VIDEO: Keyhole line tensioner

[Syb]

Just thought of this... Red's doesn't have any teeth. Those teeth will eventually harm your line. Looks like I'll be picking up aluminum bar stock this weekend, thanks Dave.

[Redoleary]

Creative! I think the number of wraps could be fewer - the cleat effect doesn't need many wraps to work as long as the half hitch is done correctly. From my sailing days, it was fun to watch folks wrap the cleat until it couldn't hold any more line and then complain that it took too long to release all the line. With less wraps, the horns could be a little shorter but it's probably not worth bothering with.

Thanks, and I agree, its holding its own after the first wrap, the rest are just for insurance. Zing-it is just slippery enough that I thought, "here's a case where more IS better".

[Redoleary]

There are three ways I could see this being better than a figure 9.

A. You make it yourself.

B. Costs a little over $0.35 each.
(48"x1.5"x1/8" aluminum bar stock at Home Depot for $11.27 will make 32 of these)

C. Can be used with smaller line than a figure 9.

Thanks Dave, all good points, #1 being the best.

Just thought of this... Red's doesn't have any teeth. Those teeth will eventually harm your line. Looks like I'll be picking up aluminum bar stock this weekend, thanks Dave.

I also like that it has no teeth.... for a minute there I thought you were talking about me, I'm all "how's he know if I got teeth or not!"

[Xauto]

Red : I do not think you need to cut into the 1/2" hole. If you lay the piece over the line and pull a loop up thru the hole and over the cleat side, that would attach it to the line.

[Redoleary]

Red : I do not think you need to cut into the 1/2" hole. If you lay the piece over the line and pull a loop up thru the hole and over the cleat side, that would attach it to the line.

True, that would attach it to the line, but how do you get the "pulley" action that does the tensioning w/o pulling the entire line through the middle? With the slot you can just slip it in.

[TFC Rick]

True, that would attach it to the line, but how do you get the "pulley" action that does the tensioning w/o pulling the entire line through the middle? With the slot you can just slip it in.

I think I have the same vision here. You would pass a "bend" through the hole and loop over the wings like a cleat (Syb) then come back around from the tree and do the same thing finishing with a half hitch or loop of your preference.

Clear as mud?

[WV]

I think I have the same vision here. You would pass a "bend" through the hole and loop over the wings like a cleat (Syb) then come back around from the tree and do the same thing finishing with a half hitch or loop of your preference.

Clear as mud?

That simplifies construction, but I'd rather have the ultimate simplicity in setting up my tarp. Also, the key cutout makes it lighter.

[jeroldharter]

Couldn't you just as easily pass the tag end of the line through the Prussik loop and to use it like a truckers hitch? Then tie the quick release half hitch to the Prussik loop. You would not even need the device and it would be easier.

[gmcttr]

I think I have the same vision here. You would pass a "bend" through the hole and loop over the wings like a cleat (Syb) then come back around from the tree and do the same thing finishing with a half hitch or loop of your preference.

Clear as mud?

Without the slot, a ring will basically do the same thing.

I just save the weight altogether and use a truckers hitch. I think it's just as fast as the various tensioning devices and I haven't lost one yet.

[Shug]

We sure have some tensioner savants on this forum. Makes me happy to see.
Cool Red ....mighty cool.
Shug