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Sewing with braided fishing line

Scott F

Scott F

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2015
Messages
766
Location
Tampa, Florida
First of all, I can't get off of this site! As an eternal do it-yourselfer, I have been scouring the web for some inspiration to make my own seat and I happened across this forum - I instantly registered. I've been a huge advocate for saddle/sling type stand options for a long time. When I came across thread on the LW site about making a sling-style seat from some nylon straps and plywood I had to try it out. I haven't used another stand since that day in 2009. I have a couple of those types of seats but I was looking to make one without a hard seat similar to a treesaddle or a flexible treesuit.

My question is about sewing thread. I've sewn with a bunch of different materials (hand sewn) but wondered on whether or not anyone has ever used braided fishing line to sew with? I think that it would serve well in this application, any thoughts?
Semper Fi
-Scott
 
Welcome to the site Scott!

I have not tried using braided line to sew so I can't really comment on that. I would prefer to use something made for sewing to be safe myself. If you have not looked into it I strongly recommend the speedy stitch sewing awl. It uses a heavy duty waxed thread. I made a custom tree strap that I used all year and I would not hesitate to make other custom gear with it.

http://www.speedystitcher.com/#the-basics
 
I don't know what uv resistant qualities braided fishing line has but I would want something resistant to uv damage


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Good call on the speedy stitch, I have one but usually use a set of pliers and either B-50 bowstring or some heavy poly string to sew webbing with for other projects. If you hold your mouth just right and watch your language in front of your kids then this process works. I forgot about my speedy stitch...
Mine came with very thick black string. Is that what you used for your sling?

What is an acceptable pattern to sew? Does it matter if sewing webbing by hand? I guess it is similar to the "if you don't know the right knot, tie a lot" philosophy...

Semper Fi,
Scott
 
Scott F said:
Good call on the speedy stitch, I have one but usually use a set of pliers and either B-50 bowstring or some heavy poly string to sew webbing with for other projects. If you hold your mouth just right and watch your language in front of your kids then this process works. I forgot about my speedy stitch...
Mine came with very thick black string. Is that what you used for your sling?

What is an acceptable pattern to sew? Does it matter if sewing webbing by hand? I guess it is similar to the "if you don't know the right knot, tie a lot" philosophy...

Semper Fi,
Scott
Click to expand...

This is the thread that came with mine: http://www.strapworks.com/ProductDe...9olCSO-SmocEREHEjYH1EITtzHehfnuC-QaAkXr8P8HAQ

It takes a little while to sew alot with it but its worth it. I have been basing my patterns off of what I see on other harnesses and safety straps. It is typically something in the form of multiple x's with horizontal lines as well. Here is an example. I make sure to put multiple sets in in case one happens to fail (not that I think it would, after sewing some webbing with this and testing it I felt 100% comfortable with it). I haven't found a great way to end the stitches yet. I read about a stitch they use when making saddles where they tuck it in between the layers(can't remember name) but I couldn't figure it out. I have been crossing stitches back and forth at the end and then super gluing the end so it stays put.
 

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Thanks for the photo -- that clears things up fast!
I'm going to buy some webbing and get on this, hopefully this weekend.
-Scott
 
Red that looks to be very well done. It would probably take me a year to sew something that neat. lol Great job!
 
Red you oughta get paid comission by that company for all the sales you generate for them! :lol:
 
Matty said:
Red that looks to be very well done. It would probably take me a year to sew something that neat. lol Great job!
Click to expand...

That was an example of a professional job. Actually it was from the big buck sling i just picked up. I wish mine looked that good :lol: . I'll post another pic after I've made something new up. I have some seatbelt webbing on the way.
 
ADKMtnTrapper said:
Red you oughta get paid comission by that company for all the sales you generate for them! :lol:
Click to expand...

Haha! You're right! I stand by quality products, hunting related or not, and I try to support them to keep them around!
 
LOL Thank GOD! Thanks for clearing that up. After seeing that sew job and thinking you did that by hand...then looking at something I've sewn by hand, I was sizing up a foam helmet for myself!
 
HAHA! Maybe you should make 2 ;)

You can kinda see my sewing job in this photo:
24bf851f29c7715d0a91028ed3e14e85.jpg
 
I abandoned the braided fishing line and decided to use some B-50 bow string material that I had used in the past for some self bows.
It seems to work well with my sling that I am making.
The fishing line has a greater tensile strength, but it is way thinner diameter which may be problematic in the long run when used in this application. B-50 is working very well.
 
Why not use the v92 or similar poly thread from sailrite? Its made for this purpose.
 
B-50 is 100% polyester. It is waxed bowstring material. I've made my own bowstrings for years out of a variety of material and I don't use B-50 anymore therefore it is really only used for 'projects' now.

I decided on using this for a couple reasons:
-100% polyester
-I have PLENTY of it on hand
-It works well with my speedy stitch
- Individual strand breaking strength of ~35 lbs
 
Just a random thought to add to this thread. I have 2 different thickness threads coming in the mail, and I just got the black waxed thread for my awl from amazon. I'm hoping to be able to run some thread above the rating for my sewing machine through and make my next custom job more professional looking, but if it doesn't work I will fall back on the sewing awl.
 
I'd be careful. Not sure what you're sewing on, but you might run into tension problems with thread that's too heavy for your machine. Might not get the full stitch strength either. Why not go with thread your machine can handle, and just do more stitches to make up for weaker thread?
 
boone0 said:
I'd be careful. Not sure what you're sewing on, but you might run into tension problems with thread that's too heavy for your machine. Might not get the full stitch strength either. Why not go with thread your machine can handle, and just do more stitches to make up for weaker thread?
Click to expand...

All options are on the table. I'm just experimenting right now. I will most likely end up doing it with my sewing awl because I know that will work.
 
I just picked up an awl at harbor freight to add to my kit.. Good tool, especially for stuff too thick/awkward for a machine.
 
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