Insignia Cloth Shoulder Straps

[Daryl and Daryl]

Here's a picture of some shoulder straps I recently made:

Ignore the binder clip. It is just there to hold up the white background so you can see the straps.

I used a different technique for making these and thought the info might be of use to any of you who are thinking of making shoulder straps.

I cut closed cell foam into 2" wide pieces and then wrapped them in insignia cloth (think burrito). Insignia cloth is an adhesive backed dacron fabric that runs about 3 ounces per square yard. Here's a link:
here

By using the adhesive backed insignia cloth I was able to avoid sewing through the foam. All the sewing is confined to the ends of the straps so you are never sewing through more than a few layers of the dacron.

The adhesive backed insignia cloth adds a stiffness to the foam filled straps. This helps them hold their shape and reduces stretching of the straps.

I've used the straps almost daily now for a couple of months. They are holding up well.

[Roger Caffin]

That is rather clever. Hum …
Thank you.

Cheers

[Tad Englund]

Daryl, interesting idea. after testing lets us know how they work out, I'm interested to see how the adhesive reacts to sweat over the long term. I worry that you might get small globs of it on the straps and your clothing.
Let us know how it works out.

[Daryl and Daryl]

Tad,

I don't think sweat will be a problem.

I've used them for a few months going to the gym and store on a daily basis. So far they show no signs of wear, melting adhesive, disconnection, etc.

A few years ago I used the adhesive backed insignia cloth on some kneeling/sit pads for backpacking. The insignia cloth went on one side of closed cell foam so pine needles and debris wouldn't penetrate the pad when I used it. These pads have been used extensively and show no signs of wear, delamination, adhesive drift, gooing, etc. I've even run them through the washer a few times.

The sweatiest application Ive used them for is on the side of my backpack that goes against my back. There is a reinforcement patch there for a strap that connects to the fabric. This area has been saturated in sweat many times, for up to 8 hours at a time with no effect that I can see.

[Tad Englund]

Thanks Daryl, that is what I was looking for-

Where did you purchase the material and for what cost?

[Greg Mihalik]

Kite Builder Insignia Cloth

[Daryl and Daryl]

Tad,

There's a link for insignia cloth in my initial entry. It isn't "hot" so it doesn't show up very well.

[Roger Caffin]

> how the adhesive reacts to sweat over the long term.

Actually, now I think about that, I have been doing this for years with our sit-mats. They consist of a square of EVA foam wrapped in 70 denier nylon fabric. I stick the fabric to the foam with a common spray-adhesive like 3M 77 (I think that's what it is called). This combination has proven to be remarkably stable.

Cheers

[Author]

Posts