Tree straps zigzag or straight stitch?

[Mr.Tattoo]

I think I have seen something about this before but cant find it, I have only seen zigzag stitch on tree straps are they better then a straight stitch ? or is a straight stitch as strong as a zigzag?

[breyman]

I've seen it both ways. With the right weight/quality thread and either a zig-zag or stacked, you should be fine.

Personally, I usually do a series of straight stitches - 3 or 4 stacked right next to each (1/16 or 1/8 inch apart) other.

I go with stacked because I went to REI and saw the climbing slings and they used a larger series of stacked (6 or 8). If it's good enough for climbing gear, it's good enough for me.

[Mountnman]

I did mine by hand before i got a thread injector with some heavy thread I use when I work on my hunting bow string. Looks awful but hasn't broke yet. It looks like my dog could have done a better job LOL! So I would say right thread you will probably be good with either

[SlowBro]

Long ago I researched this for making climbing harnesses. (I thought is would be kind of important for the harness to hold together should I stress it )

At that time a box stitch was considered the strongest pattern out there. The box stitch is the rectangle of stitching with a diagonal set of stitches from opposite corners to make an "X" in the middle. You end up with stitching a box with an X in the middle. [X] kind like that if I could make the brackets touch each other top and bottom.

I made many harnesses and got to "stress" a few and never had a failure. YMMV
-Mark

[gmcttr]

Relative strength of different stitch patterns...

[Mr.Tattoo]

Relative strength of different stitch patterns...

Thanks this is great

[Pag]

Relative strength of different stitch patterns...

Is that for nylon or poly and tensile or shear? I'm pretty sure my gamble book says it different. Will dig it out later if I have time.

[zukiguy]

I've done the 66% version on most of mine. It's just a back and forth twice with a relatively wide zigzag I think. That seems to work pretty good. The JRB straps I bought were made the same way.

[gmcttr]

Is that for nylon or poly and tensile or shear? I'm pretty sure my gamble book says it different. Will dig it out later if I have time.

It roughly follows the findings from the "caving paper" which (if I recall correctly) used tubular nylon webbing sewn into continuous loops which were pulled to failure.

I suspect it applies closely to our use of polyester webbing. At least close enough that no one is going to get hurt following it for tree straps.

[Pag]

In my reference it says for straps nylon thread does better in the straight stitch and poly thread does better in box patterns I'm pretty sure at least. I'll check on Monday morning.