Simple Jug

This simple jug is a quick hold to make from wood, is straightforward and if this is the first wooden hold that you are making it’s a great choice. Use the process detailed on How to Make Wooden Holds combined with the design details below.

Wood Block Size

A block of wood ready to be made into a climbing hold
A block of wood ready to be made into a hold

For Step 1 of the How to Make Wooden Holds process cut a block of wood from your selected timber with dimensions of 100mm x 100mm by 50mm.

Hold Outline

Mark the where block where you intend to cut
Sketching the shape of the hold on the block of wood

When you complete How to Make Wooden Holds Step 3 mark the block for two 45 degree cuts. Position the cut where the hold will be held so that approx. 15mm of the flat edge of the block remains on the front side of the hold. This reduces the amount of bulk wood removal required later.

Attachment Hole Position

When you reach step 4 position the attachment hole so that it’ it’s centre is approx 15mm to 20mm from the top of the flat surface on the rear of the hold when it is finished.

Saw Cuts

The hold requires only two cuts with a saw. Make the cuts at a 45 degree angle. On completion of Step 5 you block should look like the picture above. Note one of the cuts has touched the attachment hole – this is expected.

Bulk Wood removal

Use your chosen tool for Step 6 to remove the bulk of the wood to shape the hold. Make sure you:

  • Round out all the corners on the back of the hold
  • Make sure the edge you are going to wrap your hand around is a smooths as possible and has a sufficient diameter so as not to hurt your hand when you pull on it
  • Putting a dish / sculpting out a dip in the flat surface where the fingers will sit is a nice touch

Finished hold

Once you have completed all 10 steps attach the hold to your climbing wall, test and if needed refine it. You now have a simple jug!

Design Variations

You can make the following changes to the design to produce different hold shapes:

  • Change the angle of the cut for the side the hand will grip. this can be anything back to no cut / the face is prependicuar to a 90 degree wall.
  • Make the hold wider e.g. 200mm, this creates a two hand jug

What next?

If you like the simple jug design you always complement it with a few pinches or one of the other designs linked to from the Designs for Wooden Holds page.