Documenting my hand-sewn eye process

[Gymnast]

Idk man.. seems to work fine for me.. 1/2in.. 8mm.. whateve.. the length has never been an issue lock stitching... If anything it could be skinnier & shorter for my smaller Cordages.

I think a shorter needle makes it less likely, that the needle bend or break when you are working with it. So if short length is no problem for you, then a shorter needle is right for you. In your Picture, you have got a length of 30 mm from the nut to the eye. For one of my needles for the Sewing Awl I have got 25 mm - and I think it has been to short for some of my applications. If you are using the round/parameter stitching method, then I think they would prefer to use a long needle, because you need to penetrade about two diameters of rope.

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

If you are using the round/parameter stitching method, then I think they would prefer to use a long needle, because you need to penetrade about two diameters of rope.

I understand that, that's why i mentioned lock stitching specifically, like the majority of the ppl here are trying to accomplish.

But as far as Round/Parameter or whatever it's correct term is.. this is what i get with doubled up 12.7mm & the needle chocked up a bit in the chuck...
Idk.. looks like it would work for me.. But then again idk if id be wanting to rethread the needle every pass using this style of stitching with a SS so id probably use a completely different style needle.. at least with the way I'm familiar with round stitching.

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

So i got irritated with the lack of gear loops/storage on my Monkey Beaver.. I sat there for hours staring at a mess of 5-8mm Cordage as well as a heap if tubular webbing.. the creativity gears were grinding pretty hard, but this is all i could think of so far that wouldn't end up looking too much like a half witted abortion..
I have a few other ideas for additional loops, just haven't planned out how to implement them & hide the terminations.. I may undo each side if these two loops & add tubbing to them, not sure yet.

I will say that i definatley want to add something that will carry a small med pack. I truly believe in those after seeing the amount of colleagues cut themselves up aloft.. i know one guy that's cut him self 3 times in the two years he's been climbing...& I aint talking a nick.. he's cut himself with the chainsaw 3x's.. & with no first aid up there everything just gets covered by his leaking gash, including those working the ground. Nasty stuff right there..

Just need to think of a clean way to implement a pack on there.. probably right where that silly patch is.

Edit-if anyone has the typical small medical pack, could you give me it's measurements? Width/Height? So i can see if it will fit standing up inbetween the two suspender d-rings & not interfere... Thanks.

 

[SomethingWitty]

Man, I don't have one handy, but I love where I have it on my TM.
I keep it on the outside of my right leg loop. I tied it on using the holes all over the harness.
It is reachable with either hand and I can usually see what I am doing.
The small of my back is the last place I want to have to get to if I have a big wound aloft.

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

Man, I don't have one handy, but I love where I have it on my TM.
I keep it on the outside of my right leg loop. I tied it on using the holes all over the harness.
It is reachable with either hand and I can usually see what I am doing.
The small of my back is the last place I want to have to get to if I have a big wound aloft.

Hey.. don't sweat the measurements.. I emailed wesspur & they got back to me pretty quick..

Ok.. so you keep it on your leg.. i was thinking about that VS trying to get at it injured & one handed behind my back. I was just concerned about the bulk of it being behind my leg & if it would constantly be getting bumped or jammed up against stuff I'm trying to navigate over or through when in tight spaces..

IDK.. im probably over thinking that scenario or inventing a problem that i'd very rarely come across..

Wish the MB had the accessory modularity of the TM.. don't know why more manufacturers haven't gone with a similar material design after seeing how successful the TM was. It really can't be that hard to replicate..

 

[SomethingWitty]

Hey.. don't sweat the measurements.. I emailed wesspur & they got back to me pretty quick..

Ok.. so you keep it on your leg.. i was thinking about that VS trying to get at it injured & one handed behind my back. I was just concerned about the bulk of it being behind my leg & if it would constantly be getting bumped or jammed up against stuff I'm trying to navigate over or through when in tight spaces..

IDK.. im probably over thinking that scenario or inventing a problem that i'd very rarely come across..

Wish the MB had the accessory modularity of the TM.. don't know why more manufacturers haven't gone with a similar material design after seeing how successful the TM was. It really can't be that hard to replicate..

It really doesn't. It's flat against the pad.
I was assuming that there were reasonable places on the MB leg pad to just sew the pouch on.

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

It really doesn't. It's flat against the pad.
I was assuming that there were reasonable places on the MB leg pad to just sew the pouch on.

Nice.. Nice.. good to hear..

Yes.. your were correct in your assumption.. there's PLENTY of real estate on those leg pads.. there frigging huge & deff comfortable too.. but in my opinion.. a complete waste if space in terms of being able to use them for other purposes.. Time was taken to sew all these silly marketing patches on them, but again, absolutely no loops or breaks in the stitching for accessories or anything for that matter..

It really baffles me as to why these simple little things weren't built into the saddle..
The more i look at it, the more i feel as if the harness was designed around a few key features... BUT with certain aspects that make a saddle fluid, useable & easy to adjust were just completely overlooked without feedback or suggestion from the manufacturer... Otherwise they'd be a no brainer & included in there.. I'm not saying that's what happened, but more so, that's what it "seems" like.

