Forums > Other Toys > Stilt Help - Revisited...
Login/Join to ParticipateSILVER Member
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posted:
OK, so I've got my stilts now, and actually have had them for a while.
Walking etc... is perfectly fine and easy to do for me now, even up to a brisk walk almost at a jog.
My problem is this;
The stilts are really simple in design, and were made from scratch by my friend and I out of our heads (I had a basic idea of what we needed, he had a basic idea of how to make it lol).
We made 2 pairs, identical in construction and design and size.
The stilts them selves are a bit larger than a meter. We didn't want to make them to big as they were meant to be our learning set and I didn't feel like falling from that high up :P
Anyways, we only encountered one problem; how do we attach the top part of the stilt to the lower part of our leg, to make our leg and the stilt one solid piece...
In nice store bought ones you get a leg cup/brace and straps and buckles, but we didn't have any of that, so we decided we'd use some rags and tie them around in 3 places on each leg.
It worked ok untill we started moving and they came undone -.-, so then we decided we'd go the Canadian way. (By now he had given up and went back to juggling, so I kept going, determined to get it).
With the help of my girlfriend we duct taped the entire lower portion of my legs (knee down) to the stilt. This worked very well, but ripped out way to much hair taking it off, and was fairly uncomfortable if you didn't set your feet right first.
So now I am looking for other ways to make them work
This was all months ago, before the winter, but I never got around to working on them untill now (yay spring!).
I've got a few pictures of my pair and what they look like if anyone wants to see them.
https://photobucket.com/albums/v667/Immortalangel101/
And for anyone who might be concerned, the duct tape on there is there to keep my toes in place and give me a bit of support for the front of my foot when lifting up the toes. It's not there to keep it together or anything.
So for anyone who's made their own stilts, or sees a way to help me with my problem I'd love the help
OK, so I've got my stilts now, and actually have had them for a while.
Walking etc... is perfectly fine and easy to do for me now, even up to a brisk walk almost at a jog.
My problem is this;
The stilts are really simple in design, and were made from scratch by my friend and I out of our heads (I had a basic idea of what we needed, he had a basic idea of how to make it lol).
We made 2 pairs, identical in construction and design and size.
The stilts them selves are a bit larger than a meter. We didn't want to make them to big as they were meant to be our learning set and I didn't feel like falling from that high up :P
Anyways, we only encountered one problem; how do we attach the top part of the stilt to the lower part of our leg, to make our leg and the stilt one solid piece...
In nice store bought ones you get a leg cup/brace and straps and buckles, but we didn't have any of that, so we decided we'd use some rags and tie them around in 3 places on each leg.
It worked ok untill we started moving and they came undone -.-, so then we decided we'd go the Canadian way. (By now he had given up and went back to juggling, so I kept going, determined to get it).
With the help of my girlfriend we duct taped the entire lower portion of my legs (knee down) to the stilt. This worked very well, but ripped out way to much hair taking it off, and was fairly uncomfortable if you didn't set your feet right first.
So now I am looking for other ways to make them work
This was all months ago, before the winter, but I never got around to working on them untill now (yay spring!).
I've got a few pictures of my pair and what they look like if anyone wants to see them.
https://photobucket.com/albums/v667/Immortalangel101/
And for anyone who might be concerned, the duct tape on there is there to keep my toes in place and give me a bit of support for the front of my foot when lifting up the toes. It's not there to keep it together or anything.
So for anyone who's made their own stilts, or sees a way to help me with my problem I'd love the help
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />
GOLD Member
Pirate Pixie Crew Captain
8,428 posts
Location: Wales
Pirate Pixie Crew Captain
8,428 posts
Location: Wales
Posted:
I'd suggest getting 3 wide belts per stilt. Nail them to the wood at the top and strap them to your legs that way. If you glue some foam to the inside of the wood so its between the wood and your leg it will stop the wood rubbing against your skin and make it a bit more comfortable. If you use leather belts the leather over time will mould to the shape of your leg a bit too.(not sure if this will work because I've never made stilts but in theory 3 straps will stop the wood moving about) Good luck!
I'd suggest getting 3 wide belts per stilt. Nail them to the wood at the top and strap them to your legs that way. If you glue some foam to the inside of the wood so its between the wood and your leg it will stop the wood rubbing against your skin and make it a bit more comfortable. If you use leather belts the leather over time will mould to the shape of your leg a bit too.(not sure if this will work because I've never made stilts but in theory 3 straps will stop the wood moving about) Good luck!
