DIY Bungee Cords

Posted by Ryan Posted onJul 19, 2024 at 5:12 PM and filed under Projects
Updated onUpdated on Jul 19, 2024 at 5:12 PM

Jerry had stumbled across a post on my Rivian thread about homemade bungee cords and, in a fit of curiosity, demanded more details. Naturally, I obliged with a video demonstration of my process—because, hell, why not share the madness? Let’s be clear: I have no earthly idea if “my way” is the best way or even a right way, but none of my creations have exploded yet, and I’m fond of their aesthetic.

So, if you’ve got the nerve and a penchant for just a little DIY chaos, here are the basic materials:

  • 3/8ths inch shock cord. Go for the military spec. Trust me, you’ll want it. Get it here.
  • 3/4 inch hog rings. These little bastards are essential. Find them here. (I can’t seem to find the really good round ones any more)
  • Metolius Mini carabiners. Rock climbers loathe these damned things, but they are great in this application. Grab some here.
  • 1/2 inch marine grade heat shrink with internal adhesive. This stuff is gold. Pick it up here.

And that, my friends, is all you need to dive headfirst into this delightful little project.

View thread (38 replies)
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Old tool guy

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Nice video. Little surprised with your comment about the need for 2 rings … i sure wouldn’t want one to slip off and have the cord come whipping back.

I wonder if you could make them with a large s-hook, bend one end closed. Easier to clip on in some uses.
 
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Ryan

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Old tool guy said:
Nice video. Little surprised with your comment about the need for 2 rings … i sure wouldn’t want one to slip off and have the cord come whipping back.

I wonder if you could make them with a large s-hook, bend one end closed. Easier to clip on in some uses.
Click to expand...

I honestly don't think it's going anywhere with one hog ring... You are compressing the rubber core so much that it really can't slip as far as I can tell. I do two mostly cuz I don't really like the hog rings I have on hand.

And yeah, you could do an S-hook... Or you could just buy standard bungee cord ends if you are inclined to use a hook. I prefer carabiners though... You can use them as a ring or a hook and they are plenty strong for a bungee.

The real value over store bought though is being able to use really good shock cord. It doesn't lose its elasticity as quickly as the cheap ******** you buy from big box stores...
 
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WhoWhatNow

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Ryan said:
I honestly don't think it's going anywhere with one hog ring... You are compressing the rubber core so much that it really can't slip as far as I can tell. I do two mostly cuz I don't really like the hog rings I have on hand.

And yeah, you could do an S-hook... Or you could just buy standard bungee cord ends if you are inclined to use a hook. I prefer carabiners though... You can use them as a ring or a hook and they are plenty strong for a bungee.

The real value over store bought though is being able to use really good shock cord. It doesn't lose its elasticity as quickly as the cheap ******** you buy from big box stores...
Click to expand...
My engineer friend volunteers with a robotics team and builds sets for community theater plays. He uses bungie cord a lot for things that are required to move. He uses two zip ties on the ends and I have never seen one come apart yet.
 
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Ryan

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WhoWhatNow said:
My engineer friend volunteers with a robotics team and builds sets for community theater plays. He uses bungie cord a lot for things that are required to move. He uses two zip ties on the ends and I have never seen one come apart yet.
Click to expand...

God damnit. I've never thought of that... That's actually brilliant....
 
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yhprum

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I don’t know why I never thought about doing this! Then I head over to Amazon and see they also sell flat web strap style bungee cords too? Where have I been, under a rock?
 
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drmarkr

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I do this to make custom lengths for items in our race trailer. Since there are always a buttload of the standard bungee cords around the shop that have rotted, I cut the ends off and save them in a bin in the parts storage. When I need one, there's always several available.

I've used zip ties, but always worry about them getting brittle. Instead I just tie a tight knot at the length I'm looking for, and then pull it back into the taper of the bungee hook. Sticks out a little and looks a bit bulky, but functions just fine. You can buy 25ft of it at HF for $10, or get it considerably cheaper than that on Amazon in 50 or 100ft rolls.
 
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KnurledNut

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Nice!
How about just tying a knot to secure the ends?

