Activity

Hi!

Received my kit a couple weeks ago so I’m just practicing right now. I’ll begin building soon and will be taking it out to Montana in August!

-Aaron

There’s a Russian packraft boutique who uses this valve hack on their packrafts:https://www.birdypackraft.com/. There’s actually a lot of packrafting going on in Russia, if you know how to use Google translate or Deepl. Personally, I don’t like the Boston valve much. Its too bulky and too protruding. I would go for a bottle cap opening for bag…[Read more]

Hi I’m Dirk UK

I wonder if anyone has benefited from utilising a metal surface under

heat welds where possible to get tpu as hot as possible

I’ve used light saws (teeth taped)and a brass door plate

Wish I had known earlier for to achieve better joins

Interesting! I got some samples of TPU sheets too, but I haven’t had time to experiment with them yet. In a way, it’s a “solution in search of a problem,” but when we find that problem it will be an elegant fix. A higher melting temperature will make it difficult to use though.

Yeah, I apply the Seam Grip to the TPU side (shiny outside) of the fabric in spots like that if they’re somewhere that will be noticeable on the inflated packraft. If it’s somewhere hidden, like near where the tube meets the floor on the inside of the packraft, I apply it to the inside of the tube. Cheers!

Repairing damaged TPU /Seam grip sealant adhesive question

A few times my iron has came too close along the yellow fabric when for example doing the seam stripes.   So little scuffs /damage that might effect the durability.  If I add seam grip to these spots won’t it stain it ?  Is there a way to fix these little blemishes/damaged area wit…[Read more]

I got a sample of a transparent TPU sheet from a German shop: https://www.diekleinewerft.de/TPU-Folie-152cm-breit-038mm-dick-semitransaprent

(They also have TPU tubes for making bladders.)

Unfortunately, this TPU has a much higher melting point than Matt’s fabrics. Since the material has not a fabric backing it warps if its heated and the warps…[Read more]

Hi Jason – excellent question! Your heat sealing looks great. The bond strength between the TPU layer and the woven fabric is slightly less in the 450 GSM fabric than the 250 GSM fabric, so this is to be expected. (In the packrafts, the tube-to-floor joints are designed to minimize peeling forces, so don’t worry about this.) I will add a note to…[Read more]

Hi,

I have a question regarding the 450GSM material: Regardless of technique/temp etc the TPU on the 450GSM lifts off when I am doing a “pull apart test”. I have included a picture to help show my meaning. When there is a long run pulling left/ right away from the other yellow the bond is really very strong but as soon as I pulled from the bot…[Read more]

Hey Guys and Gals

Received my 2 Twelka kits (red and yellow) packrafts. Just practicing welding. So far so good but only time will tell.

Thanks for the detailed comments! I’m working on ways to make the cut lines better in the Ultralight fabrics… it’s pretty difficult on those thin fabrics. Thanks for the tip about placing the darker fabric under the tube fabric – I’ll add that to the instructions.

I’ll add a note to the pressure fit valve product page indicating that if people…[Read more]