Feed me Chocolate!!! Feed me NOW!
enthusiast
328 posts
Location: uk
328 posts
Location: uk
Posted:
Just had a look, I see what you've done, nice design, fairly similar to my six footers, I started off with four straps, but changed the design slightly when i decided to bolt heavy boots to the foot plate, thus removing two of the straps, much more comfortable and secure, on leg cups then, you really do need these as the protect the the lower leg muscle groups from over compression, there are several ideas here, you can go for half section drain pipe (plastic) bolted onto the wood strut, get someone to form a pair alluminium cups, myself I ended up making two fibreglass moulds of my legs and attaching these to the down struts, would only recomend this approach if your competent to work with glass fibre though, there are a lot of health and safety issues with this material.
mark
Just had a look, I see what you've done, nice design, fairly similar to my six footers, I started off with four straps, but changed the design slightly when i decided to bolt heavy boots to the foot plate, thus removing two of the straps, much more comfortable and secure, on leg cups then, you really do need these as the protect the the lower leg muscle groups from over compression, there are several ideas here, you can go for half section drain pipe (plastic) bolted onto the wood strut, get someone to form a pair alluminium cups, myself I ended up making two fibreglass moulds of my legs and attaching these to the down struts, would only recomend this approach if your competent to work with glass fibre though, there are a lot of health and safety issues with this material.
mark
SILVER Member
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posted:
I was thinking of getting a pair of shoes/boots and bolting them to the foot piece then having 3 straps for the legs. As for the leg cups I think I'll go with the drain pipe idea, as I've got no one who could work with fibreglass and no where we could work with alluminium.
I was thinking of getting a pair of shoes/boots and bolting them to the foot piece then having 3 straps for the legs. As for the leg cups I think I'll go with the drain pipe idea, as I've got no one who could work with fibreglass and no where we could work with alluminium.
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />
SILVER Member
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posted:
OK, I went with 4 straps, but I decided to use velcro, as it would be the easiest to adjust to my leg and what ever size of pants I am wearing ^.^'
Pictures are up in the photobucket now under the sub album called Stilts.
Also now have pictures up in the gallery of my friend and I testing out the stilts infront of my house
Fun was had by all, gonna try to upload a short movie to my gallery.
EDITED_BY: ImmortalAngel (1109113694)
OK, I went with 4 straps, but I decided to use velcro, as it would be the easiest to adjust to my leg and what ever size of pants I am wearing ^.^'
Pictures are up in the photobucket now under the sub album called Stilts.
Also now have pictures up in the gallery of my friend and I testing out the stilts infront of my house
Fun was had by all, gonna try to upload a short movie to my gallery.EDITED_BY: ImmortalAngel (1109113694)
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />
GOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Posted:
Sorry, bit to late mayhaps. If you search here on hop I linked to the design I used....in bit of rush sorry....
When I made mine I bought a piece of sheet steel real thin. cut it in 2. Bet it in a U shape. Screwed it to the inside of the upright. Went to a furntiure stuffer, bought some foam. Glued it in, then stuck 2 wide piecces of velcro round the outside...worked really well.
Sorry, bit to late mayhaps. If you search here on hop I linked to the design I used....in bit of rush sorry....
When I made mine I bought a piece of sheet steel real thin. cut it in 2. Bet it in a U shape. Screwed it to the inside of the upright. Went to a furntiure stuffer, bought some foam. Glued it in, then stuck 2 wide piecces of velcro round the outside...worked really well.
I live in a world of infinite possibilities.
SILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
1,785 posts
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Pooh-Bah
1,785 posts
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
if you get some crappy shin pads - you know, the ones with a bit of plastic and lined with thin foam/spoungey stuff....well if you peel the foamy bit off, you can screw the curved plastic bit to the stilts then glue the foamy bit back on over the screws. this makes it so much more comfy when you wear them. you'll need stronger straps than the shin pads give you
if you get some crappy shin pads - you know, the ones with a bit of plastic and lined with thin foam/spoungey stuff....well if you peel the foamy bit off, you can screw the curved plastic bit to the stilts then glue the foamy bit back on over the screws. this makes it so much more comfy when you wear them. you'll need stronger straps than the shin pads give you
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