Marlin Spike hitch toggles?

**Leifo5343** · 12-09-2009, 19:22

Hey,

I was trying to find a suitable toggle and I found these cheap aluminum gutter nails at my local hardware store. Do you think they would work as a toggle for hanging my nano 7 with a SLS suspension?

I cut them down to 1 1/2" and the line you see is 7/16 amsteel.

I don't think they would bend...

Does anyone have any alternative that is readily available?

~Leif

**oldgringo** · 12-09-2009, 19:42

Gutter spikes are ring shank nails. They may prove difficult to remove if the hitch is jammed, at all, and have the potential for damaging your cord. I wouldn't use them...look at aluminum baking potato nails as an option.

7/16???

**chezrad** · 12-09-2009, 19:56

Short sections of hardwood dowels would work as well.

**gargoyle** · 12-09-2009, 19:59

I thought someone tried those and the results were not good, as in snap, crash, boom. Simple small carabiner works well for me. Just make your knot and insert the 'biner into the loop.
gargoyle marlin spike 011.JPG

**Leifo5343** · 12-09-2009, 21:00

Really? A small carabiner is strong enough? I wouldn't have thunk it...

**opie** · 12-09-2009, 21:12

Originally Posted by Leifo5343

Really? A small carabiner is strong enough? I wouldn't have thunk it...

Hes not using it as a biner, hes just using the back as the toggle.

**Frawg** · 12-09-2009, 21:21

Leif, the gutter nails will work but you should probably smoothe the shank per Dave's comments.

Alternatives exist, as noted.

I cut 1-1/4" pieces from the cheap aluminum shepherd's hook tent stakes at Walmart.

**jbryan** · 12-09-2009, 21:28

my uncle is an avid bow hunter and during Thanksgiving dinner I asked for an old shaft he had laying around. Later that weekend I took the dremel out and cut a couple of 3 inch pieces and put a small through hole to attach a string to. This has been perfect! they weigh nothing practically and they were free (can't beat that). they remind me of the AL straw from 7/11 someone mentioned a while back.

**vitamaltz** · 12-09-2009, 21:31

I have never used anything but twigs I find on the ground. I have many, many nights on them. It is important to make sure the twigs aren't rotten and are thumb thickness or thicker, but that's about it. If you cinch your suspension loop behind the webbing hitch and not on the toggle itself it really doesn't take much. The way I think about it is that the toggle forms the hitch, and the hitch holds the suspension. Pick up two twigs and try a test: holding the first twig between your thumb, forefinger, and index finger, spread your non-thumb fingers about an inch apart and squeeze. You'll probably break the twig. Now pick up the second twig and try squeezing it the same way, but with your non-thumb fingers only about half an inch apart. It will be very hard to break. Placing the loop behind the webbing hitch is similar to the second twig test. You aren't cantilevering the forces out very far from the anchor point, so it doesn't take much strength to hold.

The photos below demonstrate the difference. It may look subtle, but it's substantial. It's just an example - I didn't go into the backyard to find a twig, but I wouldn't hesitate to hang from the pencil in the second configuration. Marlinspikes are incredible!

**MedicineMan** · 12-09-2009, 21:37

I could have had a V8!! Thanks for the arrow shaft reduction idea. I probably cut 100-150 arrows a year and have often just trashed the 3-4 inch pieces of carbon in the trash..I'm still slapping myself.