Suggestions needed for Back pack straps breaking

[Sharon Mallory]

Hi I’m having trouble with my nylon straps breaking on the backpacks I made. It seems like the strap just shreads  from where it joins the main part of the backpack. I’m not using a leather needle on it. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do, it’s not making me want to finish?

[Halitech]

Put a thin layer of leather over the nylon like some people do when making a guitar strap and they put a leather end on them.

[TomG]

Some photos of what you are doing exactly would help
Tom

[Sharon Mallory]

It’s just a simple backpack for my 9 year old grandson and it happened on the one from when he was 5 or 6 too. I want to make one for myself and figure out what the problem is and how to avoid it.

[Northmount]

I've had no trouble with these types of straps.  Possibly your strap material is too thin, or poor quality.  It looks like maybe the strap was nicked by a sharp item and started to unravel.

I had straps on bags that were used to hold electronic vibration monitoring instruments and were used all day long in a dirty and challenging environment.  No breakage of the plastic hardware or the straps.  When the bag (fabric - canvas like exterior, padding, and a silky smooth lining) got dirty enough, I threw them in the washing machine to clean them up a little.  So with all the abuse they suffered, I had no failures.

Tom

[kgg]

Kids generally tend too be tough on stuff. When I have seen fraying that results in shedding like that either the nylon is being constantly rubbed / nicked against something, the nylon is less then good quality or to many stitches per inch in the stitch used to attach the material. I would suggest reducing your number of stitches per inch and or using a different type nylon that would be stiffer but more abrasive resistant. If the stitches are to close together the stitch will basically cut the fibres of the material.

kgg

[Sharon Mallory]

I’ve used this same strapping before too but it didn’t hold up well last time and this time I had to replace the handle on top also as it had begun its fraying from the edges to. Last time I thought I forgot to change out my leather needle so I know for sure I did it this time. Maybe stitch length I’ll lengthen it. I’ve mad quite a few leashes and collars with this nylon before too. Going out of town so I thought I’d throw one of these together for myself and I don’t need it to break. This was the 2nd day he used it. Other than the straps which I replace years ago it held up well. This one I used sunbrella and I waxes the canvas.

[TomG]

2 things to try, if you haven't already.

1) Burn the ends of the nylon strap after you cut them.
2) Use a fairly long stitch.. 6-8 SPI or so. Make a couple of rows or better a square box with a "X" from corner to corner on.
Tom

[Sharon Mallory]

Thank you, plus got better strapping

[kgg]

Since you are using sunbrella and canvas have to tried to make your own straps out of those materials? You have all the necessary strap connections and probably scrap / leftover material.

kgg