kevinz

Sorry, my request really doesn't have anything to do with parachuting. I just thought that the folks who would know the most about the materials and techniques I'll have to use would hang out here. Thanks for all the thoughts and concern about whether my machine can sew the materials, and whether I have enough experience to do this safely. As I said, I've already made what I consider to be adequate sailing life-line harnesses with my home sewing machine. I've also made harnesses for Single Rope Technique (SRT), a system used in cave-exploring and high-angle rescue. Another safely factor in my request is the arborist's practice of working with new materials or tools "low and slow." All new techniques and tools, like saddles, are usually tried out in the backyard, anywhere from 1 to 10 feet above the ground, until the techniques are familiar and the tools are proven. Thanks, again, for your thoughts. I value your suggestions. -Kevin

Andy2, thanks for your reply. I'm here from the arborist's board over at www.arboristsite.com. My post over there on "Hardware for making a saddle" is at http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9758. I didn't get much of a response, cause few of the folks over there are familiar with parachute harness hardware. A climbing harness can be used for arborist work, but it's unconfortable after a while. Climbing harnesses are made to hold you safely in the event of a fall, but are almost never used to suspend your weight for a long (more than 10 minutes) time. Arborists sit in their saddles almost all day long. Their weight needs to be spread out over cushioning material, not just the webbing of a climbing harness. Thanks, again, for your thoughts. -Kevin

I thought that this is an appropriate forum, because it seemed that the parachute riggers hung out here. The materials and techniques of sewing parachute harnesses are very similar to what goes into arborist's saddles. Thanks for your thoughts. -Kevin

I hope you all will entertain a question not at all related to jumping out of perfectly good airplanes. I'm interested in making a harness or saddle (term used in arborist's work) for climbing trees. You can see modern examples of them at http://www.newtribe.com/saddles.html and more traditional ones at http://www.wtsherrill.com/SHTML/sad.shtml. I think I can do this safely; I've made sailing lifeline harnesses and made some of the rope climbing harnesses found in Padgett and Smith's On Rope. I'm asking for help selecting hardware and for some sewing techniques. I found ParaGear's web site, to order hardware from. I'll probably use H309 or H310 on http://www.paragear.com/frame.asp?menu=group%3d34%26level%3d1&main=templates/base_template.asp%3fgroup%3d34 for the rings, for they're rated at 5000# tensile strength, the usually rating for arborist's rope and saddle equipment. I don't know what to use to fasten the leg or waist belts. These have to be adjustable and yet strong. Looking at a rock climbing belt I have, the closest buckle is H429 or H433. Is this the buckle to use? On my rock climbing harness, I don't like this style of buckle because it has to be rethreaded each time it's put on, taking time and loosing the position where it was set. Is there any other buckle that you would recommend, like a seat-belt type buckle, that would be quick, remember the last setting, be light and secure? Regarding sewing techniques, I've skimmed through The Parachute Manual by Poyner, volume II. I didn't find much on actual sewing techniques. For instance, I found out about 3-ring systems, but not enough to be able to make one up without an example in front of me. Is there another book or web site which would be more helpful to me? Does volume 1 of Poyner talk more about this? Thank you for your indulgence and suggestions. -Kevin Zembower