New product for Figure 9 users

**schrochem** · 10-19-2007, 22:25

Well a plasma torch would have been helpful....
I made horseshoe shaped buckle thingy

I sewed the owf 1" webbing to one side and then 'clipped' the other end onto the hammock side of the webbing.
It snugs up nice and tight against the tree and doesn't budge.
I have full confidence in the strength of the 3/16 aluminum.
It held my weight fine with some bouncing.
I also tested if it would stay put after getting in and out a few times.
This is where it 'might' need some improvement.
It pretty much stayed where it was, but I'd like a little more insurance.
Basically, I could see the webbing possibly coming out of the bottom.
To fix that would be done by making the 'hook' stick out just a little more.
The horseshoe WITH the hugger weighs around 30-32g.

**warbonnetguy** · 10-20-2007, 07:26

how much is the buckle by itself. (you forgot to weigh it before you attached it didn't you) how much webbing is there in the strap?

looks good though. much lighter than a biner.

you could jam a stick in there for security perhaps.

**schrochem** · 10-20-2007, 07:36

It's about 10-12g.
My scale is a bit wompish so I just have estimates.
The webbing is a 47" piece with each end sewn back 2" for a final of 43"
I used that length because the tree I hang from out back requires that girth.
It's also the largest I'd choose in a selective situation.
On a smaller tree it can be more secure by wrapping away from the buckle and then over it.
Hmmm...that means I'd need the other end of the hugger free from the hammock. I like having the one piece solution but this would be the advantage of Rapt's hook design over the closed design.

**Dutch** · 10-20-2007, 10:45

Scott I scored some of that cool camo webbing off of Grizz too. The stuff rocks. I like your idea. I'm not sure what my biner weighs but I bet it is more.

**schrochem** · 10-20-2007, 12:19

I think the lightest wire gate rated climbing biners are in range of 26-28g. My main reason for doing this was to reduce the bulk of the biner. Secondly was the reduction of weight.
Dutch, did you ever break anything?

**warbonnetguy** · 10-20-2007, 17:12

so you could have this biner replacement on one end of the webbing, then rapt's 2 piece device on the other, then line coming from the hammock to the adjustment device.

just wrap the tree and hook it on. then adjust. as fast as rings and biners but way lighter.

But... would there be a way to do all this with only one device on each end?

**schrochem** · 10-20-2007, 19:12

yes that's what I am shooting for, one clip in and one adjustable.
Right now I have that clip on and my set of closed two hold double piece thingy. That way it is all one piece and nothing can get lost.
You can get away with one device by lark's heading the webbing to the tree. But you'd have separate pieces (huggers and hammock).

**devildoc** · 10-20-2007, 20:25

Where did you find the biner? I looked at all of the online sources and couldn't find one

**Dutch** · 10-20-2007, 20:43

Originally Posted by devildoc

Where did you find the biner? I looked at all of the online sources and couldn't find one

If you mean the horseshoe on the webbing, he made it from 3/16 Aluminuim.

Scott it looks like you sewed it real tight after the horseshoe was already on the webbing. Am I correct or was it just a tight fit.

Dutch, did you ever break anything?

If you send it to me I'll see what I can do.

Actually I want to make some of these to replace the biners no matter what is on the other end. Can you give me some idea of the other dimensions. It looks like it is 1/2 inch all around. The problem with biners is they make them big enough to hold many things when we only need to hold 2 layers of webbing. Biners are so last week.

I'm glad you guys kept his thread alive.

**schrochem** · 10-20-2007, 21:53

Devildoc, that's one I made myself.
Dutch, all I have is 1.25" wide aluminum.
So looking at the photo, it's 1.25" wide, 1.75" tall, and the border is 3/8". The
area where the webbing hits is obviously 1"
I sewed the loop as close as I could with the buckle in place but the foot couldn't get that close. So I finished up the X and went bck with the zipper foot and sewed it close. I could have left it snug and the buckle removable but decided to just sew it on so it couldn't be lost.