Any boy scouts about? - Lashing

Tim Watts wrote:


Dunno about any fink else, but just bought some stuff from
http://www.cheap-rope.co.uk /

Cheap as chips & really know their stuff.  Good free advice too.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 12/04/2010 23:53, The Medway Handyman wrote:


Hmmm, I keep hearing about this 'hung parliament' idea. Could this
company supply the necessary?

--
Allegedly C

They certainly have enough rope to DIY

--
geoff

  wibbled on Monday 12 April 2010 23:53


Looks most interesting - ta. I could use bungee rope for the drops and add a
new dimension to swinging!



--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

Would you be lashing the three logs to two lighter ones at right angles,
to keep them in one plane (<g>)? If so, a square lashing is what you
want, though you might find it hard to get the three logs acceptably
close to each other.

--
Mike Barnes

  wibbled on Tuesday 13 April 2010 07:35


That's a good idea - I have thinner ash (from the branches).


Touching isn't absolutely necessary - in fact having a gap would probably
help, allowing detritus and rain to fall through rather than getting
trapped.  


--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

Tim Watts wrote:


I would worry about it rotting much quicker than you might expect. Look at
a "staple spun" cable laid polyester or polypropylene. Even then expect
deterioration in sunlight.

AJH

  wibbled on Monday 12 April 2010 23:48


It's done, except for some tidying up:

http://photos.dionic.net/v/public/swing /

The diamond lashing of the ash sticks for the seat came out rough as hell,
but surprisingly functional. The "mistake" was to use waxed cotton clothes
line. It smoothish, binds to itself well (despite wax) but is very stiff -
I think that affected my ability to get much neatness there - plus lashing
two sticks that are trying to run away is actually quite hard, especially
when the out two sticks must incorporate the support rope. I should trim
the free ends!

The ash sticks are about 30mm dia and 3 across make for a surprisingly
comfortable seat.

I was rather pleased though with the eye splice in the main rope. Did it
from here:

http://www.animatedknots.com/splice/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Again, need to take of the earth tape and trim the strands back properly.

A simple clove hitch over the branch worked very well and I've left 1/2m
spare rope to allow for re-siting or adjusting.

Interesting issue - the swing does some interesting motions due to unequal
rope lengths - not sure what I could do about that.

Anyway, neatless, or lack of aside, it takes my lardy fat ass quite happy
(ash is *very* tough) and the kids love it, despite the wibbly motion ;->

Apart from 2 d-shackles to make removing the seat easy, not a nail or screw
or any metalwork there. Surprising that even with my numpty boy scout
skills, rope lashing is extremely effective.

Cheers

Tim

--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.