How to Make Climbing Holds

A climbing wall is a great way to practice and develop skills at home. Once a variety of pitches, roofs, slopes, corners and ledges are built into a wall comes the fun part of placing holds and crafting routes.

Holds can be store-bought or can be made from wood, real rock or other material. Using a bit of patience and some basic skills, good polyester resin climbing holds can be easily made at home.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 20 pounds clay
• 1 gallon Bondo or other polyester resin
• 1 tube polyester resin fixer
• 50 pounds playground or fine silica sand
• electric drill
• 3/8-inch masonry bit
• can of WD40
• kitchen-type dish washing brush
• rocks the size of holds

1. Select a rock that you want to replicate as a new climbing hold. Cut a block of clay slightly larger than this rock.

2. Press the rock into the clay, and remove it to create a cast.

3. Lightly press the bristles of the brush into the clay form to create a textured surface.

4. Spray the inside of the clay form with a liberal coat of WD40.

5. In a well-ventilated area, mix the polyester resin and fixer according to the manufacturers directions, and stir in enough sand to create a 60 percent sand to 40 percent resin mix.

6. Pour the sand and resin mixture into the clay mold and stir to remove air bubbles. Allow it to dry for several hours.

7. Remove the resin hold from the clay, and drill a 3/8-inch hole perpendicular to the back of the hold.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow the finished holds to cure for at least 24 hours before using. Try making several holds at once in order to minimize leftover resin mixture.
• Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area, as the polyester resin can release highly toxic fumes.

References

• How to Make Climbing Holds

Resources

• Home Climbing Walls

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