Threading Weight Belt Buckle

[The Chairman]

You know...

I have taught a bunch of classes, and I really can't remember teaching my students how to thread a weight belt buckle. Maybe this is due to my deficient OW class as I was not showed this then either. There are way too many styles for there to be "one" right way. Still it's simple enough. But like I said earlier, the real fun is trying to watch a noob Dive Master trying to figure out a tank cam buckle. They usually have way too much pride to ask and they can fumble with it for hours.

 

[deepdiverbc]

As a newbie diver and recently certified, I was wondering what is the proper method for threading the buckle (plastic) to the weight belt.

Thanks in advance.

~ SD

Here are some photos of how to thread a weight buckle and a cam band.

 

[hogluvr]

The left photo matches what I'm trying to do. My dilema is getting the belt back through the leftmost slot, where I started. The belt is stiff as heck, the slot seems really narrow. What I ended up doing was widening the buckle slot a wee bit, with a file, just enough so I could jam the corner of the belt in there. I figured if I could get a corner, I could get the rest. I then trimmed the coners off the belt, so I could get it to feed at a slight angle. I finally got it in there. Even broke a sweat doing it. Got about three inches of belt back through & past the buckle. Man, this belt is stiff! A different buckle may be in order.

Thanks,
Larry

 

[deepdiverbc]

The left photo matches what I'm trying to do. My dilema is getting the belt back through the leftmost slot, where I started. The belt is stiff as heck, the slot seems really narrow. What I ended up doing was widening the buckle slot a wee bit, with a file, just enough so I could jam the corner of the belt in there. I figured if I could get a corner, I could get the rest. I then trimmed the coners off the belt, so I could get it to feed at a slight angle. I finally got it in there. Even broke a sweat doing it. Got about three inches of belt back through & past the buckle. Man, this belt is stiff! A different buckle may be in order.

Thanks,
Larry

Try cutting the leading edge of the webbing at an angle and burn the edge before you try threading it. Also you can soak the webbing and thread it wet. When it is wet it bends easier.

If this buckle is giving you a hassel why not just get a good quality stainless steel buckle? They aren't very expensive and I can't see any benefit to using a plastic buckle.

 

[SubMariner]

Try cutting the leading edge of the webbing at an angle and burn the edge before you try threading it.

We actually wind up cutting the end of the webbing so the result is a central point, THEN gently burning melting it just enough to keep it from unravelling.

A gentle touch is required, however: melting TOO much of the webbing leaves hardened globby plastic edges that don't go through anything.

FYI, you can do the same with the loose end of the webbing (cut to blunt point & burn it) which makes it easier to thread through lead. Again, a gentle hand is needed to keep the edge clean & thin.

Thanks for the elaboration, deepdiverbc. I'm sure it helped!

 

[scubatoys]

We do it a bit different... Of course one question might be where did you get a belt that they didn't thread for you?? But here's a link to how we do it

Belt Threading

Here you don't have to go back through any slots twice... and it keeps the end out of the way with no "flappy bit" hanging about... and makes it real secure as it's clamping down on its self...

Let me know if that helps!

 

[Groundhog246]

We do it a bit different... Of course one question might be where did you get a belt that they didn't thread for you?? But here's a link to how we do it

Belt Threading

Here you don't have to go back through any slots twice... and it keeps the end out of the way with no "flappy bit" hanging about... and makes it real secure as it's clamping down on its self...

Let me know if that helps!

That would be the method we were taught.

 

[hogluvr]

That's the way it came threaded. However, with all the stiffness, the belt doesn't lay very flat. It didn't look like it was right. Understanding the mechanics, where it pulls down on itself, yep it works. Now I know two ways to thread the buckle.
Thanks folks!

Larry

 

[deepdiverbc]

We do it a bit different... Of course one question might be where did you get a belt that they didn't thread for you?? But here's a link to how we do it

Belt Threading

Here you don't have to go back through any slots twice... and it keeps the end out of the way with no "flappy bit" hanging about... and makes it real secure as it's clamping down on its self...

Let me know if that helps!

Your method looks interesting as I do have a tail hanging off of mine. I solved this problem by using a piece of inner tube to secure the tail.

I tested your method of weaving the belt on another buckle I have but it made the opening of the buckle when finished too narrow to get a belt into. I think you and I are using different styles of buckles. The photo I previously posted isn't an accurate copy of what I use.

Here is a photo of my buckle. You can buy them from AUL.
http://www.aulinc.com

 

[scubatoys]

Hmmm... Looking at the buckle - it looks like it would work fine... I've never found one I couldn't thread that way... but I don't buy buckles from the same place... but hard to believe they'd pop that end hole in such a way that it couldn't be used for that style of threading... It that was the case - why would it even be there?

I'll take the Belt Threading Challange... Ship me the belt and buckle, and I'll get it threaded my way... And it will work fine... If I can - you pay the shipping both ways... if not... I'll give you a buckle that will work and pay the shipping - all N/C!

Put your money where your money belt is??

Since you're in Canada... might not be worth the efforts shipping around...
But sounded like fun...