Where to buy stainless steel strap?

[Guest]

The stainless steel strap that goes around the liferaft holding it to the frame is too short. Does anyone know where I can source the stainless steel strapping. The existing is like a thin stainless steel strap about 7mm wide predrilled with holes running down the center.
Thanks

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[LadyInBed]

It might be easier to extend the wire frame than to source and make new straps. Alternately would webbing straps do a job?

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[ponapay]

Try your local steel stockholders, they often have suitable offcuts.

Any problems pm e and I will give you details of the one in Aberdeen that has been very helpful.

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[Avocet]

This lot might be able to help:

http://www.mailordermetals.co.uk/

but I think the straps you're talking about will be guillotined from a sheet rather than made from strap material so you might not be able to get something thin enough.

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[claudio]

Is it anything like the stuff they use to secure loads onto pallets ?

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[Guest]

Very similar but in stainless steel.

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[chriscallender]

I get stainless steel from metal supermarkets in Southampton they do have some other branches in UK including London.

Not sure how thin this strap is, if its really thin and flexible then you might have a problem but if its say 1mm thick then metal supermarkets should be able to sort you out and cut it to whatever size you want. They are pretty helpful and at least the Southampton branch knows about marine metals so if you can show them the old one they will proabably be able to advise whats best to use.

They will do the cutting but not drilling. But thin stainless sheet is easy to drill with a Black & Decker or similar, just don't run the drill too fast and overheat it. Lubricant spray helps but the secret (which I only learnt after trashing a few drill bits) is to run the drill so slowly that you can see it turning. Prepunch it to stop the drill bit skidding and start with a sharp drill and you will have no problems.

Although like the other poster I do wonder if webbing might not be a lot easier to use to strap the liferaft to the frame, and I'm sure I've seen stainless buckles available from somewhere.

Chris

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