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Writer's pictureScott Broadbent

Safe on a Lyra?





#2: 'Am I safe' series - Lyra


When I think of Lyra I never really think about safety, it's just a big metal ring, sometimes with a big strong tab on top... To me seems like one of the safest things around.


Turns out I was wrong.


Without the risk of harping on about imports, seems they have struck again. This year I have heard of 2 instances where a lyra has broken. I'm dumbfounded on how this happens, but our friends across the ocean have managed to get a few defective items in.


The explanation I have is quite lengthy so I apologise in advance for a long read.


I will also emphasise that I'm about to talk about the differences in mild steel / stainless steel, but the products made here in Australia, by skilled and qualified welders is different to cheaper/mass produced/unskilled labour, making products.


I do not use stainless steel for several reasons. It's expensive, it's a speciality material that requires speciality welding, but the main reason is stainless is hard, making it more brittle than mild steel. In many ways stainless is superior to mild, but when flexing forces are applied (like bouncing on a lyra) the flex of mild steel is superior to stainless.


When over loaded mild steel will bend, and bend, and eventually it will tear like paper. Stainless (and other material like aluminium) will hold its shape until, bang, snaps like a twig.


The proof is in the pudding, or pictures should I say... Pic 1 is stainless steel from an importer. Pic 2 & 3 are some in house testing we do on mild steel lyra. Pic 2 needed 1.5t to stretch it out, and it tore at the tab, (still did not break!). Pic 3 is picking up a little under a tonne.


There are other factors involved, (I could go on for hours!) like the quality of the steel, the quality of the weld and welder. In this case of the broken join I believe the material was too thin, and the join should have been under the tab. Pic 4 shows a quality stainless lyra join, under the tab. Even if the join broke, the tab would hold it together.


let me emphasise, don't panic if you have a stainless lyra, especially if it's made here in Australia. They are generally well made and are totally safe, and Australians are great at being held accountable so they make sure it's a quality product! Even OS factories can make great products too, it's just the unfortunate few that let them all down.

So why use stainless? It's light! A few kilo's per Lyra, the lightest we can get with mild steel is about 4kg depending on size. If you like to flick your lyra around, stainless might be the choice for you.


What can you do!?! Easy! every time you are about to jump on your lyra, check it. Look at the join, look at the weld on the tab, and if you see a crack then you know you have a problem. If not, then you are good to go. When taping your lyra, keep the tape away from the tab or join so you can see it easily. It will crack before it breaks, so it is something you can see.


And I'll be totally blunt here. NO Temu lyras, No Wish Lyras, and there are a couple of drop ship importers recently popped up here... no no no...


Disclaimer* Many people are going to accuse me of trying to just push my products. Good. I much prefer having that reputation, than having a reputation of knowing there are crappy, faulty, and dangerous products out there

and someone was hurt (or worse) on one, because I kept my mouth closed. That reputation I couldn't live with.


Stay Shiny!

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