» MAKE: NOISE — Discuss this article

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• Getting it on the tree
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  I built one of these last summer and the kids love it. I would recommend NOT tying around the tree, and instead going through the tree. The tree is alive on the outside and no matter what material you sacrifice to spare the surface of the tree, you are doing damage to it all around. It is kinder to the tree to get a long threaded eye bolt and some washers and put it through the tree, that way you are only hurting two smaller points on the tree. Also, it is a good idea to have some sort of stop near the end of the line, tires or some such. No angle was discussed as far as how far a drop and the key is almost none, you want your trolley to come to a stop naturally at about the 2/3rd point so if something goes wrong, you don't end up just hitting the end. I leave the physics guys to talk about what it should be exactly. Also probably a waste of time on any tree less than 10" in diameter, with a two ton come-along you'll pull the trees over before the line gets taut enough to support an adult of Sysadmin size such as myself.

  Posted by jfarnold on February 07, 2006 at 16:32:47 Pacific Time

• Sweet project
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  I rode ziplines when I was in Costa Rica; so scary looking before you start, but lots of fun after you get going.
  
  Why was no diameter given for the cable? 7x19 (meaning seven twisted cables each composed of 19 strands) aircraft cable comes in a variety of different diameters. I am assuming the author used 3/8 inch, since that is what's sold at starlightoutdoored.com, mentioned in the article.

  Posted by dmikula on February 20, 2006 at 20:31:52 Pacific Time

• 300 bucks!
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  Our zipline was free. We used some rope and an antique pulley. There was no braking--we put a mattress against the telephone pole on the lower end of the line.

  Posted by KenMore on February 21, 2006 at 19:28:33 Pacific Time

• Wire Clip safety
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  U-Bolt Cable clamps (Wire clips) are meant to be used in a specific orientation. The rule for use of wire clip is that the sadle should NEVER be used on the dead leg (short end of the wire). The U-bolt should never be clamped onto a working section of wire as it will crimp and weaken the wire. I paraphrased that out of "American Merchant Seaman's Manual" from cornell maritime press. I apprenticed as a traditional shiprigger @ south street seaport museum restoring an Iron square rigger built in 1885.

  Posted by JackO on February 22, 2006 at 18:01:30 Pacific Time