Knowing how to make a rope ladder is a very rewarding skill. Not only useful in outdoor activities such as rowing and climbing, this rope ladder is also fun to climb. In addition, rope ladders can be used as an emergency tool when ordinary ladders are not available, difficult to use, or too heavy.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making a Ladder from One Rope
Step 1. Prepare a piece of string on a flat surface, and make it into a "U" shape
Grasp the end of the "U" shape on the right side, and slide your hand until the rope is 30 cm long.
Step 2. Place the rope between your hands into an "S" shape
Cup your hands and press the "S" shape horizontally.
Step 3. Make the first rung by bringing the left end of the rope and threading it through the left curve of the first "S" shape
Bring the end of the ladder under the arch, and wrap it around the entire "S" shape 4 times. Thread the end of the rope through the right curve of the second "S" shape to tighten the knot and complete the first step.
Step 4. Repeat this step as many times as you need to make the ladder as high as you want
Method 2 of 2: Making a Rope Ladder with Wooden Steps
Step 1. Prepare two strands of rope, and tie or melt the ends
Do this to prevent the twist of the rope you just cut open or fraying.
- Tie the end of the rope is called the whipping technique. Take the thread and wind it along the rope until it is near the end. Make another loop if the length of the thread is still about one and a half times the diameter of the rope. This thread will form an inverted "U" shape. Wrap the yarn tightly in a "U" shape, and thread the end of the yarn through the top end of the knot. Now, pull both ends of the thread until the knot is pulled under the loop. Cut the ends of the threads so they don't stick out and the loop looks neat.
- The best option is to use natural fiber yarn to wrap the natural fiber rope, as it is less likely to fall off.
- If you're using synthetic string, wrap the ends with tape and then melt them over a fire.
Step 2. Lay the rope flat on the ground, and make a single knot about 38 cm from the top end of your rope
To make a single knot, take the end of the working rope and place it over the stationary rope. This knot will be the first step in making the first wooden rungs of the rope.
- The end of the working rope is the part of the rope that is actively moved to make a knot.
- A stationary rope is a part of a rope that is not actively moved to make a knot. This section is a rope as opposed to a work rope.
Step 3. Pull the rope at rest through the single knot
To do this, first, insert your finger under the knot, grabbing a stationary rope. Now, pull the still rope through the single knot. This will form a new node.
Step 4. Insert the wooden steps into the new knot formed by the still rope and tighten the rope
Place the wooden steps into the position you want, and tighten the rope. The resulting nodes will appear at the top and bottom of the steps.
The rungs will be fairly secure at this point, but tying a single knot underneath will reduce the chances of the rungs sliding down. To tie a single knot, make a loop, then bring the end of the working rope up and then through the loop. Make sure that this single node is located directly below the node that supports the rungs
Step 5. Repeat this process on the other rope
Be careful so that your steps are level. Sloping stairs will increase your chances of falling.
Step 6. Start at the next single node, with a distance of 23 to 38 cm from the previous rung
Leave the same distance between your steps, so you can climb them comfortably. Keep adding steps until you reach the height you want.
Step 7. Tie your ladder at the top
To do this, use a wooden tie knot or pole tie.
- To make a wooden knot, loop the rope around the entire post or rod you want to attach the ladder to. Cross the working rope over the stationary rope and continue to wind the rope around the pole at least two more times. Pull the rope to tighten it. If you need a tighter grip, wrap the work rope around the stationary rope a few times. A wooden tie knot is an ideal knot for attaching rope ladders, because the more pressure you pull on it, the stronger it will be.
- To tie a pole tie knot, take a work cord and loop it around the pole at least three times. Take the work rope and place it on the stationary rope. Now wrap the rope around the stationary rope on the other side a few more times. Insert the working rope under the rest of the rope through the still rope and pull it tight. Pole tie knots are very strong against horizontal tensile forces, so they are ideal if you hang your ladder on a horizontal bollard or post. Just like a wooden knot, if you need a firmer grip, wrap the working rope around the post a few more times.
Step 8. Tie the bottom of your rope
This is an optional move, but tying your ladder to the ground will greatly increase its stability and make it easier to climb.
- If you're going to tie your ladder to the ground, make sure to leave a rope long enough to do this, about 38 cm should be enough.
- Wrap each leg of your ladder around the posts at a 45-degree angle, and secure them with a pole tie knot.
Tips
- Consider using a glow-in-the-dark rope if you're setting it up as an emergency kit. You'll find it easier to find at night or in a dark room.
- Be sure to make a ladder out of rope that is strong enough and able to support a person's weight. Most store-bought straps will list their maximum load weight on the package.
- If you're not tying your rope to the ground, consider attaching a small weight (about 2.3 kg) to each leg of your ladder to keep it from moving too much when you climb.
- Check for rips or wear on your straps. Replace when it starts to fray.
- For short ladders, you can tie your rope directly to a specific point before starting to build it. For long stairs, it is recommended that you finish the rope before tying it to an object.
- Pad the area just below the rope ladder with dry leaves or grass to catch you if you slip.
- Use a long rope to make sure your ladder is long enough. You can always cut off the rest when you're done.
- Natural fiber ropes such as hemp or manila can grip wood or tree steps better than synthetic ropes.
