wandrer 0 #1 March 19, 2004 any opinions pro and consWithout Adventure What Is Life????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 March 19, 2004 I'm assuming you're asking about standard hardware versus stainless steel hardware. Stainless is shiny and pretty and marginally stronger than standard. It also add anywhere from $100 - $300 to the total price of a new container. Standard hardware looks fine and is plenty strong. Up to you if shiny, pretty and marginally stronger is worth the extra cost. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craddock 0 #3 March 19, 2004 QuoteStainless is shiny and pretty and marginally stronger than standard Could you please tell me what grade of Stainless steel is used. Carbon steel is stronger than many of the more popular Stainless steel alloys Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #4 March 19, 2004 QuoteCould you please tell me what grade of Stainless steel is used. Good question. I have no idea. You just caught me parroting what I've been told in the past. Hopefully one of the container manufacturers that post here can answer this one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fast 0 #5 March 19, 2004 Isn't one of the other things with stainless that it is a bit mor slippery than the nickle. I thought I remember that being posted here by someone wondering about the effect of stainless on the friction adapter~D Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me. Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #6 March 19, 2004 Also, besides being shiny and stronger, Stainless Steel (high grade) does not rust or corrode as will standard steel. Both type hardware is 'drop - forged' rather than molded. I would think, high carbon steel would tend to be 'brittle' and would rust and or corrode. Hope, this helps. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #7 March 19, 2004 Stainless hardware that was identical to the cadmium plated hardware tended to slip. The hardware has been redesigned in several ways and several versions to limit this problem. Cadmium plated hardware actually always slipped a little and this was a good thing. Some redesigned stainless hardware didn't slip at all and loaded the harness higher. Most of the problems have been solved with the redesigned one piece friction adapters or the two piece version. These concerns really on affected the friction adapters, not the three rings or harness rings.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cruzlite 0 #8 March 19, 2004 The plating process is now electroless which eliminates 'flaking & or peeling'. However, it will wear through, over a long period of time & use... once it wears through, (& it wears between the metal & harness, so is not easily seen), the carbon steel will rust, and cause excess wear on the nylon. (This is a good thing to look for when buying used gear) Stainless rocks! The slippage issue is the only drawback, & I believe has been corrected, as the councilman has stated, I would like to hear from people with 1st hand experience - Whose got stainless? & does it slip? Thanks, D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #9 March 19, 2004 QuoteWhose got stainless? & does it slip? My rig has all stainless hardware. I had an issue with legstrap slippage. After a bit of messing around with it, I figured out that part of my problem was how I was stowing the excess legstrap. I used to S fold the excess, put the stack through the keeper and stuff the bottom part of the stack into the legpad. This is how I stowed the excess legstrap on every rig I've jumped in the past (my current rig is the first I've jumped with stainless hardware). Now I run the excess legstrap through the keeper then S fold it and stuff the stack into the legpad. This lets the hardware lay flat against the comfort pad; the other way would have the hardware cocked up at a bit of an angle. I haven't had an issue with legstrap slippage since I started stowing them this way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrogNog 1 #10 March 19, 2004 QuoteAlso, besides being shiny and stronger, Stainless Steel (high grade) does not rust or corrode as will standard steel. If you mean stainless steel rig hardware does not rust as much as plain steel would, I agree. If you mean stainless steel rig hardware does not rust at all, I disagree; I have seen rust on stainless steel rig hardware that was neglected. (It probably would have buffed off real nice, but it was still rust, and it still gave me the heebies seeing it making the reserve line ends dark red. ) -=-=-=-=- Pull. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theskydiveguy 0 #11 March 19, 2004 I had a rig (Vector) with corroded steel.. Does a number on the harness.. And it does the most damage in my exp. where you can't see it. Now I have Stainless.. ohhhhh pretty.. ~Jeff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #12 March 19, 2004 QuoteQuoteWhose got stainless? & does it slip? My rig has all stainless hardware. I had an issue with legstrap slippage. After a bit of messing around with it, I figured out that part of my problem was how I was stowing the excess legstrap. I used to S fold the excess, put the stack through the keeper and stuff the bottom part of the stack into the legpad. This is how I stowed the excess legstrap on every rig I've jumped in the past (my current rig is the first I've jumped with stainless hardware). Now I run the excess legstrap through the keeper then S fold it and stuff the stack into the legpad. This lets the hardware lay flat against the comfort pad; the other way would have the hardware cocked up at a bit of an angle. I haven't had an issue with legstrap slippage since I started stowing them this way. