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Has anyone found a genuine way to test DIY equipment?

j0sh

j0sh

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2017
Messages
89
Location
Mount Vernon, IN
I have a DIY saddle and its my Mark V, I feel like it's built and sewn just as well as any manufacturers but I just want a good way to test it past what I can physically do it while wearing it in a tree. So I guess my question is whether you guys just beat the hell out of it in the tree, or hook it up with a pickup and pull it while it's wrapped around a tree? IDK... I feel like it'd be good to have a standard way we can test our DIY saddles and sewing jobs.
 
I don’t think I would do any insane testing, and then use that same saddle. Just in the off chance you were to stress the stitches or something that could possibly cause a failure in the future. Just like if you fall in a harness you’re supposed to discard it afterwards, even though it’s probably still ok. But to answer your original question, I don’t know a sure fire way to test it to know its capabilities without risking its integrity. Make it a big swing on a playground and swing from it some to see if that builds your confidence.


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I'm like 99% confident in my work on it, but you're definitely correct on the fact of stressing it too much would essentially ruin it. I suppose i should make a mock saddle similar to what I made it see what it takes to destroy it lol. I have hung upside down and jump up and down at ground level in it and letting it catch me, im 245lb and I didn't here any stress pops on the stitching so I guess it'll be alright. I just know that ALOT of guys are making their own and want everyone to be safe and thought if we could all come up with a good test method that won't ruin the hard work.
 
j0sh said:
I have a DIY saddle and its my Mark V, I feel like it's built and sewn just as well as any manufacturers but I just want a good way to test it past what I can physically do it while wearing it in a tree. So I guess my question is whether you guys just beat the hell out of it in the tree, or hook it up with a pickup and pull it while it's wrapped around a tree? IDK... I feel like it'd be good to have a standard way we can test our DIY saddles and sewing jobs.
Click to expand...

I’m about to do my first Amsteel Whoopi sling bridge and have actively solicited prayers from this community. Hope this thread turns up a few good tests
 
To truly test your DIY items, you would have to destroy one or more to know where they fail. Most of us are not willing to go that far and I would also never sit in a saddle or item that I had used to test by pulling on it with a truck, winch, or any other heavy stressors. Follow well known, documented designs, materials, stitch patterns and thread and test at ground level until you trust your work.

John H.
 
Bwhana said:
To truly test your DIY items, you would have to destroy one or more to know where they fail. Most of us are not willing to go that far and I would also never sit in a saddle or item that I had used to test by pulling on it with a truck, winch, or any other heavy stressors. Follow well known, documented designs, materials, stitch patterns and thread and test at ground level until you trust your work.

John H.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the insight, I guess it's always good to second guess your work and overbuild, my last years DIY saddle wasn't made near as well as the one I made this year and it held up really well so I guess I shouldnt be too worried.
 
Bounce, bounce, bounce..... and bounce some more. If it holds without damage. I trust it for me.
Study stitch patterns, their ratings, the rating of the materials and thread.... hook test stitching to a come-a-long and pull until it tears.

At least that’s what I’ve done.


................................................................................All climbing methods, platforms, saddle designs, and/or use of materials possibly mentioned in the post above are not peer reviewed for safety, and should only be used as an example of my own method. Do your own research and testing before becoming confident in any DIY solution to support your life.
-IkemanTx
 
I like the comealong idea for sure, i use box and x syle stitches along with bar tacks with my gear. I also love the disclaimer at the end of your posts
 
9bcf0e890588b60012499064fba963be.jpg


I used a scrap piece of 2inch webbing simulating my main webbing piece(waist and leg) then also stitched about 18 inches onto that to simulate the waist belt. Tied to a tree and snatched with my truck in 4low, took about 5 short snatches and as you can see it didn’t break at the stitches, a few popped but it broke where it was wrapped around my hitch ball. Not scientific and have no way to say the force put on it but it gave me a lot of confidence to hang from it


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shwacker said:
9bcf0e890588b60012499064fba963be.jpg


I used a scrap piece of 2inch webbing simulating my main webbing piece(waist and leg) then also stitched about 18 inches onto that to simulate the waist belt. Tied to a tree and snatched with my truck in 4low, took about 5 short snatches and as you can see it didn’t break at the stitches, a few popped but it broke where it was wrapped around my hitch ball. Not scientific and have no way to say the force put on it but it gave me a lot of confidence to hang from it


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Click to expand...
That's awesome, i heard somewhere that the stitching is stronger than the material itself.
 
j0sh said:
That's awesome, i heard somewhere that the stitching is stronger than the material itself.
Click to expand...

Could be, each stitch is 1.5 times stronger than the thread. So my #69 nylon is I think 10 or 11#, so that’s 15# per stitch. Multiply by the number of stitches in a double box stitch and the runs of straight stitches you have on a saddle. I’m confident that thing ain’t ever going anywhere! I will be checking for wear and tear and any fraying over the season, nice thing with DIY is that it’s a quick and easy job to beef it back up if ever needed


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j0sh said:
I have a DIY saddle and its my Mark V, I feel like it's built and sewn just as well as any manufacturers but I just want a good way to test it past what I can physically do it while wearing it in a tree. So I guess my question is whether you guys just beat the hell out of it in the tree, or hook it up with a pickup and pull it while it's wrapped around a tree? IDK... I feel like it'd be good to have a standard way we can test our DIY saddles and sewing jobs.
Click to expand...

I tested by wearing a RC harness with it most of last season. I examined the saddle for any sign of wear/stitch failure after each use. Still looks perfect if you were wondering.

There are a couple of things worth reiterating in this thread. Do your research. Know your materials and their strengths. Having a good handle on what your stitch count is and should be for a proper safety factor is always a good idea.

Not insinuating you didn't know these things...but for those considering the DIY route it is good food for thought.

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