I'm making a swing. What keeps rope in place? What type of glue? Anyone know rope knotting?

Question

As part of my Halloween decor, I'm making a swing out of 2x4 and some rope. I bought a ghostly skeleton girl, and was going to put her sitting on the swing. This whole set up is not big. Doll is maybe 1-1 1/2 ft tall, the wood for the swing is about 12-13 in. in length. Plan on hanging it in a window type space that seperates between my living room and kitchen.

I have already done the drilling of holes into the wood, looping rope through and under swing. Then at the top of the rope, where it will hang from a hook, I tried to loop and then wrap it around the rope going down. I tried a hot glue gun to glue the rope together where I thought needed, to keep it in place, but it's just not working. It falls apart, not sticking what so-ever. Its not a heavy or large rope, maybe 1/4 inch wide at tops.

Does anyone know of a better way to keep my rope intact? Anyone kow of sites that gives detailed instructions on rope tieing?

Thanks =)

Answer 1

oh for heavens sake. This is exactly the place to ask a question like this. I don't personally know, but here is a REALLY cool website that might be able to help. Check it out!!!!

edit: You know, I was just trying to remember something. My swingset, when I was a kid, had the swings hanging from rope (instead of chain). Every few years dad would replace the rope so it wouldn't rot, then eventually he replaced it with yellow nylon rope. In any case, I seem to remember that he'd put one end of the rope through the eyelet or ring it was to go through, then tie a strong knot in the end of the rope, then fold the rope over so it was basically making a u-turn through the eyelet and then laying against itself. Then he'd wrap strong wire around both parallel pieces of rope starting at the knot and going up toward the eyelet. What the strong knot did was keep the end of the rope from sliding up through the wire, so the whole thing stayed together. It would slip just a touch at first so that the knot, wire, and eyelet were all closely lined up and there was no more gap. It seemed to work great! Now, he is an engineer and not a boater or scout leader, so this may have just been his way of doing it because he didn't know the right knot, but just thought I'd add it.

Answer 2

I have a rope swing (same concept as yours) on my porch for my daughter. All we did was knot the rope (simple shoelace tying know-how) about 4 times. At the end of the rope where it fray's (comes apart) light a candle and hold the flame near the end of the rope, not so close that it burns. Unless the rope is made from hemp(not too common any more) the rope will melt and form a black lump. That will keep the rope from coming apart.

The suggestion to look up macrame was a good idea. Here is the knot I use. Click the link and look at the "two half" knot. I use 3 or more knots (just to be on the safe side since the swing is for my daughter) http://www.realknots.com/knots/hitches.htm
Also for macrame knots try http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/macrame/ I'm not sure what all they have (not enough time in my day) but give it a quick browse and I'm sure you'll find help.

You could also wrap duct tape around the rope. It comes in so many colors these days and is really useful.

Answer 3

HERE IS THE EASY AND CHEAP WAY , RUN 2 - 3 " ROPE THRU YOUR HOOK AT THE TOP AND PLACE BESIDE YOUR ROPE GOING UP TO THE HOOK . WHILE HOLDING BOTH TOGETHER USE A WIRE TIE WRAP FROM A CHEAP TRASH BAG OR A NYLON TIE WRAP AND HAVE FUN

Answer 4

just about any knot you tie multiples of will hold, but a bowline is quick, won't slip and is easy to untie

Answer 5

Try searching nauticle knots or macrame

Answer 6

problematic point. seek over google. that could actually help!

Answer 7

go to www.instuctables.com the details are there

Answer 8

your dumb for putting this question up here. are you retarted? ask a lowes person. and you dont use glue. you use freakin nails. dumbie