How to Make a Zip Line
Active children love zipping through the air on a zip line. As long as you insure a safe setup, it's a great addition to a backyard playground. You can make a zip line go from tree to tree or perhaps from a tree house to the ground. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Nylon or poly rope, minimum 3/8-inch diameter
- Utility knife
- 2 bolts for attaching line
- Pulley
- Mattress or cushions (optional)
Instructions
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1
Make a zip line plan by studying the space you have at your disposal. You're looking for two points, which could be two trees, two poles or even a tree house and a porch pillar. Make sure any trees or other supports are at least 10 inches in diameter.
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2
Clear any brush or possibly dangerous limbs from the zip line route.
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3
Cut enough rope for one and a half times the distance between your two points. It's better to start out with too much instead of too little. Check the load limit of your cord. You'll want it to be twice that of the largest user. When you make a zip line for kids, it's a good idea to make it strong enough to hold your weight so that you can test it before the kids do.
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4
Use a bolt system to attach one end of the rope at your tree or pole. It's safer to attach your rope to the bolt and the tree, because knots weaken or come loose.
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5
Pull your rope as taut as possible before attaching it on the other end. Zip lines do weaken and having an assistant can make this easier. Make certain one end is higher than the other, but not too much. As you go on the downward trip on a zip line, you want the weight of the rider, more than an extreme angle, to provide the momentum for the ride.
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6
Attach the pulley securely to the rope. Again, make certain the pulley is rated to handle the maximum load limit.
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Set up some kind of cushioned area at the bottom, so that no one crashes into a tree. Some people use old mattresses, but any type of cushion helps.
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