How to Make a Very Sturdy Rope Ladder
The construction of rope ladder is relatively simple. Whether you envision yourself as a peg-legged, cutlass-swinging pirate of old, boarding a merchant ship in search of booty, or a ninja warrior infiltrating the shogun's palace on a secret mission, the knowledge of how to construct a rope ladder is entertaining. If you need to get down into your basement or up into a tree though, that knowledge can be pretty important. Building a rope ladder requires little other than rope and knot-tying knowledge.
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Things You'll Need
- 5/8-inch nylon climbing rope
- Anchor point
- Sharp knife
- Matches or cigarette lighter
Instructions
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1
Cut two lengths of 5/8-inch nylon climbing rope to a length of 20 feet. Cut an additional 15 lengths of rope 18 inches long.
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2
Tie one end of each of the 20-foot sections of rope to the anchor point. Use an overhead tree branch approximately 3 inches in diameter if available. Construct an anchor point by attaching two eye bolts to a roof joist or similar overhead board if there are no appropriate sized tree branches available. Attach your ropes to the anchor point 12 inches apart.
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3
Call the 20-foot length of rope to your right "runner one." Call the length to the left "runner two." The short pieces of rope 18 inches long will be called "rungs."
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4
Connect "runner one" to the first rung at a distance of 18 inches from the anchor point. Attach it using an overhand knot around the rung, 3 to 4 inches from the end. Follow that by securing the end of the rung with another overhand knot tied around the first knot.
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5
Connect the opposite end of the rung to "runner two" the same way. Tie the runner around the rung first. This will ensure that the length of the spaces between rungs stays equal throughout the ladder.
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6
Repeat Steps 4 and 5 for the additional rungs with the remaining pieces of 18-inch rope. Use a match or cigarette lighter to "melt" any exposed cutoff ends on the runners and on the rungs in order to prevent fraying. This will improve the longevity of your rope ladder
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Tips & Warnings
Consider using a small piece of twine wrapped around the runner ropes to mark the spot where you need to tie your overhand knots. This will ensure that the knots are tied at the right place, ensuring a more uniform appearance to your finished rope ladder.
It is imperative to use rope that is rated specifically for climbing. Other nylon ropes, such as "yacht rope," is not rated for safety when climbing on it.
Be certain not to drip melted nylon on anything flammable or your skin when melting exposed ends. This is extremely hot and causes severe burns. Use appropriate caution.
