DIY Jump Rope

In grade school, jump rope was my life. That and dodgeball, but since I was much better at jumping than running, I tended to cower in the back, using my classmates as human shields. When a ball would find its way to me, I’d snatch it up and sheepishly attempt to throw it to the other side. Eventually I came to the conclusion that I was better suited for jump rope. Oh, and let’s not forget the parachute tent.

DIY Jump rope

Back to the subject at hand: jump rope. I spotted this on Pinterest and, like most things on Pinterest, my reaction was, Ooh, I need that, right? Then I got to thinking, hey, I could make that. So I did, obviously, and I lived to tell the tale.

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Without interruptions and not counting drying time, it is a relatively fast process. It’s inexpensive, too. It cost me less than $10 to make two.

DIY Wood Jump Rope

Here’s what you’ll need:
Wooden rod, 1-inch thick and cut to 4 inches (although 5 or 6 inches long would work, too)
Rope, I found mine for 22 cents per foot at Home Depot near the hardware and chains
A power drill and appropriate drill bits: 1/8-inch, 3/8-inch, and 5/8-inch
Craft paint, if desired

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Begin by cutting down the wooden rod to the desired length for the handles (mine were 4 inches). Then, drill a pilot hole using the 1/8-inch bit in the center of both ends of the handle. I attempted to drill the hole as centered as possible but failed miserably. This one came out the best, although that’s not saying much.

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Next, using the 5/8-inch bit, drill deep enough for the knot of the rope to fit snugly in, about 3/4 to 1 inch deep.

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Now drill the rest of the way through with the 3/8-inch bit. Is this getting a bit familiar by now? I used the same method for the copper lamp and the glass door knob coat rack.

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Unfortunately, this side was very troubled and uncentered which leads me to believe it misplaced its zen-garden.

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Before painting, sand both ends until they are smooth – receiving splinters while jump roping is not the definition of a good time. Once the paint is fully dried (I allowed mine to rest overnight), string the rope through and tie a knot at the end.

DIY Jump Rope

It’s that simple. The rope for these measured about 8 inches and they are a bit too short for me. For a jump rope long enough for double dutch, I’d suggest 20 feet.

DIY Wood Jump Rope

Speaking of which, did you know there is a such thing as a Double Dutch Tournament? I better start practicing my Miss Mary Mack’s. Who’s rooting for me?

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4 Comments

  1. very cute! Good job!

  2. Thanks Ronja!

  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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