“Instructions for ‘Plastic’ Handholds”
Step 1: Introduction
Step 2: Shopping
Step 3: Design a Prototype
Step 4: Make a Mold
Step 5: Pour the Hold
DISCLAIMER: The info I give you here does not hold any responsibility on any injuries or whatever else might go wrong. Do yourself a favor and READ THE SAFTEY LABELS on the chemicals. No whining.
After starting to climb in the gym a while, I noticed the same holds and started wishing I could make my own designs. After internet research, I found excellent information through the TradGirl (now sadly a rodent control site) website as well as info from Scott Paynton’s “Making Plastic Climbing Holds”. There were a couple of others, but I want to start with a thanks to these two in particular. Sam Shank has also produced some great concrete hold-making pages as well as Kieth Burk’s info on The Climbing Wall Resource. I’ve now spent almost a year (and a few bucks) improving the hold making and it is really a fun and easy way to jazz up a climbing wall. I’m lucky enough to have some holds bolted on in Boulders, the local climbing gym here in Killeen, TX. Climbers are constantly giving me excellent feedback on how to improve them or what they like which I post on the FAQ page. If you plan on making a wall at home, this will really help cut the cost from buying manufactured holds. I hope you find this guide helpful and really want to know how your holds turn out! Let me know! 1/10/2014 Update: The pages listed are sadly gone. Huge loss. But there’s a LOT of info on YouTube, website, forums, etc. now! I’ll post reviews under the “Add your Beta (Tips/Advice)” page.
Make sure you read through all the information carefully before you spend money. I’ve learned this can quickly become more expensive than just buying holds if you don’t pay attention to the little details. That being said, making the plastic holds can be very cheap and easy.
Making Climbing Holds 