Band Clamps or Ratcheting Tie Downs
Before we start mounting skins we should talk about some of the tools that will help the process of mounting your skins.I've
always called these band clamps. However, you'll want to search for
"ratcheting tie downs" to find the best bargains.
Here are some tricks to use when applying these to a Driod |
This was originally a luggage strap. I use it in place of a bungee cord to hold the skins in place while fitting the band clamps. |
normally you start the strap at the end |
and them click the ratchet to start winding it up on the barrel |
A Driod's circumference is ~56 inches. If you've got a 6ft band then you have ~15 inches to wind onto the ratchet. |
There's a good chance you'll run out of
space on the ratchet before the band is tight. If your band is longer
then it's almost a certainty. One solution is to pull the excess band thru the barrel until the clamp is almost tight and then start tightening with the ratchet. |
another trick is to tie the band around the hook on the ratchet end. Right & Below: there's a specific way to make the tie |
|
Left: And, naturally, if you aren't that
clever [this was my first attempt because I didn't bother to think up
the other ways!] you can always cut the band. Keep in mind that it's a permanent solution as replacing the bands is as expensive as buying new clamps. |
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