber feels when you are applying it, and how it feels after application.You will be able to tell areas of the bands that need additional application from those that are as conditioned as possible with Gummi-Plege, simply by running your finger tips over the band. The Gummi-Pflege 75ml tube should last a long time even if you gave some to your friends, applied it to all the rubber in your car seals, and throughout your house.

Caution Alert: Don't use any protectants too near the slingshot's powerband ends where they are attached to the fork prongs. This might cause the bands to eventually slip off the prongs when you pull back on the bands to shoot. This can happen if the cloth is too wet when you rub the protectant on the bands as you get close to the band's ends. Some of the liquid might creep under the rubbers where they are attached to the prongs, if you're not careful.

Note: Latex rubber is a "live" organic material so it will naturally deteriorate and lose its flexability over time. It's a good idea to give the latex bands some extra protection, especially when you first buy the slingshot or put it into storage for long periods of time. Restoring / protecting rubber is a good idea because natural latex is very unstable chemically and highly sensitive to environmental factors such as oxygen, pollutants, and especially ultraviolet rays in visible light like fluorescents and daylight.

Powerband Replacement: If your powerbands break too soon soon after you have purchased the slingshot, you might have hit (nicked, scratched) the end of the fork prong and rubber tubing with a jagged rock. (If you do use stones it's a good idea to take a little time and pick up some good round ones that are not too large). Very Important: Repairing the aluminum prong ends is easy, and only takes a few minutes. First, remove the bands by rolling them off the prongs with the thumb or heel of hand. Then carefully examine the round ends of the slingshot prongs for any nicks or scratches. Usually you can see the nick with your eyes, but you can also feel with your fingers for any roughness. Any nicks can be fixed by using fine steel wool or #320 grit sandpaper to "polish, smooth" the nick away. Since aluminum is a rather soft metal, this is not hard to do. If your prong tips are "perfectly" smooth your slingshot will be like new, and the powerbands will last a lot, lot longer! Even new bands will break very quickly if they are installed on prongs that have been damaged.
How to easily install Trumark®
Slingshot powerbands:
1.) Dip the band ends into approximately 1/8 inch of ordinary rubbing alcohol that does not contain any glycerin or lotion. Do not use soap anywhere on the bands, as soap will cause the bands to deteriorate.

2.) Slip the bands on about one inch, not less, onto the slingshot prong-ends. Be sure that both bands are slipped on an equal distance. Then check to see if the pouch is aligned properly to the prongs so that the pouch sits straight in the non-shooting position. (See the picture on the left below.) If it is not aligned correctly quickly proceed to step 3 below.
3.) Immediately, before the alcohol starts to dry, turn the entire one inch of each rubber on both prongs until both sides of the leather pouch are adjusted so that they are held straight by the prongs and rubbers like the picture on the left. It is necessary to make these adjustments rather fast because the rubbers can become pretty hard to turn as the alcohol starts to dry. Your slingshot will shoot a lot straighter if this is done properly.

4.) For safety reasons, avoid shooting or pulling backwards on the slingshot powerbands for 12 hours to allow the alcohol to completely dry.

NOTE: Do not let your slingshot lie in the sun or fluorescent light when not in use. Strong Ultra-Violet light makes latex tubing deteriorate fairly quickly by drying it out and causing it to crack. Once the surface begins to crack, even slightly, it doesn't take very long before the band will break, especially where it is attached to the prongs or the leather pouch.

If you would like to increase the life of your bands, and guard them against the elements, it is a good idea to spend a little extra time and condition them with 303 Aerosspace Protectant. Being a very excellent product, it will not only bring out and enhance the natural color of your powerbands, but also keep the surface lubricated, supple and sealed for a longer lifespan. The protectant can be purchased from Trumark in the convenient, small 2 FL.OZ. size quantities that includes a spray head for easy application. NOTE: If you buy some protectant, apply it before you install the powerbands on your slingshot. When the bands are not attached to the slingshot it is much easier to work on each band separately for the best results. The protectant can also be used to condition the recoil arm pad, leather, and plastic parts of the slingshot. It can be used on any brand powerband, and not just Trumarks.

The Good News: Occasionally we get letters from customers who have had their Trumark Slingshot for over thirty years, and they are still using them!
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