Home built admirals hook

[Matthew Stone]

Well I didn't have any trees to hang out with today so I worked on stuff around home. I've been wanting a captains hook, but I can't really convince myself I'll use it enough to buy one and make a bag up for it. Since it's in no way for life support, I took this old horse shoe and ground it down, smoothed it up and bingo! Now I can give it a run for free. Initial tests in the garage proved very promising!

 

[Merle Nelson]

Ha, cool idea. Make sure everyone around is wearing full face shields.

 

[Matthew Stone]

True! I'd better get the cats some hockey helmets

 

[Jonny]

That looks really useful, I like it.
You got my wheels turning now, and I’m thinking about ordering an aluminum Clydesdale horseshoe and putting a little added weight at the tip of the hook.
I’ve been wanting to try a Captain’s Hook, but it’s down on my list of gear I want, plus I like do it yourself projects like this.

Thanks for sharing that, very clever!

 

[Matthew Stone]

That's a good idea for sure, the steel is a bit heavy. I'm going to take it out for a bit this afternoon and see how it goes.. may drill a few more holes along the spine to lighten it up a bit. After throwing it in the rafters of the garage a while I can already see how useful the real deal would be. A spliced end would be beneficial vs. the knot.
I have an aluminum cover from a rear end that I had considered cutting it out of but the shoe was just so much easier.

 

[southsoundtree]

I'm confused...seems like its clipped on the wrong side.

A bunch of lightening holes would help.


I wonder if a piece of pipe would bend well, with some persuasion, possibly started with a sledge, and possibly finished with a press, like a wood splitter or shop press.

 

[Matthew Stone]

I'm sure you could do something super nice with pipe, especially if you had access to a radius bender, but I always find a way without a whole lot of fancy stuff. I designed the hook so the longer side with the finger would stick out when hanging, I attached a few pics of different configurations I can easily hit with it. Works just the same as a real one in that you just twist the rope and the hook changes direction.

 

[Tree-Taylor]

I use one of these. The hook has some weight but it makes it great for tossing tree to tree. The shape loads the hook fairly in-line. Strong and secure.
https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/gros-crochet-pour-câble-de-remorquage/A-p8686735f

 

[Matthew Stone]

That's pretty clever! I ended up sewing a different rope on mine. The knot was too big and kept hanging up. I used it yesterday to pull a large snag out of a silver maple, it's pretty handy! Still haven't put any time in traversing, besides in the garage which really doesn't count. Yours is actually life support worthy so that's double bonus

 

[southsoundtree]

@Matthew Stone How does it hook if it was attached to the other side? Seems like it would have much more 'positive' engagement.


Anyone tried a ladder snap-hook, gate removed or taped open? I bought one before I bought my house and moved. Haven't seen it since. Never got around to trying it.

 

[Matthew Stone]

If I had another one I'd try it and see. I did find a guy on Facebook selling horseshoes, both aluminum and steel. Mine is set just behind the balance point so when it engages anything it wants to bite harder and wrap around the object. I'll make a video of a toss in the garage if you'd like to see? We are getting major ice today or I'd go out and get a tree on the hook!

 

[southsoundtree]

I'd be interested to see.

Things from an armchair are waaay different that in real life.





I'm curious if you tape the rope to the horseshoe, for a mock-up, so that it comes off the other side, how it would hook and release.

 

[RopeShield]

@Matthew Stone How does it hook if it was attached to the other side? Seems like it would have much more 'positive' engagement.


Anyone tried a ladder snap-hook, gate removed or taped open? I bought one before I bought my house and moved. Haven't seen it since. Never got around to trying it.

I like my mgo open 60 with rubber o-ring to keep it open. don't use it much, spruce mostly. it is bit small of an opening most times try the largest if I could do over.

 

[Tree-Taylor]

That's pretty clever! I ended up sewing a different rope on mine. The knot was too big and kept hanging up. I used it yesterday to pull a large snag out of a silver maple, it's pretty handy! Still haven't put any time in traversing, besides in the garage which really doesn't count. Yours is actually life support worthy so that's double bonus

It's a little heavy for day to day use but handy for working a stand of conifers. The weight actually makes it easy to flick down for a base tie if you can't get a secure position. Easy on and off with the splice and shackle so you can alternate between ropes.

 

[Matthew Stone]

That looks great! I think if I taped rope to the other end to test, mine would Function just like the real deal. I made a horrible video yesterday, sorry for all the wind. If I need to make a better one I'd be happy to, just ran out of time yesterday.

 

[southsoundtree]

Cool.

BTW, for clarity, the tape idea is just for testing to see if it would be more functional until you were to re-drill, and add lightening holes.

 

[Matthew Stone]

Absolutely, thanks. I'll try to make a clear video of it on the next climb with a traverse or two and see how it goes. Not a GoPro guy so may need to recruit the wife to film. It's been so windy up here lately it's hard to get much accomplished.