How to Increase the Webbing Pull-out Strength in a Plastic Buckle

Webbing is used in climbing, rappelling, mountaineering and search, and rescue. Webbing is made from nylon fabric and yields a high strength to weight ratio. Some situations, such as rigging webbing anchors, making webbing harnesses or securing rescue litters, often require a way of adjusting the webbing length without cutting it or compromising the strength of the fabric. When a buckle is added to the fabric, the adjusted length is at risk of the buckle breaking, causing it to stretch and lose tensile strength. When you use a plastic slider buckle, be sure to take a few quick measures that protect the webbing strength.

Instructions

    • 1

      Push the slider buckle down from the end of the webbing, then fold the webbing onto itself and thread the end back into the buckle. This doubles the webbing strength at the buckle attachment point.

    • 2

      Cut webbing ends at a bias. This means cutting the webbing ends at 45 degree angles. After cutting the webbing ends, hold the cuts to a flame to melt it and prevent in from unwinding. Push the bias-ends into the slider buckles to maintain webbing strength in the rappel or rescue system.

    • 3

      Rig three webbing anchors with adjustable length buckles for rescue systems. The adage is "rig three, pull two." Set the anchors around rocks, deadman spikes (rescue anchor tools) or large trees. Keep the anchors set to an angle of 30 degrees to the inside of the next to increase the webbing strength for the system.

    • 4

      Use web-keeps on open-ended rappel set-ups on loose strands of webbing with buckles. Web-keeps are small metal or plastic sleeves that hold the main webbing strand to the ends in a tight configuration, increasing the webbing strength by doubling the amount of webbing near the buckle.