I finally broke down and took the plunge and decided to make some DIY Mares DIR-style spring straps. I basically followed the instructions listed here and although it was a few hours toil it was worth it. By the time I was working on the last hinge/attachment point, I was cruising through them pretty fast (the technique takes a couple tries to get it down right).
chris_b posted about making some similar straps recently and I concur with his statement that it takes some mild swearing and cursing to get the job done. If you don't sound like a sailor, you are not making the straps right...
Parts:
- McMasterCarr springs from the aforementioned web site - trust me, you can't find them (at least I couldn't). I tried 4 hardware stores...no way...had to order them. Do not let the rube at Home Depot sell you the springs for a screen door closure...they are way too big. No matter what he tells you, do NOT buy them...
- Wire...I got this at the local hardware store
- Vinyl tubing...also from local hardware store
- Cave line...already had it in my dive bag...you can't see it in the photo, but I ran it inside the springs with about 1"- 2" or so extra to prevent overstretching.
- Michelob Light (2) ...from the local grocery store (used to soothe the brain during the periods of mild swearing)
At any rate, the springs were about $15, the other parts about $5.
chris_b posted about making some similar straps recently and I concur with his statement that it takes some mild swearing and cursing to get the job done. If you don't sound like a sailor, you are not making the straps right...
Parts:
- McMasterCarr springs from the aforementioned web site - trust me, you can't find them (at least I couldn't). I tried 4 hardware stores...no way...had to order them. Do not let the rube at Home Depot sell you the springs for a screen door closure...they are way too big. No matter what he tells you, do NOT buy them...
- Wire...I got this at the local hardware store
- Vinyl tubing...also from local hardware store
- Cave line...already had it in my dive bag...you can't see it in the photo, but I ran it inside the springs with about 1"- 2" or so extra to prevent overstretching.
- Michelob Light (2) ...from the local grocery store (used to soothe the brain during the periods of mild swearing)
At any rate, the springs were about $15, the other parts about $5.