Homemade Retractable Tether

rick67

Bronze Member
Mar 29, 2014
1,612
1,725
Smithtown NY
Detector(s) used
XP, Whites, Garrett,
Lesche, T-Rex, RTG.
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I use these on the kayak for whatever I want to bring back home after a spill. I also use for the Carrot when at the beach.
View attachment 1272482

You can use any Weed Eater line. Heavy is better. View attachment 1272483
I use a piece of 1/2" copper plumbing pipe but any small diameter rod that can handle heat will work. IMAG0601.jpg

Drill a hole through the rod large enough for the weed eater line to fit through and give it a few inches excess to work with later.
(You lose a third of line length to coil. 4' tether = 6' line)
Twist the rod to wrap line to desired length and insert line through a second pre drilled whole with few inches excess.
Point the two ends towards each other and use a twist tie or piece of wire to hold them down to rod.
IMAG0599.jpg
Now put in boiling water for five minutes then straight into ice water until cool to touch.
IMAG0600.jpg

It should look like this when done.
IMAG0602.jpg

Now you need a drill. Put one end into drill, tighten chuck to line, stretch out the line and reverse the coil direction slowly with the drill. This will increase the slinky effect to the tether.
IMAG0603.jpg
IMAG0604.jpg

Now you can either get aluminum crimes at HD, Lowe's, or Hardware store.
Today I used two small zip ties and goop to make end loops.
IMAG0605.jpg
IMAG0612.jpg
 

Last edited:

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top