• Seat

    Figured I’d show it more or less rigged up now. I made a seat back out of some closed cell foam and a couple scraps of fabric. I used a piece of two sided so that I could weld a baffle in the middle, but someone with half a brain and a sewing kit could probably do a better job of it. I figured I’d share though because I thought that if…[Read more]

  • Well, off to find leaks! I’m at roughly 2-3 breaths every couple hours, but would like to make it a bit tighter!

    The front end is a little botched (turns out I misread your instructions; I think you said 10-12 inches from the end of the boat/tip of the boat when ironing the center seams and I did 10 inches from the end of the seam. It was too…[Read more]

  • Yeah, after a few hours of using it, that seemed to be my impression. In addition to welding irregularly (I think 1/8 worked properly), my iron shit the proverbial bed and wouldn’t get hot the second time I fired it up, so maybe an additional demerit. It’s being returned (which was fairly easy thanks to Amazon).

    I ordered a coverite black…[Read more]

  • Also, I’ve been trying your method on some scraps, and found (at least according to the what sealing methods page) that my welds when pulled apart have the tpu all come off in one sheet on one side of the fabric. I also can’t seem to tell the difference between a strong weld and a weak weld until I pull them apart (they all look properly sea…[Read more]

  • Hey Naas,

    What’s the strategy for the middle of the tubes? I imagine it’s tough getting the roller and the air gun to the center of the tube portions. Also, did you start sealing from the middle out, or did you start from one end with the pieces taped. How are you protecting the TPU in the middle on the floor and on the pieces adjacent to the…[Read more]

  • jlrose09 replied to the topic Heat-sealing tools in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years ago

    Hey Matt,

    So I can’t find a Coverite Black Baron for sale anywhere. Any suggestions on which iron to go for? Do you think this hot air welding is worth pursuing? The closest looking thing I could find is the Hangar Nine but upon purchase I was unable to remove all of the electronics (without destroying the device) in order to modify the shoe for…[Read more]