Don't get me wrong it's wicked comfortable (& i applaud anyone inclined to innovate), Ive never felt an ounce of discomfort in the thing & it's leaps & bounds above the 20yr old death trap i was using... However, it wasn't until I started digging into the actual designs of other saddles, that i was left trying to wrap my head around some of the decisions made with this thing or why they were implemented. They just don't make sense from a pros vs cons webbing hardware prespective. Its just simple inexpensive stuff that would make the whole experience that much better.. Like the way the rise adjustment is sewn onto the saddle.. or any of the adjusters for that matter, they are harder to adjust than it needs to be, but specifically the rise because of the adjuster style/design they went with.. The simple implementation of a stacked tribar/triglide design would have made it a one handed task like most other harnesses I've tried & that same stacked design could have been carried out for every adjustment needed.. TM's, Ergo's, Petzls', even Copycat saddles, they all have these ready adjustment features.. I mean the TM even goes as far as sewing a pull tab onto that stacked triglide just make it that much easier to adjust.. Does that design cost more than what's on there = Not really, probably pennies.. But the functionality achieved = Tons.. Just simple little stuff like that, that youd expect in a saddle right at the cusp of $500..

It would be cool if they came out with a revised version..




One question here... & I've googled & googled for answers.. What is that stacked triglide/tribar design called..??? There has to be a shortened name or acronym for the type of connection it makes other than a "stacked triglide/tribar webbing buckle"..lol.

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

Anyone notice this on the Sterling Atlas cordages? It seems to be Sewn top through bottom..

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

No one? Did i miss something? Where'd everyone go?

 

[theatertech87]

I've got nothing concrete to add, besides I did stitch one similarly in my original test without issue, but that's hardly definitive...

 

[TimBr]

Anyone notice this on the Sterling Atlas cordages? It seems to be Sewn top through bottom..

Ok, no, I did not notice that going by, prior to your posting of the photos, but even worse, it just did not register what it was that was odd about the situation. I'm not a splicer, yet, but I still feel embarrassed that I did not pick up on your point, here. Sewn splices normally go through side to side, not top to bottom, and the fact that this photo was different just did not register for some reason. Very observant of you to notice that going by. It will be interesting to hear if Sterling Ropes comes out with any statements that explain their thinking on this with regard to strength of sewn splice, or not.

Thanks for hanging in there with this thread.

Tim

 

[Brocky]

Looks like they have reduced the diameter of the eye and sewn area. Could be some splicing involved also. I’ve been playing around with the concept of combining splicing, sewing and reducing the connection.

 

[theatertech87]

Looks like they have reduced the diameter of the eye and sewn area. Could be some splicing involved also. I’ve been playing around with the concept of combining splicing, sewing and reducing the connection.
View attachment 57427

Who makes those? The orange one looks like a reaving eye (i.e no core) and the red looks like it's a smaller cord inside the cover of a larger rope

 

[Brocky]

The blue 8mm Viper was my first attempt, and most successful, is cover only, as well as the 8mm Epicord. The Viper tails only overlap four inches, and the Epi overlap is full length.
The red is 8mm Warpspeed II with 3mm dyneema eyes spliced to each end. It’s more flexible than a typical splice, and has smaller eyes.
All of them have Round Perimeter stitches added, to theoretically hold the splice together until the finger trap effect works on the reduced volume.
Next is to make some to be tested.

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

I've been watching this thread for a while but rarely comment. @Jimmycrackcorn , when sewing the custom gear loops onto the MB saddle did your stitches go through the entire back pad or just capture the exterior/outside fabric layer? I think this may help with some storage issues on my saddle.

Ahhh so your just a stalker!! Lol..

Yes, i go all the way through.. don't look pretty on the other side but i don't give a shit.. I don't think i didn't need to go as tight as i did with the stitches as none of the other stitching on the saddle compresses the padding the way my lock stitches did.. I had just never sewn material like that before... Also had never sewn before sewing rope either...lol

Also, i picked up some 7mm I.D. x 9mm O.D. clear tubing i may throw on there just to try & make it look factory..

Additionally I've been paying alot of attention to webbing/hardware designs latley & have been seeing alot of very simple modular designs out there & I'm constantly being left scratching my head as to why NONE of the arb related manufacturers are on board with this stuff.. the modular style hardware is cheap/strong, military grade & available everywhere, yet we're still playing with dog leash snaps, minimal attatchment points & cookie cutter design.. In my honest opinion, the only exception to accessory attachment delima is the Treemotion.. It's like they are the only ones who can think outside the box in that department.

For example..
Check this.. it's not for Arb.. but it's completely modular in it's accessory attatchment.. if you DONT want it, you dump it.. if you DO want it, you add it.. very simple, easy peasy, with almost mindless ease of attatchment

Now you see it...

Now you don't..

Woah.. magic... Nope.. just the ability to think outside the box..



The only reason I'm personally doing "stuck inside the box loops" is because i know if i tried to implement anything other than that, it would come out looking like an abortion..