I've been using these Cordzilla Stretch Ropes and really like the ruggedness. The black sleeves are some type of soft foam rubber and slide up/down the rope. They work well to protect cargo edges or vehicle paint from abrasion. I've had mine for a few years and they have held up great and havent lost their stretchability.
FH16APR_567_18_017-Stretch-Rope-1200x1200-522x522.jpg
 
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Ryan

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KnurledNut said:
Nice!
How about just tying a knot to secure the ends?

I've been using these Cordzilla Stretch Ropes and really like the ruggedness. The black sleeves are some type of soft foam rubber and slide up/down the rope. They work well to protect cargo edges or vehicle paint from abrasion. I've had mine for a few years and they have held up great and havent lost their stretchability.
FH16APR_567_18_017-Stretch-Rope-1200x1200-522x522.jpg
Click to expand...

I've never seen those before... They look dope!

As for knots and shock cord, there was actually a "terms of use" document with my bulk purchase that was printed by the US Army and warned against using knots with rubber core rope. So, I never tried it... and just did the hog ring bit.

Keep in mind, I'm no expert on the matter.... I just found something that worked for me.
 
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slowtwitch73

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Ryan said:
I would assume that’s mostly due to UV? Covered with heat shrink that’s prolly minimized… maybe enough so that the zip ties outlast the elasticity of the rubber…
Click to expand...
They also are sharp where you cut them flush.. guess I'd rather be beened in the head with a couple hog rings than slashed by plastic lol.
 
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manwithtools

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Ryan said:
I would assume that’s mostly due to UV? Covered with heat shrink that’s prolly minimized… maybe enough so that the zip ties outlast the elasticity of the rubber…
Click to expand...

slowtwitch73 said:
They also are sharp where you cut them flush.. guess I'd rather be beened in the head with a couple hog rings than slashed by plastic lol.
Click to expand...

There are UV resistant zip ties available that will last for years outside in the sun. I would buy high quality one's, we buy them by the ten's of thousands at work from Tiewraps.com

As far as sharp edges from cutting zip ties, there is absolutely no excuse for allowing that to be the case. Not many things make me madder than cutting myself on a improperly trimmed zip tie :mad: A dedicated zip tie tool will tension (adjustable) and trim them flush at the same time. I have a Panduit one (shown below) that works flawlessly, I've tried the cheaper copies of the Panduit one, but none work as well as it does:

Panduit GTS-E Ergonomic Hand Operated Cable Tie Gun

710Q3N3WZ+L._SL1500_.jpg

They are pricey @ $175, but they just plain work!

A less expensive option is a pair of zip tie cutters. The have a special serrated jaw to aid in pulling the tie tight and flush cutting jaws to allow trimming the tie end flush with no sharp end exposed. With the cutters, it's a two step process (pulling tight, then cutting), but they work very well and are much more economical @$20 than the Panduit tool. Kind of depends on how many ties you deal with I guess.

Tsunoda, KBN-125, Cable Tie Cutter

61X2VV088QL._AC_SL1500_.jpg


Just another case of "Right tool for the job" ;)
 
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drmarkr

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Flush cuts are a tool that every single person who ever touches a zip tie should have! I found them on Amazon five pair for $10 and snatched it up. They're also great for electrical work to get nice clean cuts when you're doing wiring, but I have dedicated one pair to that so as they dull it won't be a big deal. At $2 a pair I can throw them out and replace them when they get too old to use.
 
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Old tool guy

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Flail said:
Not a fan of S-hooks in this application. In my previous life I took care of a handful of people with S-hooks that got embedded in faces and one time in the eyeball.
Click to expand...
Ok, but from what? The black rubber straps that are popular with truckers for tarps?
 
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Ryan

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Man.. you guys really know how to party with bungees… I use em for organizing **** more than anything.
 
