Basejumper.com - archive

Got any suggestions on who to call to convert a Vision Velcro to two pin??

A rigger? :p

I know Ben Lowe, master rigger who is running over the edge here in in Moab, just did a Velcro to two pin conversion a couple weeks ago, I have since seen the rig jumped so I know it works, well at least it did that time, http://www.overtheedgemoab.com/

Dont convert it. I'll buy it! I loved the old GS stuff. Most comfortable rig I've ever had.

Brandon over at Badseed does it for like $200-250. Replaces all the flaps.. and does a damn good job at it too.. Call him


Badseedbase.com

Brandon has done several conversions for me. They're solid.

Save your money and buy a zig zag sewing machine and do the conversion on your own. It's not that hard and you will learn a lot about your gear. Plus it is fun as hell and very rewarding to jump gear that you have modified or built.

Of course if it is your first project, have a rigger help or at least inspect your work so you don't die.

Have a good one.

THIS!

Just curious how much a machine costs that would do the job. Could I get something for as low as $300 that would work? Any suggestions on which machine? My wife needs a sewing machine and I thought I might be able to give her one as a present...

You can honestly get by with a home machine for lighter work but it will be easier and less frustrating if you get an industrial machine. Most industrial machines will work and an easy way to find them is look for something that the seller says works for canvass or medium to heavyweight fabrics.

I have a Pfaff 138 zig-zag that is my go to machine and with table it was around $700 but you can find some better deals. Alternatively something like a Singer 20U machine is a very typical first machine for rigging. You can also find good deals on Pfaff 130's on craigslist (generally without an industrial type table) for $150 to $400. A 138 is a longer arm version of the 130 as i understand it.

The zig-zag is good since you can set width to zero and do straight stitch and you can also do bartacks on it. With an industrial version, you will be able to build anything except a harness (since you will not be able to sew with 3 or 5 cord without a harness machine).

For more info, talk to your local rigger, they are generally happy to talk about sewing machines.

THIS is so right. I've tested my home made gear and modified canopies more than once now. It's super scary and super fun all at once.

You can do anything with a straight stitch that you can do with a zigzag, but it takes WAY longer. Get a zig zag to make your life better. The Singer 20u they mentioned is a good one. I know someone who found their machine and a table for just 100 dollars. Look for a deal and then underbid their price and say "cash" and "I'll pick it up for you and move it." Only thing is you may have to pay someone (like your local rigger) a few beers to help you adjust the lower and upper tension and lube the machine up to get it running properly when you buy cheap. It might need new belts or something too.

Also, I know people who make harnesses with E thread zigzagged super tight. I wouldn't say I recommend it, but it has been done and jumped several times...

You'd be surprised by the amount of gear that has simply been zig zagged or bartacked together. Fairly common in both skydive and BASE.

whats a good book to get? went to paragear and they had a few. I'm not looking to start with anything, just want some info.

"... Also, I know people who make harnesses with E thread zigzagged super tight. I wouldn't say I recommend it, but it has been done and jumped several times...
..............................................................................

Circa 1990, Sandy Reid certified the Flexon harness sewn mostly with bar-tacks. Most of those bar-tacks were 3 inches long!
Only the Flexon shoulder joints (directly below the 3-Rings) were sewn with 5-cord.
Flexon was the first American harness with hip and chest rings and it survived all the heavy-weight and high-speed drop-tests required by FAA TSO C-23C.

The only problem was that bar-tack machines were not durable enough for sewing harnesses year-in-and-year-out. .. which is why Rigging Innovations had switched to sewing most of their harnesses with 5-cord by the time I started working there in 1994.