Outrigger Lashing Buttons
Bicycle innertubes are great for lashing structures together in a hurry. These big buttons let you do it even faster because you don't have to wrap anything or poke them through holes.
Hole Saw Minus Center Drill
Cut a bunch of wooden disks with a hole saw. Take the center drill out of the hole saw if it has one. This one has had a painful history and no drill already.
Cut a Hole Then Pry the Divot Out of the Saw
Do as the title says
Do It Many Times
Sand Off the Rough Edges
A power sander isn't necessary, but there was no one around to talk to so I used my beltsander.
Enjoy Your Wooden Cookies
Everyone seems to enjoy these. Use soft wood like Okoume or Meranti so people don't break their teeth.
Drill Two Holes
Set up a jig as shown so the holes are in the right place. Everything you see is clamped down except for the buttons. I'm drilling two at a time.
Chamfer the Holes
Using a countersink bit as shown.
You're not removing much wood so fingers are plenty of power.
This button has tooth marks from the wooden cookie step.
Now you can varnish your buttons, paint them, or soak them with epoxy. Or all of the above.
I'm skipping those steps because they smell bad.
You're not removing much wood so fingers are plenty of power.
This button has tooth marks from the wooden cookie step.
Now you can varnish your buttons, paint them, or soak them with epoxy. Or all of the above.
I'm skipping those steps because they smell bad.
Button Lashing, Side View
Hang a button or two anywhere you'll be doing some innertube lashings.
I like to use these big buttons like cleats to lash the crossbeams on my outrigger sailing canoe. This particular lashing gets a lot of strain so I did a few turns of spectra cord first, then covered that with innertube.
When I'm done sailing and all tired it's easy to untie the beams to load the stuff on my truck.
Click on the little photos below the big one to see other views of the completed lashing.
To terminate the lashing just tuck the end under as shown. Don't tie any knots in innertubes, you'll just have to pick them apart with cold fingers later.
I like to use these big buttons like cleats to lash the crossbeams on my outrigger sailing canoe. This particular lashing gets a lot of strain so I did a few turns of spectra cord first, then covered that with innertube.
When I'm done sailing and all tired it's easy to untie the beams to load the stuff on my truck.
Click on the little photos below the big one to see other views of the completed lashing.
To terminate the lashing just tuck the end under as shown. Don't tie any knots in innertubes, you'll just have to pick them apart with cold fingers later.