Techniques For Make Your Own Shock Cord Tarp Tensioners

[jkc107]

Ahh I see. Good point. I should be receiving all my supplies tomorrow. Looks like I'll be having a busy weekend

[jkc107]

GreatBigDave - Alright. I've been at this for two hours now. My fingers are completely raw and I haven't even finished a single line yet. Are there any other tips you can share? As of right now I am completely convinced that 3/32nd shock cord is IMPOSSIBLE to fit through 1.75mm Zing-It. Help me pleaseeeeeeee

[jkc107]

I should mention that I actually was able to get about 2" of the shock cord in but then my Zing-It just didn't budge after that. Ow, it hurts typing with my raw fingers

[GreatBigDave]

Wow, I'm sorry I didn't see this 'til now.
I bunched up the Zing-It on the wire fid and push that onto the shock cord. Once the hollowed shock cord tail is buried then I milked the Zing-It over the shock cord by stretching the shock cord inside the Zing-It. I'll try to make a video.

[ShellHammock]

Tying a clove hitch with the guyline and using the tip end of shock cord as the 'toggle' works great too. Only works when the shock cord diameter is bigger than that of the guyline, however.

edit: pays to read the thread before posting. the very first post shows the clove hitch method. the spliced version looks very nice and clean.

[CBX133]

Maybe I missed something, but what would be the main difference to the original ways in the OP to make these lines, and the way Shug does then in his video?

In Shugs video, he simply puts the piece of shock cord strait inline with the tarp lines. In the examples in the OP they are essentially doubled up in some manner essentially using two shock cord lengths.

Hope this makes sense, I am just curious if doing it the single shock cord length like Shug does will work just as well.

Thanks

-Sam G

[JohnD]

Havent read all 21 pages so forgive me if I repeat what someone else has done.

I simply use two seperate loops one is bunjee cord and the other is a safety line should the bungy overstretch or let go. Then larks head as per usuall individually.

[Burg54]

I replied quite some time ago about these tensioners. They do work well however I have found that tying the shock cord loop into the tie-out line is really an unnecessary complexity and actually is more tangle prone. If you are using good quality 1/8 inch dia. shock cord all you need to do is a tie a small loop of shock cord to each of your four tarp tie-outs. Then tie your tie-out lines directly to the shock cord loops. When pitching the tarp nice and tight it usually stretches the shock cord 70% to 90% of the way. I've been doing it this way all year now on the same shock cord loops and they are holding up just fine. Your tarp tie out lines are going to break or your tarp is going to tear before the shock cord is going to break in gale force winds.

This is exactly what I do as well. Shock cord loops larks headed on all 4 corners and ZingIt! guy lines larks headed to the shock cord loop. Good to go.

[Intimidator]

This is exactly what I do as well. Shock cord loops larks headed on all 4 corners and ZingIt! guy lines larks headed to the shock cord loop. Good to go.

Thanks for this !!

[Nicolai]

Perhaps someone here can explain to me, what the advantage of doing it like in the thread instead of just like this https://youtu.be/kZEeWGJk1f8?t=303 ?