Jason Marshall wrote:
You're all a bunch of smart guys, maybe you can help a poor Canadian
hay farmer find or make about 1000 cinching tie-downs similar to
this:
http://www.inlandtarp.com/Super%20Cinch%20Tie-Down.htm

I have tried many methods of securing tarps but nothing has worked
yet.
Last years method was using strong rubber straps made by slicing tire

tubes radially. It looked promising but some of the tarps are in
shreds
now. For metalworking content, I used my plasma cutter to slice rings

from old coil-spring type harrow teeth and used them to secure the
strap
to the bale. That part worked quite well. Tying ropes is not really
an
option as the straps need to be tightened occasionally and the tying
would take place on a 15' ladder and there are a LOT of straps on
each tarp.
I have a pretty well-equipped shop but lack a lathe or milling
machine.
No injection-molding equipment either. I do have a good sized
sheet
of 3/8" thick lexan which may be useful. I used it to make skid shoes

for my mower/conditioner. They worked but lasted less than a season.
I'm
back to steel shoes only this time they are cut from used discs from
a
Kello 210 breaking discer. I love my plasma cutter. After 2000 acres
there's no visible wear on them.

Any comments on how such little cinching critters may be fabricated
would be very welcome, I'm all out of ideas. Thanks in advance.

Marshall Seed & Forage
Jason Marshall

They put me in mind of some guy rope tighteners my dad made up for a
"tent"(more of a summer lean-to). These consisted of a 6" length of
large dowel with a rope-sized hole drilled cross-wise on each end. End
of the rope went through one end and was knotted so it didn't go back
through. The rope was then looped through the grommet on the canvas
and then went through the other hole and was tied to a stake. Pull
down to tighten. I think he put some sort of finish on them, they
stood up to a lot of summers of Iowa rain and sun. Dowel was
broomstick-sized, probably salvaged. I imagine you could even slice 1"
or so square lengths out of hardwood and drill holes across the grain
if no dowels handy. PVC pipe maybe? They were cheap and they worked,
lasted longer than the rope did. FWIW

Stan