Who makes those? The orange one looks like a reaving eye (i.e no core) and the red looks like it's a smaller cord inside the cover of a larger rope

Who makes them? Super Brock makes them!!! & I'll tell you first hand he's into something with that Epi Cord! That shit is almost impossible to get a splicer friendly splice out of, nevermind a super flexible eye like he came up with.. The ones I've done (even while trying to keep flexible) have all come out hard enough to carry as blackjack/slapjack self defense tool..
Iirc, typically a reeving splice is not load freindly, but i don't think that's what he's doing there.. as I'm pretty sure he intends to climb on it...

 

[TimBr]

@Jimmycrackcorn; Nice post! Thanks for showing us that stuff, I'd never have seen it otherwise. It is not immediately apparent to me what it is that holds the female half of those buckles onto the saddle, but they look like a really cool idea. Your post may prompt a change in how the arb saddle makers create their saddles from here on out. My bet is that those modular setups have just not been brought to their attention, either. Thanks again.

Tim

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

@Jimmycrackcorn; Nice post! Thanks for showing us that stuff, I'd never have seen it otherwise. It is not immediately apparent to me what it is that holds the female half of those buckles onto the saddle, but they look like a really cool idea. Your post may prompt a change in how the arb saddle makers create their saddles from here on out. My bet is that those modular setups have just not been brought to their attention, either. Thanks again.

Tim

Haha! That would be nice! One post that changed world!! Lol.. Alot if the stuff i see is based off of military needs & solutions.. I've actually seen some of the hardware intergrated here & there into other ARB products, like the G-Hooks on the notch bag. It's like the manufacturers are right there sniffing around in the right area, but have tunnel vision & can't see the plethora of other hardware products... I mean just a simple single row of 1in webbing below or above the main webbing belt on a harness opens it up to endless configurations of accessory packs & "mid line" attatchable hardware..
Like these below.. all work with 1in flat web.. however you cannot get them for larger webbing.. so choice of webbing is important if you want these options.

The options to carry med packs & secure odd ball stuff is endless with these items.. & those items are just scratching the surface of whats available.

 

[theatertech87]

What did you search for to find that molle stuff? I bought some conterra bags that were designed with that in mind, but couldn't find much on it

 

[Santiago Casanova]

What did you search for to find that molle stuff? I bought some conterra bags that were designed with that in mind, but couldn't find much on it

Check out lapolicegear.com
It is where I get pants and boots.

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

What did you search for to find that molle stuff? I bought some conterra bags that were designed with that in mind, but couldn't find much on it

The stuff is really just scattered all over the internet & usually under Tactical/Military/Police/EDC/Security packs, bags, armor carriers & general hardware keywords & headings. Google's algorithm presents me with these things when i personally search = 1''in molle/pals hardware. However there are some newer slicker lighter systems using laser cut cordura, but all this hardware is backwards compatible with it .. If a harness manufacturer was to use this newer system, the entire backside of the saddle itself would be the actual storage solutions, without even having to add additional webbing beyond the existing life support system. Kinda like the TM, the saddle material itself becomes the solution with slits & holes punched in it. Here's a pic of what I'm talking about.. this particular company is calling it a "6-9" or "6-12 pocket attachment system". It's pretty slick, as well as trick imho. All compatible with older 1in hardware.

La Police Gear definatley has alot stuff, like actual gear, but I can't speak to the availability of the hardware itself. I know SDK Tactical uses allot of the hardware & intergrates it into some very interesting in house products.. Soilder Systems is another site that showcases cutting edge examples of new gear & uses, but it's allot of skimming to find these peices. Tactical Tailor is another place to see some of the hardware, but again, intergrated into larger products. HSGI does some really cool stuff incorperating alot of shock cord into their designs.. I mention all these places not because it's directly useful for arb, but just to stir your pot & show some innovative ways of using textiles & hardware. The same textiles we see in our trade, but unfortunately intergrated with tunnel vision, you know, Cordura, Nylon/Poly webbing, Shock Cord, tubing, cordage, pvc & all the hardware associated..

MilspecMonkey.com is a place i know for a fact you can purchase allot of the individualized hardware..

& Then of course the Amazon's & Ebays.. just search the terms i mentioned above.. 6-9 pocket attachment hardware or molle/pals hardware.

There is a caveat, I'm pretty sure most of the stuff i just posted pics of is actually made overseas, unless it states otherwise.. however, there is usually a US or Euro manufacturer somewhere along the line that invented it & it isn't for life support anyways so the Chicom stuff becomes attractive...IIRC, ITW Nexus for example, has the patent on the G-Hooks & a few other of the midline attatchable side release buckles & Doo Dads..

I was happy to see, but at the same time got a good laugh out of Notch/TS when i saw them using the G-Hooks on their bags & acting as if they single handedly revolutionized the system themselves. I'll take it as a win though, incorporating them is better than having the usual tunnel vision in regards to hardware. Just wish they could have gotten the name of them right, or even known from the get go what they were. They just reference them as "our adjuster", "our special adjuster" or something like that so no one knows they are available to the masses.. ok ok.. I'm nit picking..

Anyhow.. now that I've completely derailed this this awesome thread, imma creep back into the woodwork i came from.