I have seen previous threads in 2001 & 2004 on sewing slings but am starting a new one. I have always been interested in sewing slings; I once tried with my 30 year old Kenmore but was not very successful. Recently I got a Brother Project Runway PC-420 computerized machine and decided to try again. I bought some SpiderWire Stealth Braid spectra 10 lb test fishing line. Its diameter is about 0.01 inch, supposedly about the maximum diameter thread you can use on a home machine. I got the braided line because it seemed to be the most flexible.

I used regular 1 inch tubular webbing. I started with a No 8 needle and broke it and switched to a No 10. I used a zig zag stitch and tried stitching both across the webbing and parallel to the edge. The webbing is pretty bulky and initially I had some problems but by sewing slowly I got to where I could stitch without any problems.

The problem in making slings is testing; it is hard to figure out a way to put one or two thousand pounds of force on them. So what I did was make some loops with just a small amount of stitching and test them using my 180 lb body (in the living room, not on the cliff). The attached picture shows a test loop with 37 stitches; it held my weight with no problem. The red webbing with the loop on the end is a finished project; it has a couple of hundred stitches. I am not making slings to fall on, just stuff for top roping. After my testing I have complete confidence in the loop on the red webbing.

I have seen previous threads in 2001 & 2004 on sewing slings but am starting a new one. I have always been interested in sewing slings; I once tried with my 30 year old Kenmore but was not very successful. Recently I got a Brother Project Runway PC-420 computerized machine and decided to try again. I bought some SpiderWire Stealth Braid spectra 10 lb test fishing line. Its diameter is about 0.01 inch, supposedly about the maximum diameter thread you can use on a home machine. I got the braided line because it seemed to be the most flexible.

I used regular 1 inch tubular webbing. I started with a No 8 needle and broke it and switched to a No 10. I used a zig zag stitch and tried stitching both across the webbing and parallel to the edge. The webbing is pretty bulky and initially I had some problems but by sewing slowly I got to where I could stitch without any problems.

The problem in making slings is testing; it is hard to figure out a way to put one or two thousand pounds of force on them. So what I did was make some loops with just a small amount of stitching and test them using my 180 lb body (in the living room, not on the cliff). The attached picture shows a test loop with 37 stitches; it held my weight with no problem. The red webbing with the loop on the end is a finished project; it has a couple of hundred stitches. I am not making slings to fall on, just stuff for top roping. After my testing I have complete confidence in the loop on the red webbing.

Yeah, there is actually some science behind textiles engineering. Different stitch types and lengths have different strength, based on a few different factors. My buddy designs military tents for a living and there is a whole design process to ensure the stitching and the material together provide the required strength for the application.

I am not making slings to fall on, just stuff for top roping.

After my testing I have complete confidence in the loop on the red webbing.

Russ?

You trolling us?

I wouldn't say that dude is "gonna die".....

I would say he is "already dead".

(T1- at best)

Ah, just a bunch of haters for no good reason. I doubt they really care about your safety anyway; they probably just want to be able to say "Hah, told ya so!" I say go for it, but back it up of course, twice, with some webbing purchased from a reliable manufacturer. Done with patience, diligence, and a small bit of intelligence, there is no reason not to pursue making your own gear.

I wouldn't say that dude is "gonna die".....

I would say he is "already dead".

(T1- at best)

So, let me see I've got this right: You guessed at the type of thread to use, you guessed at the type of stitch to use, you guessed at the number of stitches to use—and then you tested it under body weight. That about right?

Jay

gmggg, thanks for the information on needles; how did you know that? Are you a manufacturer? I actually used an Organ 90/14 universal so it has a slightly rounded point, although maybe not optimal.

The previous body weight test I did was with a loop. I did another test on just a single strand of webbing, picture included. I cut a piece of webbing in two, overlapped it and sewed it together. Each side has 20 stitches, 16 with 2 back stitches at each end to try to lock the thread. I tied one end to the pull up bar over the door, put my harness back on, clipped into the other end and weighted it. It didn't seem possible that those few stitches could hold 180 lbs, but they did; I sat suspended for about 30 s; the picture was taken after the test. Spectra is strong stuff!

PMI has released accessory cord that is sewn together at the ends, the middle item in the photo is a 6 mm cord from them. I sewed together a loop of 4 mm cord shown at the top; not quite as neat as the PMI job. It was somewhat hard to keep the stitches straight on the cord. This loop also held body weight.

That about concludes my experiments; I am done unless somebody wants me to try something particular. Back to work cleaning cliffs and finding climbs. Thanks to everybody that offered information.

gmggg, thanks for the information on needles; how did you know that? Are you a manufacturer? I actually used an Organ 90/14 universal so it has a slightly rounded point, although maybe not optimal.

The previous body weight test I did was with a loop. I did another test on just a single strand of webbing, picture included. I cut a piece of webbing in two, overlapped it and sewed it together. Each side has 20 stitches, 16 with 2 back stitches at each end to try to lock the thread. I tied one end to the pull up bar over the door, put my harness back on, clipped into the other end and weighted it. It didn't seem possible that those few stitches could hold 180 lbs, but they did; I sat suspended for about 30 s; the picture was taken after the test. Spectra is strong stuff!

PMI has released accessory cord that is sewn together at the ends, the middle item in the photo is a 6 mm cord from them. I sewed together a loop of 4 mm cord shown at the top; not quite as neat as the PMI job. It was somewhat hard to keep the stitches straight on the cord. This loop also held body weight.

That about concludes my experiments; I am done unless somebody wants me to try something particular. Back to work cleaning cliffs and finding climbs. Thanks to everybody that offered information.

Great job! I'm impressed. The money you've saved over purchasing pre-made slings should more than cover the cost of your funeral.

Have you ever seen someone given a wedgie so hard they were lifted off the ground?

That is the equivalent level of strength testing you have given to your homemade slings.

OK.......

The obvious question:
Why not just use tubular webbing and a water-knot? You, and everyone else, know that it is tried and true. Why complicate things when you don't have to?

-B