Making Climbing Holds at Home
While I don't claim to be an industry expert, I am creating this guide to answer the constant stream of questions I receive on social media from people eager to start their own shaping journey. Consider this a documentation of everything I have learned through trial and error, shared so that others can safely explore this fantastic hobby for themselves.
In this course, we will cover every essential step moving from your initial concept to the physical shaping of a master, and finally, to pulling on your very own custom climbing holds!
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Lesson 1.1: Welcome
Making climbing holds is a highly rewarding blend of sculpture, engineering, and chemistry.
Making climbing holds is a highly rewarding blend of sculpture, engineering, and chemistry.
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Lesson 1.2: The "Wind Tunnel" Workshop
Before you carve a single block of foam or mix a drop of resin, you need to engineer your workspace.
Before you carve a single block of foam or mix a drop of resin, you need to engineer your workspace.
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Lesson 1.3: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
You are dealing with substances that demand respect.
You are dealing with substances that demand respect.
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Lesson 1.4: Material Sourcing & The Chemistry
To make professional-grade climbing holds, you don't need a lab, but you do need specific industrial materials.
To make professional-grade climbing holds, you don't need a lab, but you do need specific industrial materials.
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Lesson 2.1: Foam Densities Explained
The master plug is the absolute foundation of your climbing hold. If the master is flawed, the silicone mould will perfectly replicate those flaws.
The master plug is the absolute foundation of your climbing hold. If the master is flawed, the silicone mould will perfectly replicate those flaws.
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Lesson 2.2: Shaping Techniques & Ergonomics
you are simply removing everything from the block that isn't the climbing hold.
you are simply removing everything from the block that isn't the climbing hold.
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Lesson 2.3: Torque About Fixings
The engineering of the bolt and screw holes is just as critical as the ergonomics of the grip.
The engineering of the bolt and screw holes is just as critical as the ergonomics of the grip.
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Lesson 2.4: Perfecting the Friction
The texture you create on the foam right now is the exact texture you will feel on the final resin hold.
The texture you create on the foam right now is the exact texture you will feel on the final resin hold.
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please consider donating
Right now, this guide is completely free. I’m really enjoying building it out and plan to keep adding videos, more detailed info, and fleshing out the entire syllabus so more people can enjoy making holds at home. If you find this helpful, please consider donating to help make this project a reality!