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Hello everybody,
Band rigs are fairly essential for anyone making their own bands, and there is a variety of band rig designs that get the job done more or less. What I look for specifically when tying flat bands to pouches is:
- Perfect band alignment for over-the-top shooting, as I aim along the bands;
- Precise band end placement to ensure equal band lengths;
- Perfect pouch placement relative to the band orientation (OTT or TTF);
- A mechanism that makes it possible to control rubber tension prior to the wrap & tuck process.
Since modifying a Chinese-made band attachment rig to comply with the above criteria, I discovered that a vice makes an excellent basis for an improvised flat band rig.
The basic idea is the use of two wood blocks with a rectangular hole cut into the upper section of each block, and both being placed between the vice jaws and held in place with the help of external clamps. The inside section of the vice jaw is generally curved, and thus requires a shaped insert attached to each block to allow the latter to stand upright inside the vice jaws.
Spring operated clamps are inserted inside the rectangular holes of the blocks, where the upper section of the clamps rest on the upper surface of each block: this is where the pouch is held in place on one side, and the rubber ends of flat bands or tubes are held in place on the other side. The gap between the holes and the upper surface increases spring tension of the clamps.
With everything in place correctly, rotating the vice screw lever anti-clockwise will widen the space between the vice jaws, and thus generate tension on the rubber ends of flat bands or tubes to attach these securely to the pouch. Turning the vice screw lever clockwise release tension safely.
It works very well, and is not difficult to make. Let me know what you think.
Band rigs are fairly essential for anyone making their own bands, and there is a variety of band rig designs that get the job done more or less. What I look for specifically when tying flat bands to pouches is:
- Perfect band alignment for over-the-top shooting, as I aim along the bands;
- Precise band end placement to ensure equal band lengths;
- Perfect pouch placement relative to the band orientation (OTT or TTF);
- A mechanism that makes it possible to control rubber tension prior to the wrap & tuck process.
Since modifying a Chinese-made band attachment rig to comply with the above criteria, I discovered that a vice makes an excellent basis for an improvised flat band rig.
The basic idea is the use of two wood blocks with a rectangular hole cut into the upper section of each block, and both being placed between the vice jaws and held in place with the help of external clamps. The inside section of the vice jaw is generally curved, and thus requires a shaped insert attached to each block to allow the latter to stand upright inside the vice jaws.
Spring operated clamps are inserted inside the rectangular holes of the blocks, where the upper section of the clamps rest on the upper surface of each block: this is where the pouch is held in place on one side, and the rubber ends of flat bands or tubes are held in place on the other side. The gap between the holes and the upper surface increases spring tension of the clamps.
With everything in place correctly, rotating the vice screw lever anti-clockwise will widen the space between the vice jaws, and thus generate tension on the rubber ends of flat bands or tubes to attach these securely to the pouch. Turning the vice screw lever clockwise release tension safely.
It works very well, and is not difficult to make. Let me know what you think.
