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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Donut in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 10 months ago
It’s not exactly a donut, but start by checking out the link in this post: https://www.diypackraft.com/2017/09/08/lightweight-fishing-float-tube/
Cheers!
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 5 years, 10 months ago
Since the new Ultralight and Telkwa DIY Packraft kits were released, several people have asked for a similar packraft kit made from standard weight fabrics without a wrap-around floor. Tonight I inflated this new […]
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I think it would be pretty easy to add a water-filled keel, but whether the tracking would improve so much that it outweighed the increased drag, I’m not sure.
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 5 years, 10 months ago
Several people have reported having issues with this website not working properly in their browsers, so I’m making some major changes both behind the scenes and to the design of the site. All the same content […]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Is there hope for my V3…? in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 10 months ago
Hi guys, I had to disable direct private messaging between forum members because people were getting too much spam, so if you’d like to connect directly out of the public eye, just send me a message through the contact form and I’ll send you each other’s email addresses. I won’t do that until both parties have requested it though. Sorry for the…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 5 years, 10 months ago
New Video: Iron Temperature & Timing
I’ve just made a new video that shows what to look for (and what to avoid!) when setting the temperature on your heat sealing iron, and how to tell […]-
It’s a leather iron – more information here: https://www.diypackraft.com/construction/tools/
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I have the idea of setting a timer as I weld a seam to make sure I don’t rush and produce a bad weld. I plan to do an experiment to calibrate my iron. Do you have any estimates of weld rate? For example, about how much time should it take for 12 inches of seam? I assume it is iron specific; however, I suspect most builders are using the iron you suggest.
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I think there are too many variables to make setting a timer a practical approach, but my technique now is to hold the iron in one spot and count to six (or five, or seven, etc. – depends on the fabric and the room temperature) and then roll that spot and move on… would it help if I made a video explaining this?
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Is there hope for my V3…? in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 10 months ago
Hi Landon, I’m sorry to hear you’re having such a frustrating experience! It sounds like your iron might not be hot enough to fully weld the TPU layers together – after they’re welded it should be impossible for the seams to peel apart in the way you described.
After spending so much time on it already, it would be totally understandable if you…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 10 months ago
Beauty!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 10 months ago
Great trip report! Thanks for posting!
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 5 years, 11 months ago
The “leather iron” from http://www.aliexpress.com is my preferred iron for assembling DIY Packraft kits. It’s hot enough, it maintains a consistent temperature, it’s robustly built, it’s the right width for heat sealing […]
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Is there some benefit to replacing the plug as opposed to using an adaptor?
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You can probably save a few dollars by buying a new plug instead of an adapter, but other than that, there’s no benefit. When I made the video the only adapter I could find was about $30, which seemed excessive, but since then I’ve seen them as low as $8, which makes that option more attractive.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic 2 Chamber modification in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 11 months ago
Hi David, the diameter is 275 mm. Cheers!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic New users say "Hi" here to prove you are not a Spam Bot in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 11 months ago
Very cool! Thanks for the tips, Christian!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic New users say "Hi" here to prove you are not a Spam Bot in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 11 months ago
Welcome! I haven’t done any high pressure testing, but yeah, I think it will depend on the factors you mentioned plus the design of the inflatable object and how the forces are distributed along the welds. Cheers!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic How do you Heat Seal 2 Double Coated Fabrics? in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 11 months ago
You could try that – I’ve heard that it works but I haven’t tried it myself.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic 2 Chamber modification in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 11 months ago
Hi David,
I think it’s worth trying – it’s one of those things I’ve been meaning to try for ages but haven’t got around to, myself. What I’m not sure about is the longevity of a glued joint on the inside of the tube fabric, and what’s the best adhesive to use. Some people have reported that a glue called HH-66 works well, but I can’t find it…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic How airtight are your boats? in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 11 months ago
Hi Markus,
It sounds like the air is escaping through the zipper – a few small bubbles could add up to 1-2 breaths per hour, no? This could probably be resolved by cleaning the zipper and reapplying lubricant. If the zipper isn’t leaking and the seams are all sealed and the fabric isn’t damaged and there’s no dirt in the Boston valve or top-up…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic bowl for curved surface in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 11 months ago
Done!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 11 months ago
Hahaha!
Good looking fish!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 years, 12 months ago
Gorgeous shot!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Modify Therma-Rest pad for an inflatable floor. in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years ago
Great idea, Bruce! It’s amazing you were able to remove the foam and reseal where it had been. Thanks for sharing!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years ago
Beautiful!
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