Forum Replies Created

Viewing 3 reply threads
  • Author
    Replies
    • #14118
      Christian001
      Participant

      I used a cheap hot air soldering station for three packrafts (Telkwa, 2P and UL). I think you will find it with different names, but it’s always something with “858D”. I bought this: https://www.amazon.de/Digital-Desoldering-Reparatur-Werkzeug-Elektrowerkzeuge/dp/B074N1FR9N

      I dialed it to 270 °C and intensity of 3.5 for the normal Telkwa/Skeena-Fabric, and to 300 °C and 1.0 for the UL fabric. That worked like a charm. The seams are very consistent and clean and, if you are careful, without any air bubbles.

      I used it for all of the seams and for difficult corners. For other parts (like soldering the main pieces to the floor) I used the leather iron. In those areas, the iron is a little bit faster.

      If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

      Christian

    • #14015
      Christian001
      Participant

      I finished my third packraft a couple of weeks ago. This time it was an Ultralight.

      Matt, you wrote this is the easiest, but for me it was more difficult than the others. The fabric is so thin, that I was afraid I will damage it just from looking at it. I was very carefully and quite slow. In the last hour, when I finished the last bit of the rear seam I did one final mistake. I put my hot air gun for a split second near the fabric and burned a hole in it :-(. But fortunately, I could fix this quite easily.

      I sealed all seams with a double layer of Aquaseal. Have not a tiny leak so far!

      Again, it was a great project! Your instructions are absolutely awesome. Never have seen something that detailed.

      Ultralight

      And here one picture of my packraft fleet. Only the Skeena is missing. Will build that too.

      Fleet

       

      Christian

    • #12656
      Christian001
      Participant

      Couple of weeks ago I finished my two packrafts! Telkwa and 2-Person.

      It was awesome to build these. I really enjoyed it! The Telkwa was the first and it took me about 3 weeks. I was not very fast, but was afraid of doing any mistakes. I did some, but nothing major. Had some very minor leaks at the zipper.

      Telkwa

       

      The second (2-Person) took me about 1,5 weeks. It did not have a wrap around floor, so for me it was much easier to build. And I learned quite a lot with the telkwa. The 2-Person had no leaks and was airtight right from the beginning.

      2-person

      For both packrafts I used the Leather Iron and an hot air soldering station (858D). With the hot station I could weld the seamstrips very consistently. In my tests the welds are very strong and mostly without any airbubbles.

      seams

      When Matt is back from his trip I will order the Ultralight and Skeena as well!

    • #12392
      Christian001
      Participant

      Harald,

      now it is much clearer and my valves are mostly the same as yours. I was a little bit afraid to drill a hole in the cap, because I thought I will not get it airtight again.

      Also thinking about installing a second valve without a flap, for deflation. This will make rolling up the packraft much easier. But for now I open the zipper a little bit. Works the same.

      I glued another cap in the inflation bag. Works great and is simple.

      • This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Christian001.
    • #19481
      Christian001
      Participant

      Very nice color! Makes it even harder to decide on my next one.

    • #17934
      Christian001
      Participant

      And yes, show us more of your skeg. Especially, how you attached it to your raft.

    • #17933
      Christian001
      Participant

      Would love to hear your experience with the durability of that UL packraft. I have one as well, and am always a little bit in fear, that it could rip apart at some small stone/rock beneath the water surface.

      My UL packraft is built with the older UL fabric. I don’t know, if the newer fabric is more durable or if there is any difference. Maybe Matt can say something about it.

      Christian

    • #16884
      Christian001
      Participant

      That would be absolutely great! Also would love to see more details on your paddle modification.

    • #13389
      Christian001
      Participant

      @FJ Guy: I would order a cheap Leather Iron of Aliexpress like this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32833241758.html It works really great and I think better than those Coverite Irons.

      Christian

    • #12369
      Christian001
      Participant

      Harald, very nice Raft!

      can you show me a better picture of your bottlecap valve and how you attached the little cord to the cap?

      I also used this valve on my telkwa, but do not know how to secure the little cap.
      thank you

Viewing 3 reply threads