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I have had a few customers complain about leg straps slipping. Sometimes I recommend they send their harnesses back to manufacturers for buckle replacement. I sewed an extra layer of Type 12 webbing on a few leg straps. That filled-out the buckles better, stopping any further slippage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #13 March 19, 2004 Quote Up to you if shiny, pretty and marginally stronger is worth the extra cost. It's also more brittle, and raises cutaway forces as the 3 rings require friction to function, something that "shiny" reduces.. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #14 March 19, 2004 Word from Tonto.I reckon stainless hardware will also help when you need to sell the rig. For what its worth, both stainless and carbon steels come in a variety of flavours each suited to various applications. I don't believe there is meaningful difference in strength such that one would fail before the other given that webbing and/or the risers would probably fail first. Corrosion on a carbon steel set up may increase wear at the risers and or the main harness attachment point as I think someone mentioned up the thread. Regular maintenance and inspection should mitigate this particular concern though.-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craddock 0 #15 March 19, 2004 QuoteIt's also more brittle ?? Can you then tell me what grade of stainless is used on hardware?? That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craddock 0 #16 March 19, 2004 Hope, this helps Not that much. I am looking for the Grade of stainless used. For those who have answers on its strength I thought they would know. "Stainless" is a very vague term. That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #17 March 19, 2004 You might call and ask the folks at D.J. & Associates of Fort Smith, Arkansas they should be able to help you. They are on the net. Not being a metalurgist, I too was 'parroting' what I've been told Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deurich2003 0 #18 March 19, 2004 yea, my left side leg strap slips...I was told to send it back to the manufacturer however I can't give the rig up for that long. A rubber band has preserved used for the time being... Never Give up! Never Surrender! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #19 March 19, 2004 Even a 2nd. elastic keeper will help a lot. I do like Rob suggested, with one keeper on the 'S'-folded webbing and a 2nd. elastic keeper above the 'S'-fold. I've noticed little or no slippage. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,026 #20 March 20, 2004 Quoteany opinions pro and cons Well, the DeLorean used stainless and was a complete flop. And if you're making a tank car to transport nitric acid, ordinary steel is better. But stainless is good for kitchen sinks and marine fittings. Stainless not good for urinals, since bleach attacks it. Non-stainless steel is better for transmission gears, and for F14 arrestor hooks.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #21 March 20, 2004 QuoteEven a 2nd. elastic keeper will help a lot. I do like Rob suggested, with one keeper on the 'S'-folded webbing and a 2nd. elastic keeper above the 'S'-fold. I've noticed little or no slippage. Chuck >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Heck, if a pesky buckle continues to slip, I wrap a black elastic strap keeper AROUND the buckle to reduce slippage! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
floormonkey 0 #22 March 20, 2004 This would be found in MIL-H-7195, renamed PIA-h-7195, which can be bought here: http://www.pia.com/shopping/specs_01d.htm You might be able to find someone who has this document, I can't find it on the web. For a complete discussion of hardware, see Poynter's, chapter 4 (p. 96). Poynter also lists MIL-S-6049 (Steel) and MIL-S-5626 (Steel) that might answer your question. According to this page [url]http://www.dlis.dla.mil/fiigdata/A081A/atable1.htm[url]the steel is 4140 (ST1895) or 8740 (ST1895). All other references I've seen refer to 4140. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #23 March 20, 2004 There ya' go! That'll work! Ive been told that the hardware (the 'teeth) have been re-configured for type-8 Nylon webbing on newer hardware. Also, that, that type hardware works better with Type - 13 Nylon webbing, like that used on the Racer harness. I've heard good things about the two-piece hardware like that found on the new Odyssey. Also, the 'finish' has a lot to do with it also. Elastic keepers are cheap! Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmsmith 1 #24 March 21, 2004 Many problems with leg strap slippage are due to the MLW dimension being too short. If your leg straps "go-slack" when you bend over while keeping your back straight then your MLW dimension isn't long enough. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
floormonkey 0 #25 March 21, 2004 Sorry, I forgot the second link. It's http://www.dlis.dla.mil/fiigdata/A081A/atable1.htm. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
