Cool Source for Webbing, Buckles, etc...

[Zebco Kid]

Have you checked out any of the many past threads in the archives on diy knee ascender builds ?
Many members have made some really nice looking stuff but o e common theme is that when these guys finally break down and get a real manufacturer made one, they love it and never go back most times

Hello All,

Out of my workshop with a workable knee ascender.

I tried one version that didn't incorporate bungee. It was simple attached to my calf, but it wasn't comfortable.

So...back to the drawing workshop to recreate another version seen on this site. It works like a charm.

Following are the ingredients:

5/8 tubular webbing
1" tubular webbing
1 - 5/8 nylon strap adjuster
1 - left knee Petzl Pantin Foot Ascender (Left/Black)...not sure it really makes a difference when used as a knee ascender.
1 - 3/16" bungee cord
1 - 3/8 nylon strap
1 - 3/8 plastic water supply line (refrigerator/dishwasher/garbage disposal)

The above is my brain at work....


The above is what the 3/8 water line looks like. It came it a straight 5' piece.


The above is the finished product.

Elements:

I used a taught line hitch on the bungee so I can adjust it. I have a little Nite Ize cam that I might try instead of the hitch. That will take care of the accessory carabiner too, as the biner is built into the cam.

I used the water supply line in two places.
1) the foot stirrup to keep it open. It's effective, but I can see that it's hard on the nylon strap. I might just slide in an 8 gauge piece of copper wire. That would work too. Rather than just the foot bar, I can have it more like a stirrup/horseshoe shape.

2) I used the water supply line in the vertical nylon tubing section between the pantin and the stirrup. I'm not sure why I did that. I thought/think it might make handling a bit easier (not flopping about). I really can't say as I haven't tried it without the water line.

The 3/8" nylon strap was used on the top of the pantin, connecting to the bungee. I used the 3/8" strap to allow free movement of the pantin's cam element.

I added a piece of 1" nylon tubing strap to the foot stirrup for abrasion purposes. I think that's effective, but the water supply line was cutting through due to the downward force when climbing. I need to figure that out. Maybe rubber caps on the water supply line piece will take off the sharp edge.

I used a Sailrite sewing machine on this project, but any machine will do.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[Jonny]

Looks nice, you try it out yet?

Bungee is attached to the ascender?

If you got more bungee cord, terminate the bungee down near the bottom and have it running through the whole length of it. If possible, have it doubled up, like a loop of bungee through the whole thing.

That’s part of what makes the SAKA so great, along with the quality of the bungee used. Among other things.

 

[Zebco Kid]

Looks nice, you try it out yet?

Bungee is attached to the ascender?

If you got more bungee cord, terminate the bungee down near the bottom and have it running through the whole length of it. If possible, have it doubled up, like a loop of bungee through the whole thing.

That’s part of what makes the SAKA so great, along with the quality of the bungee used. Among other things.

It worked great. Since my post, I removed the taught line hitch and added a Nite Ize miniature Attaching a long

Looks nice, you try it out yet?

Bungee is attached to the ascender?

If you got more bungee cord, terminate the bungee down near the bottom and have it running through the whole length of it. If possible, have it doubled up, like a loop of bungee through the whole thing.

That’s part of what makes the SAKA so great, along with the quality of the bungee used. Among other things.

It worked great. Since my post, I removed the taught line hitch and added a Nite Ize cam to adjust (trim) the bungee length for optimal tension (elasticity) I’ll try that today. Attaching a longer bungee through the length is not a problem as the I.D. of the water supply line will accommodate the bungee. I can simply knot off on the bottom of the water supply line. I could use wider webbing, add a second water supply line for the return (looping) of the bungee, but I don’t see that providing an advantage. There’s plenty of stretch in the bungee.

 

[Jonny]

Moar bungee is moar gooder!
Probably.

Pretty fancy sewing though, looks professional!