DIY Line tensioner

**Uncuffed** · 01-31-2015, 11:01

I have used several different line tensioner designs over the years.

One of the things that bothered me was that with traditional designs you could only use half the length of the string.

I stumbled upon this design on a Swedish DIY website a while back so i thought i would share it. Thus i take no credit on the actual design, only on the presentation and the making of my own ones.

I have made mine out of clear 8mm(5/16") thick plexiglass but you can make these out of whatever material you want to. Plexiglass is easy to work with and so far i have not managed to brake any of my tensioners. Simply put you just saw out your 8x10x30mm piece and drill the holes in the right place. Then you use a file or a grinder to make the groove and finally you grind the slanted front and go over all the other edges to make them smooth so you dont destroy your line/string.

The line i'm using is a 2mm polyester silk line with a tensile strength of 74kg, much like the lines used in window blinds. I bought it a my local hardware store for about 10$/150m.

You can adapt the dimensions of the design to accommodate different lines and strings depending on your preferences.

Easy to make
Lightweight
Easy to replace if broken/lost
Cheap
Great adjustability
Adjustable from inside your tarp or shelter

Here is the dimensions i have used for mine:

And some pictures along with a quick video.

This is my first DIY post so please be gentle and if you have any questions or remarks please share!

**Redoleary** · 01-31-2015, 11:08

Pretty cool, well done.
Once you've adjusted the tension, how hard can you pull on the line that is going off to the left of the photo before it slips, or will in not slip until you pull down on the device?

**Uncuffed** · 01-31-2015, 11:14

Thank you!

Thats the good part!

The harder you pull, the harder it locks in place. I lashed it to my bathroom door just now and pulled until my hands hurt from the line and it did not budge.

Of course i could pull so hard so the plexiglass brakes but the line will not slip until i pull "the tab" backwards.

**12trysomething** · 01-31-2015, 11:20

Well executed, the tensioner, pics and video. Thanks for sharing the idea!

Rob

**Redoleary** · 01-31-2015, 11:57

Originally Posted by Uncuffed

Thank you!

Thats the good part!

The harder you pull, the harder it locks in place. I lashed it to my bathroom door just now and pulled until my hands hurt from the line and it did not budge.

Of course i could pull so hard so the plexiglass brakes but the line will not slip until i pull "the tab" backwards.

That's awesome! Nice work.

**Monkeyboy42** · 02-01-2015, 21:38

I think I need to see what 1/4" plexi I have in the shop... These look easy and practical.

**Moel Siabod** · 02-02-2015, 19:51

Have you seen this thread?

**Uncuffed** · 02-03-2015, 00:25

No i had not!

Not really the same thing though, if the distance between the trees in his movie where shorter he would first have to change the placement of the line tensioner and then lock the line in place.

It is a good idea but not what I'm after.

**xxl_hanger** · 02-03-2015, 01:37

Your line tensioners are the idea of a genius. I already thought to replicate your tensioners, behaps a little flatter. I think a little strip of hardwood could be sufficent. There are two reasons why I won't do it. First, I like to have a continous RL on my tarp. Second, I made already my own loop aliens. I used 1mm Aluminium material which I found in my cellar for the first shot and found out that this is sufficient for my needs. Perhaps I will do it again with 2mm or even 3mm alu-material in the near future. It lasts only about 1 hour to get two of them and I got a short plate of 2mm aluminium for the next try for less than 0,5€. You can see the 1mm version on one of my images.

If I have made my tarp setup there is no need to adjust still anything. My guylines with shock cord tensioners for the tie-outs can be adjusted by prusik knots from inside the tarp. That's all I need.