If you're drowning in plastic bags, you can finally recycle them into something useful! This tutorial will show you how to turn plastic shopping bags into a dog leash.
The leash that I am showing you to make is suitable for a SMALL to MEDIUM sized dog ONLY!!! Don't go walking your 150 pound Bullmastiff with it because it will break when the dog strains on the leash. If you want to make a stronger dog leash, double up the braiding strands or use a thicker plastic.
Since this project is braided with all the strands being the same colour, it might be confusing to one that is just learning how to braid. I have made another four strand braid instructable where all the cords are different colours. Check it out if you need help starting or finishing your braid.
The reason that I really love Instructables is because other members are constantly giving feedback on your design and perhaps on how to make things better. jtobako queried me on the snap attachment and said it looked a little weak, which was a really good point. I haven't had a problem since my dog isn't really a "puller", but it did get me thinking. I did come up with a sturdier way to attach the snap to the braid, which you can seen in steps 20 to 23.
I have just started up my new blog Bloggie Stylish where you can find all kinds of neat tutorials, like this one.
The leash that I am showing you to make is suitable for a SMALL to MEDIUM sized dog ONLY!!! Don't go walking your 150 pound Bullmastiff with it because it will break when the dog strains on the leash. If you want to make a stronger dog leash, double up the braiding strands or use a thicker plastic.
Since this project is braided with all the strands being the same colour, it might be confusing to one that is just learning how to braid. I have made another four strand braid instructable where all the cords are different colours. Check it out if you need help starting or finishing your braid.
The reason that I really love Instructables is because other members are constantly giving feedback on your design and perhaps on how to make things better. jtobako queried me on the snap attachment and said it looked a little weak, which was a really good point. I haven't had a problem since my dog isn't really a "puller", but it did get me thinking. I did come up with a sturdier way to attach the snap to the braid, which you can seen in steps 20 to 23.
I have just started up my new blog Bloggie Stylish where you can find all kinds of neat tutorials, like this one.
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Signing UpStep 1: Tools You Will Need
To sucessfully make this leash you will need tin foil, an iron, a C-clamp, scissors, a flexible measuring tape, a lighter, some small rubber bands, two hemostat clamps a leash snap and plastic bags, of course. The ironing board is optional, but you will need a flat, heat resistant surface to fuse the plastic bags on.
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Awesome, if unexexpected, though!! Faved and rated. :)
but i must admit, I clicked the link cause i though it said
"how to upscale plastic shopping bags into a BRA"
:D
i think a new instructable is in order!
I think it' best to switch to re-usable cloth bags (which I've done) but this is fantastic for the mass of plastic bags that I still have laying around.
Definitely waiting for the bra instructable to surface. :)
What's the failure mode under excessive strain? Does it stretch at all, or is there a sudden snap?
I ask partly because there was another ible on making braided cord with old videotape which noted that the failure mode was pretty sudden and catastrophic. Plastic bags are, I think, a less brittle polymer but I wondered if you had seen what happened under extreme stress.