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If you order an adjustable Leather Iron through Aliexpress, like the Jingda first discovered by Lynn, you may want to also order a 3-prong US plug adaptor. They are inexpensive ($0.66 with free shipping), but hard to find on Aliexpress. Here is a link for one. I haven’t ordered it, just wanted to provide the link so others might. I will order one…[Read more]

I should have been clear that I am actually getting MasterSeal 6’s from them which are lighter for my purposes.

Thank you Lyn.  I ordered two.  The chain length is 19 cm, so a little short for my purpose but it will work.

I also use Seam Grip as an excellent cover for abrasion exposed areas.  It is very abrasion resistant and won’t peel away.  Simply brush over the area of the material that is abraded and it will extend its wear life significantly.

Derrick

Hi, reading all about DIY packrafts all the way from Belgium!

After my DIY winter hammock camping gear Im happy to explore some non sewing projects 😉

Im not a bot and I ordered some samples 😉

Cheers!

PJ

This is awesome – thanks for sharing!

I couldn’t find a small sturdy iron in Sydney Australia and I didn’t want to buy one online without seeing it first as they all looked way too big, so I built this one out of a $15 hair straightener. It was a 40-watt hair straightener and I used the heating elements from both sides of the straightener in the iron. The dial adjusts to 230°C and it…[Read more]

Just thought I’d add to my post and support Bruce’s comment above. Now I’ve had a flavour of some rescue skills, a full 3 day swiftwater rescue course will definitely be on my to do list. The course I did last week also emphasised the need for technical paddling skills so you paddle well and the packraft’s stability doesn’t make you complacent.

I come to packrafting as a whitewater boater. I have a solid kayak and canoe roll in class 3 or 4 whitewater. I started back in 1963, and am trying to figure out how to slow down a bit, but not leave the game behind.

That said, I think Mark Oates cautionary note to packrafters is critical: take a swiftwater rescue class, learn to use a throw…[Read more]

Matt,

Yes, hard to find. I have best luck searching under: adjustable leather iron. There are many models and colors. Be aware: the lowest prices are for non-adjustable irons and I don’t know how these will work. I’ve also seen one with a wider foot – it might be easier to cut off the “wings” to a more desirable narrow foot, don’t know, but here…[Read more]

Clemens,

The hardest part for me is trying to describe the filing effort. I file the bottom so it has a 19 or 20 mm wide flat area on the bottom. This leaves 2 mm or so of gently rounded edge on each side. I do not file the tip.

I use a coarse file for aluminum or steel. Be aware that aluminum galls, and it will be easier to smooth with…[Read more]

Sean, Excellent question.

My experience with Aliexpress is limited, but excellent. My guess is that all of the 220 leather irons work the same, but the Chinese sellers can’t really test them and are incorrectly estimating the output based on current, when the thermostat which controls the temperature doesn’t rely on current. The resistance…[Read more]

Hi, Just ordered a V3 Kit. Hope it all works out so I can build more for the rest of the family.

Cool!