The Wraptor

[NMSbowhunter]

Thanks, Bwhana, this has been a fun project so far and I plan to work on these 2 panel saddles quite a bit more. I will update my progress as new things happen. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Homebrew454]

Ok, so after finding a great deal on a Singer 15-91 sewing machine and getting supplies and trying to learn how to sew I got to sit in my first home grown saddle today. This is a test saddle and I do not trust it (my sewing) to use at any height other than just right off the ground. It is 28 inches between rings and I constructed it using two loops connected like the Anderson and Recon. I am still getting the hang sewing so it will likely be a while before I start on what I hope will end up being a true finished product to use at hunting height. This has been a fun learning experience so far and has been very satisfying. I plan to keep making them until I get good.

Here I am sitting in the saddle on my practice tree out back. This is about as high as I want to go in prototype #1. I have to say it is pretty comfortable. Here is a picture of the saddle. My stitching showed improvement from the start of the project to the end. I'm pleased with my first attempt. Thanks again to all those who have shared their experience along the way. I appreciate it.

It looks good! Stitches look pretty good too for your first attempt as well.

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[Jimdude]

Nice job. I’m in the same boat. Just finished a roll pouch and prepping to try a saddle or 2. I think I’m going to buy some cheep 2” webbing to make my prototypes with “to use at no more that 1 ft off the ground”. I feel like there will be a lot of ripping out stitches and re-sewing to get the dimensions right. Then I’ll get some 6,000lb webbing when I’m ready to commit. Keep sharing your progress!

 

[NMSbowhunter]

It looks good! Stitches look pretty good too for your first attempt as well.

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Thanks, I got better at the stitching as I went. Once I got the hang of it things started to go smoothly. This one was for practice, but I feel pretty good about it. It is actually fairly comfortable as is. I definitely like the two-panel design. I may use this one as my back yard off season practice saddle.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Nice job. I’m in the same boat. Just finished a roll pouch and prepping to try a saddle or 2. I think I’m going to buy some cheep 2” webbing to make my prototypes with “to use at no more that 1 ft off the ground”. I feel like there will be a lot of ripping out stitches and re-sewing to get the dimensions right. Then I’ll get some 6,000lb webbing when I’m ready to commit. Keep sharing your progress!

This one I made out of a couple of safety harnesses that came with a tree stand I bought years ago. The smaller pieces I used purely to practice on. I got my money's worth out of that harness, let me assure you, lol.

I have some webbing I bought to make the real saddle, but I haven't touched it yet. I plan to make a few more saddle prototypes and get the hang of it first and see what I like as far as size goes. I have found that there are several different types of seatbelt strapping. Some types are very smooth and supple and some of it is a stiffer material. This saddle has one loop of the smooth supple material and one loop of the slightly stiffer webbing, not that it makes too much difference.

Good luck with your saddle and post the results when you get it done. I would like to see it.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I added a lineman's belt last night. I made it out of 1" tubular webbing and put a 6-inch piece of climbing rope in the loops to give it some definition. I have been using a gear tie as a belt to hold the saddle up when walking. It works great, is simple, and keeps everything neat and noise free.

I think that loop of tubular webbing also adds to the structural integrity of the saddle overall. I am not sure how much more I will add to this one. I might double up on some stitching here and there and make a dedicated bridge for it. I really like the minimalist nature of it. I think the lineman's belt was a necessary safety feature.

 

[tylerray378]

@NMSbowhunter those are some good stitches on the wraptor. Good work!

 

[NMSbowhunter]

@NMSbowhunter those are some good stitches on the wraptor. Good work!

Thanks, I'm starting to get the hang of this sewing thing.

 

[Jimdude]

Looks great!

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Looks great!

Thanks.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Alright, I just finished Wraptor #2. I made this one a bit differently, based on what I liked and didn't like (messed up) on the first one. I made this one 31 inches D ring to D ring. The first one was about 29 or so. I also overlapped the spots where the loops connect so I got 4 layers of belt sewed together and oriented them in such a way that the connections were either on the top, outer panel and backed by the 1" tubular webbing of the lineman's belt or it was under the support of the top panel's bottom strap. I think this will place any load on these points in the least stressful spot and give each joint backup from solid webbing support. That was the plan anyway. My sewing has also gotten better, and I had less issues with the machine now that I am learning the ins and outs of operating it. I plan to thoroughly test this one at ground level for a while but looking at it I feel like it may make its way to a tree eventually. I feel a lot better about this one structurally. I have to settle on a finalized bridge design also. I won't take any chances, though.

 

[FireInMyBones]

Incredible thread! I finally had time to make my own version of the Wraptor. After some testing, I went with 5" width for the top and 6.5" for the bottom. I think 6.25" would have been better, but not enough to redo it. I went with a fixed webbing bridge of 20". I don't use lineman loops to climb and I'm using a 9' tubular webbing tether and then a rappel line. I don't see a need for leg loops on this one, but I'll test my rappel without them in the backyard before I hunt with it. I'm replacing the pouches and roll pouch on the side of my other DIY saddle with a backpack I'm working on for hunting out of a tree (pics to come in another thread).

 

[tylerray378]

Looks great! I just finished one with a single strap instead of independent panels I’m really liking it. I added a LB and an amsteel bridge. I tried leg straps and took them off. I still need to add some clips or something to hold the panels together for transport. Sizing I went with 34” d ring to d ring. 6 inch spacing on both verticals.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

FireInMyBones, that looks great! I love the brown webbing also. Where did you get that webbing? I may have to make another one, lol. The next one I make will most likely be without lineman's loops as well. Great job.

Tylerray378, great job as well!

These things are addictive. It's hard to make just one.

 

[HuumanCreed]

FireInMyBones, that looks great! I love the brown webbing also. Where did you get that webbing? I may have to make another one, lol. The next one I make will most likely be without lineman's loops as well. Great job.

Tylerray378, great job as well!

These things are addictive. It's hard to make just one.

I volunteer my service as a tester if you need one.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I volunteer my service as a tester if you need one.

I appreciate the offer but if you knew my sewing skills you might not volunteer. I am willing to take responsibility for my own hide, but I couldn't sleep knowing someone else might be 20 feet up in something I made at this point in my sewing career.

 

[HuumanCreed]

I appreciate the offer but if you knew my sewing skills you might not volunteer. I am willing to take responsibility for my own hide, but I couldn't sleep knowing someone else might be 20 feet up in something I made at this point in my sewing career.

Haha, my wife said the opposite when I wanted to make my own! She seen my sewing skills and would not let me risk my life on my skills.

 

[Blacksmith]

Haha, my wife said the opposite when I wanted to make my own! She seen my sewing skills and would not let me risk my life on my skills.

Not trusting my skills or maybe my choice of threads, I tack everything on my machine and take it to a shoe shop. He sews everything over w/ heavy shoe thread.

 

[Blacksmith]

Thanks again to Bwhana for starting all this nonsense. I have been using mine for several seasons now and after buying a few commercial saddles, these still get my vote. This year I did add a layer of fleece to the inside of mine. It just helps keep the two panels organized. Sometimes I get them twisted up in the woods. They are sooo handy to carry. I use mine a lot also hunting from the ground. Way lighter than carrying a chair.

 

[FireInMyBones]

FireInMyBones, that looks great! I love the brown webbing also. Where did you get that webbing? I may have to make another one, lol. The next one I make will most likely be without lineman's loops as well. Great job.

Tylerray378, great job as well!

These things are addictive. It's hard to make just one.

I bought the supplies from Dano at EWO.

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