Hey guys.
I've just been spending the last hour changing around the ring skirts on my ring, dusting off the canvas mat and doing some general stuff on it.
Trying to clip on the turnbuckle pads is always incredibly difficult and it takes way, way longer than it should.
I was just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to make the process any easier?
Or, does a place exist that creates custom ones, or does anyone have any tips on making my own?
Many thanks in advance.
It just takes practice. I’ve done it so many times I can change them all in 5 minutes. If you have multiple sets of ropes turnbuckles and hooks, I would set everything up and never take the rope/turnbuckle/hook combo apart. That way you can unhook the entire thing off the posts like it’s a single piece.
Anyway, here’s how you put the turnbuckles on. Put the posts into the ring base. You take the hooks and ropes off the post. Keep the ropes through the hooks. Then put the turnbuckles on. It’s much easier if they’re not connected to the ring and you can out the turnbuckles on while the ropes/hooks are in your hands. Then for the turnbuckles, you slide one side of a tab in one hole and pop in the other side of the same tab in the hole. So instead of forcing the entire tab straight down into the hole, you want to slide it in. Then you do that to the other tab and you’ve got one turnbuckle done.
Once all the turnbuckles are on, you’re going to push them towards the hook so the ropes can glide easily through the hook hole without any obstruction from the turnbuckle pad. Put one hook on the post. Now take the opposite turnbuckle and slide it along the rope until it’s even with Turnbuckle1. Then hook it to the correct post. Now slide Turnbuckle3 so that it has equal slack between Turnbuckle1 and Turnbuckle2. Hook Turnbuckle3 and make adjustments to it by sliding the ropes through to make sure you have equal slack. Now repeat the process for Turnbuckle4. Once all four are attached to the post, check the rope slack to make sure it’s even on each side. This help prevents the ropes from stretching too much and losing elasticity. Now pull the turnbuckle pads away from the hooks just a little to create some resistance on the ropes so they don’t slide so easy. And always attach the ropes to the ring in this order for ease: bottom, middle, top.
I hope I explained well enough.
You explained that all perfectly. Thank you so much for all of the tips. I did actually consider the idea of hooking the ropes on and then taking the buckles off and doing them that way.
I always go bottom to top too and make sure to push the pads in once they are connected, so at least I know I am doing that right
I guess it just gives me all the more reason to keep on changing around the ring skirts and practicing, which I will be happy to do.
I'll give each tip a try every different time.
But again, thank you for your reply. I really appreciate it.
