Tom Mills' 3 Minute Elderberry Atlatl by Tom Mills, California. Adapted with permission from Original article. Material: Green elderberry branch, approx. 22" long x 3/4" diameter Yucca cordage (optional) Construction: Find a nice elderberry branch, or any other green shoot with a pithy center. Try to get one about 22" long and about 3/4" in diameter. Starting about 8" from the eventual handle end, cut down at a slant towards the spur end. You should be about 1/4" deep one inch from the end. Cut straight down there to meet the slant. Using a knife tip or a sharp stone, dig out the pith (the soft core). This will leave a hollow groove for the dart to rest in. Next, shape the spur. Bevel it off to the sides and undercut it so that the spur will stick out above the groove. Wrap a little yucca cordage or anything else you'd like around he handle for a bit of a grip, and you're done! Once you've done this design, you'll see how quick, easy, and effective it is to make. Atlatl Designs | Home