How to Build Climbing Holds

Many people enjoy the convenience of a home climbing wall. Maybe you can’t make it to a real climbing enclosure or perhaps you are such a climbing enthusiast that you want to practice when you’re at home. Either way, you will need to have climbing holds on a wall to allow you to climb. You can quickly and easily build as many holds as you want using inexpensive materials.

Things You'll Need

  • Shale or sandstone rock
  • Large piece of wood
  • Clamp
  • Power drill
  • Carbide-tipped masonry bit
  • Bolt
  • Washer
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Instructions

  1. Creating Climbing Holds

    • 1

      Find a few shale or sandstone rocks that have at least one smooth side. You will need 1 rock per climbing hold.

    • 2

      Set the rock on a flat piece of wood. The wood should be at least 1 inch thick. Use the wood to support the rock as you drill a hole on it.

    • 3

      Clamp the rock to the piece of wood. Position the clamp so the middle of the rock is not covered.

    • 4

      Make a hole through the center of the rock using a power drill and carbide-tipped masonry bit. The hole must go all the way through the rock, so you might end up drilling into the wood the rock is clamped to.

    • 5

      Drill a hole in the wall where you want to attach the climbing hold. The hole needs to accommodate the bolt that you will be using.

    • 6

      Hold the rock on the wall so the hole in the wall and the hole in the rock line up.

    • 7

      Place the washer over the hole in the rock and insert the bolt through it. Use a wrench to tighten the bolt in the wall.