harness for bp/w

[wheelietaco]

I recently purchased a dive rite back plate. ( back plate only ) I was wondering can I make my own harness. I don't really want to pay 50+ bucks for one. If so what all would I need, and how important is the burn hole. Can I make it with regular webbing. again what would I need.

 

[The Kraken]

Sure you can make it.

Make sure your webbing is that thickness of the commercially sold harnesses.

The burn hole is important in that it keeps your harness from shifting. It's really not hard to burn a hole in the webbing. Just buy some copper tubing of the right diameter, get it red hot and poke a hole where you need it.

Other than that all you need is 4 keepers, 4 d-rings and a buckle.

the K

 

[wheelietaco]

what thickness should it be. also how many feet of webbing should i get.

 

[JeffG]

what thickness should it be. also how many feet of webbing should i get.

2" thick webbing. Get about 20 ft.

 

[djsmokyc]

This is a good breakdown of materials needed.

http://www.kidspot.org/personal/scuba/bpsetup.html

 

[The Kraken]

For God's sake don't get webbing that 2" thick!!!
2" wide webbing that's about .090" (1/10") thick.

20' will be more than enough for most folks.

the K

 

[piikki]

Now that we are on the topic - how quickly does that duck tail on my crotch strap go down??? My new crotch strap is of the same material than the rest of the webbing and around the triglide it sticks out like a tail. I feel just slightly amused... and do not feel like threading that thing through again for sure!

Anyone else agree with Tim that the other strap choice from Strapworks is too mushy for rest of the harness? I have hots for the grey color...

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I recently purchased a dive rite back plate. ( back plate only ) I was wondering can I make my own harness. I don't really want to pay 50+ bucks for one. If so what all would I need, and how important is the burn hole. Can I make it with regular webbing. again what would I need.

Webbing is quite cheap in 50' rolls from Trident. I am an XL sized guy and use just over 12' of webbing per harness so 50' is enough to make 4 harnesses.

The D-rings, sliders and buckle can get expensive though, so for your first harness, a commerical harness actually not all that much more expensive than doing it yourself (at least if you buy it through Leisure-Pro, etc) - and it will give you pattern to use when you replace it.

I prefer pivot ring harnesses and make my own replacements by recylcing the hardware. Most "normal" sewing machines will handle the sewing requirements just fine. Just oil the machine before you start to reduce any internal friction and use a heavy duty upholstry or denim needle and nylon upholstry thread. I use 1.5" webbing to sew the rings to the 2" webbing which is heavier than the 1" webbing used by OMS and Dive Rite. It takes about 15 minutes to sew one up.

 

[Hoosier]

Just get all parts from diveriteexpress with free shipping.

Been there, done that....
It is the cheapest and easiest solution.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I recently purchased a dive rite back plate. ( back plate only ) I was wondering can I make my own harness. I don't really want to pay 50+ bucks for one. If so what all would I need, and how important is the burn hole. Can I make it with regular webbing. again what would I need.

You only need the hole if you are using a bolt on STA, or mounting doubles. If the webbing covers the hole in the back plate that you need to use, burn one, otherwise leave it alone.

Your harness won't shift without one, once the webbing is weaved through all four slots in the top of the plate wild horse can't pull it around.

We furnish 15' of webbing in our kits, but unless you are truely Jumbo you won't need more than ~11-12 ft. I'd recommend getting ~4' of softer webbing for the crotch strap.

With a simple "Hog" harness the only sewing required in for the crotch strap, and the softer webbing might not break a home sewing machine. I would not want to sew much weight belt webbing on the wife's pride and joy.

Good luck,

Tobin