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danielbuck

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drmarkr said:
Flush cuts are a tool that every single person who ever touches a zip tie should have! I found them on Amazon five pair for $10 and snatched it up. They're also great for electrical work to get nice clean cuts when you're doing wiring, but I have dedicated one pair to that so as they dull it won't be a big deal. At $2 a pair I can throw them out and replace them when they get too old to use.
Click to expand...
if you want to up your ziptie game, try these: https://www.cobraties.com/products/cobra-low-profile-zip-tie-55lb
 
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danielbuck

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drmarkr said:
Nice....ordered a pack to try out from Amazon with Prime.
Click to expand...
they are fantastic for areas where you don't want to have anything sticking out to catch on your hands, clothing, or other wires/whatever. You still cut them flush like normal zip ties, but after that they are much lower profile. Have used them on 2 vehicles so far now, and I love them. The only down size, is that the smallest size (4"?) can't quite tighten down on a small number of wires, say you have 3 18 gauge wires you want to tie tight, these zip ties won't make them very tight that small because of how they lay flat. But asside from that, they are sweet :). any thing larger they will tighten down just like normal, and be flatter.
 
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Stelzer

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Hog rings are a cool idea I've never even thought of. I used to make knee and chest ascenders for tree climbing by using dyneema shock cord, and all the plastic toggle ends I found sucked. Ended up creating loops using an Angler's loop, sometimes finished the excess with some whipping of Mason's twine, then a few dabs of super glue. Hog rings and shrink tape would've made things a hell of a lot easier.
 
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IndyGarage

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Stelzer said:
Hog rings are a cool idea I've never even thought of. I used to make knee and chest ascenders for tree climbing by using dyneema shock cord, and all the plastic toggle ends I found sucked. Ended up creating loops using an Angler's loop, sometimes finished the excess with some whipping of Mason's twine, then a few dabs of super glue. Hog rings and shrink tape would've made things a hell of a lot easier.
Click to expand...
Yeah the hog rings are a good idea. I bought a bunch of bungee cord and the plastic hooks that you thread it through a few years ago, but I never really liked bungee cord for stuff. I didn't know they make a military grade - will have to look for that.

I generally prefer motorcycle straps to tie stuff down.
 
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GaryM909

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I picked up these for my wife yesterday to use with her fitness gear. They were $10Cad for 5 at Princess Auto and are rated for 275 pounds. They might work good for bungee cords. I also have flush cuts for zip ties but I find twisting the tails off works pretty well too
 

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no704

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For zip ties in an area I’m likely to try and fish my hands into again I like to cut the tails short and burn with a cigarette lighter.
 
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Ryan

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Interesting experiment. I used 1/4” bungees to secure some outdoor shades in Hawai’i. Both of these have been in service for two years. One is homemade out of mil-spec shock cord, the other is from Amazon. Obviously, the mil-spec cord has some sort of UV protection…

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nerraw117

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in case I missed it anyone have a link to the mil spec cord? I saw where Ryan got it from military surplus auction.
 
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LaneRover

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Flail said:
Not a fan of S-hooks in this application. In my previous life I took care of a handful of people with S-hooks that got embedded in faces and one time in the eyeball.
Click to expand...
When I worked in film at the prop house I saw another propmaster with stitches right next to his eye. He was making sure his truck was ready to move and was pulling on a bungee cord when the other end slipped. He was very lucky to get away with stitches and knew it.
 
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Allenworks

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I bought a 100’ roll of Harriscos Llc rubber rope and they have what’s called sj hooks. You can adjust the length on the fly and when I’m available I’ve made cords for all sorts of projects. Battery hold downs. Tarps. Storage holding. Pallets. And for my vehicles. Doesn’t take long to thread the hooks and you have a bungee cord.

The rubber from Harriscos Llc hasn’t torn or any failure. I have really pulled hard being impatient. I always stick my head out the way if something snaps and nothing has. But I would try the military cord recommended by Ryan. Good job.

But Check out here:

IMG_2646.jpeg
 

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mikegt4

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"shock cord" is available at sailboat rigging supply places, used a lot of places on sailboats. The problem is that it's now mostly made in China and has a short life span. I have some shock cord applications on my sailboat(s) that have lasted at least 10 years but the place that I got it from closed during the pandemic and I lost that supplier. IIRC, it was made by a large rope manufacturer to MIL spec.
 
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mike93lx

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I recently needed some small bungees and remembered this thread so I decided to roll my own.

I went with 3/16 as this was going to be used for lightweight stuff, like securing a water bottle to a pack. Hog rings were from a cheap kit on Amazon that included pliers and I used some heat shrink I had on hand. The spring clips are about 1.25" long

My 8 year old helped me and got to make one for herself, so added bonus there. 1000008758.jpg
 
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