Gluesticks

How do you..........?

connect the rein ends on home made rope reins? I am making rope reins for my friends. This is what I have, Nylon rope like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47149982@N05/4388216391/in/photostream/ A clip like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47149982@N05/4388979936/in/photostream/ Now I just need to know how to get the part my fingers are holding stuck together: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47149982@N05/4388979970/in/photostream/ Do I use a hot glue gun or something. My dad and I were thinking about melting it together. Is that what you do? Thanks in advance:) Lexi

Public Comments

1. probably a hot glue gun or melting it. that is how they make them for the tack shops. hope this helps ♥
2. You have to buy special clamps. I don't know where to buy them though. Glue will come undone and if you try to melt it eventually the rest of it will fray away from the melting point.
3. You could also, for a nice unique look, buy some thin leather strips from either a tack store or a hobby store and soak them in warm water. You can get the regular shades of brown, but if you go to a hobby store or even sometimes Walmart if you are lucky, find ones with pretty colors, like a blue, a purple, pink, whatever. Anyways, after they have soaked for a couple hours in the warm water (you don't have to keep the water warm the whole time, I don't think) use a string to bind the rope together (at about where your fingers are holding it together in the last pic) and take one strip of leather and start wrapping it around as tight as you can. Make sure you over lap it so that it doesn't unwind. If you have very long strips, you may only need two, one for each side, if they aren't very long you might need two or three. I don't think you would need longer than two feet for each side. If you use more than one on each side, overlap the end of the first one with the start of the second. If only one, or when you reach the end of the second (or third) make the last loop not as tight and if you can, stick the strip between the ropes and tie to the other side. Keep the first string on but out of the way of the leather. Lay them out to dry. When the leather dries, it will shrink and become very tight and sturdy. I don't advise using a hot glue gun, as the glue has a tendency of falling apart. You can, however, melt them together first, and then use the leather to pretty it up a bit and also add extra reinforcement.
4. -----------------> DO NOT USE GLUE <---------------- That is NOT safe. Use Clamps. There are special rope clamps that you use. you smash the rope clamp with a hammer.... here, like this: http://www.sunsethalters.com/dbscropingreins.php This is strong, will last forever and is the safest way to be sure your reins do not come apart. you can get the rope clamps at any hardware store that sells rope. it should be in the rope section. they're cheap.