Help with Harnesses - Q&A?

[Hobby]

I meant to post this earlier,mainly for Dominic who was after some decent webbing.One of the many reasons I see for people adopting one piece harnesses etc.(and rightly so really)is the potential failiure point phenomenon surrounding the clips,buckles etc.Having only ever used either older gear "won" from the Old Man et al,or commercial kit,I must admit that I wondered what all the fuss was about.As I read around DIR for instance,I thought that they were perhaps overdoing it a bit as I'd never really experienced any problems,eg backplates failing?
Anyway,I became involved in various things for people and beimng the sort who's happy to use whatever he can borrow/scrounge I began using current rec.gear.
I must say,(and I did look at/use a lot)that the majority of it is indeed diabolical.Many of the clips etc.I experienced were very flimsy to say the least.Many were broken/deformed beyond use with having a cylinder put on top of them,I cringe to think that divers actually take this equipment aboard boats etc.and entrust their lives to it.
I appreciate now where the for higher quality gear thing lies.I'm amazed that the diving world actually allowed much of this stuff to become commonplace anyway,much of it being by major manufacturers.I'm not saying the older gear I have is better,but it is all very substantial.The commercial gear is too,you have'nt got time to be thinking about harness problems etc.in the 1st place,just use something that's right anyway,obviously the same standards don't apply.
Here's a couple of pics.of some commercial harnesses,they're not that clear and the crutch straps are most likely not in use(rarely used).They are typical of the harnesses in use however,with v,sustantial ss buckles,good webbing,stiching etc.Consider the age of some of this kit and the abuse it gets and you'lll see my point.Stuff like this can often be acquired 2nd hand through various commercial dive suppliers eg SMS.
Regards,Hobby.
<a href="http://www.commercialdivers.co.uk/images/large/new3.jpg

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(Edited" target="_blank">http://www.commercialdivers.co.uk/images....(Edited</a> by Bren Tierney at 4:18 pm on Jan. 21, 2003)

[Mdemon]

Love the pictures! &nbsp;Want one of those helmets....

I was interested in the DIR concept of continuous harnesses - the idea that this removes weakpoints etc. &nbsp;I suppose it might, if the fittings were all plastic, and all were simultaneously stressed to breaking point. &nbsp;I don't think it's very likely though. &nbsp;One clip remaining might be enough to hold you... The downside of continuous webbing would appear to be lack of adjustment and poor fit. &nbsp;One baby DIR diver, just getting into it, was seen to be unable to sit upright on the surface because the wing had shifted position - no fine adjustment was possible at the time.

I think a good fitting, serviceable harness is the important thing - and that can include buckles. &nbsp;Military parachutists used to use continuous harnesses where the lift webs continued to the canopy where the harness left off. &nbsp;However, later models binned this idea, and now they use chest and separate leg fittings (snap ejector hooks). &nbsp;Parachuting is a sport where you really don't want anything to go ping! The stresses are much higher than diving - although there aren't that many cylinders rolling about... The webbing and its stitching has a breaking strain of around 2000lbs. &nbsp;The metal work has a breaking strain of nearer 5000 - that's a couple of landrovers! &nbsp;So it looks like you're better off in this case with the clips and a better fitting harness.

With that in mind, I'm going to stick with an adjustable, well-fitting, serviceable harness - the emphasis being on serviceable. &nbsp;

Flame on...

[arty93]

<font color='#000080'>Ok just a quickie

I know i could search myself but i just know someone on here will have the answer straight away,

I have just got a new wing and i want to buy some harness webbing &amp; D-rings to make my own DIR style harness, can anyone recommend a good online supplier?

Cheers


Paul

[arty93]

<font color='#000080'>A couple more questions (in for a penny in for a pound)

Roughly how many metres should i order?

Do you use a different width for the crotch strap?


Cheers

Paul

[MATTBIN]

My wing came with a harness (Buddy Tekwing) so cant answer about webbing apart from the crotch straps are narrower than the shoulder/waist straps.

Matt

[Lou]

Look at www.gasdiving.co.uk.  they have a really easy to follow example with required lengths etc

5m of webbing is plenty enough.

I used the same width webbing for the crotch strap but the softer weight-belt stuff to stop uncomfortable chafing!

I don't know about an online supplier, sorry, although I would have thought that DIRdirect would have it?

HTH

Lou

[daz]

I used Runnymede diving. &nbsp; .Runnymede

5m of stiff webbing (I also used the same width for the crotch strap but less stiff webbing would probably be more comfortable).

5 stainless steel D rings, stainless steel buckle and some stainless steel weight retainers.

I also bent the 2 chest D rings so they stand slightly proud and are easy to hook bits to.

Daz

[arty93]

<font color='#000080'>Thanks Guys

LOU never seen that site before, it's really good even if you're not DIR to the core although i did think £51 for a harness &amp; D-Rings was expensive (maybe i'm kidding myself!)

I think i'll wait until the dive show i forgot it's only 2 weeks away


Thanks again for your input


Cheers


Paul

[Lou]

Is that the Halcyon one?

I was actually suprised that it is relatively cheap. &nbsp;The aquatec one from Portland Oceaneering is £75 (being a stitched and clipped one) and isn't bad, but isn't worth that (we have one).

In comparison, just buying all the d-rings, buckle and stainless weightbelt retainers needed for a one-piece harness, plus webbing, adds up to a fair whack. &nbsp;I was a little overcharged (I went to the onl local shop that stocks that stuff and they are a bit dear) but it cost me around £40 to make it myself. &nbsp;

Lou

[arty93]

<font color='#000080'>Yes it was the Halcyon one, if i can do it for £40 at the show then i don't mind rigging it myself as it will be good practise (along with getting used to a wing after 10+ years in a stab )

Paul