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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 5 months, 1 week ago
New Heat Sealing Iron
This iron from Aliexpress was recommended by Bruce Campbell of Fairbanks, Alaska – a man of many great ideas! I bought one to try it out for myself, […] -
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Excellent work, and great ideas! Thanks for sharing, Kaytree!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Accessories in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 months, 1 week ago
Cool! Great idea!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Fabric measurements for Telkwa and extremetextil.de in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 months, 3 weeks ago
I’m really glad you’re enjoying your Telkwa, and it looks like you did great work, but using my design to make another packraft without asking for permission is really not cool.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Reinforcing Strips bulging in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 months ago
That looked like a fun paddle! I’m glad everything is coming together.
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 7 months ago
Inflation Bag Boston Valve Adapter
Evan Rodgers emailed to show me this simple and ingenious method of using a second Boston valve to create an inflation bag adapter that screws into […]-
That’s really cool. I need to come up with an adapter that functions the same way for my pump but also supports the top-up valve.
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I found this 3d printed adapter posted on Printables.com. It is a perfect fit for the boston valve and, with a slight internal diameter adjustment, will fit snugly over the top-up inflation stems for the backrest and seat.
https://www.printables.com/model/809119-inflation-bag-adapter-for-packraft-boston-valve
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If I understand correctly, cutting the Boston valve isn’t necessary. You just need a flange on the inflation bag and put a valve piece between the inflation bag flange and the packraft flange. This should work because I think flanges can be screwed to both ends of the value (with the cap open obviously). You can use a valve with the rubber bit removed to quickly inflate the packraft then switch to a valve with the rubber bit still there to top up the with the inflation bag (no longer needing to top off with your lungs). Is this correct? Is that how you have been using it? I’m considering getting another Boston valve for my inflation bag to try it out. Does it work well?
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Haha, I never thought of that, but you’re absolutely right – you could just iron the flange to the bag.
You might be able to screw the inflation bag flange onto the boat’s check valve after it’s screwed in for the final top-up… yes, I do think that would work. The downside is that screwing the bag on and off would almost certainly take longer than using your mouth for those last five or six breaths. It’s possible you could get a higher air pressure in the packraft using the bag, but because the threads aren’t a perfect match between the flange and the top side of the check valve, I’d be careful to avoid damaging them by trying to force a lot of air in.
I actually haven’t tried the valve-in-the-bag method myself, so if you test this before I get to it, please let us know how it works out!
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 7 months, 1 week ago
Web Store MaintenaceSome of the software I use to run the DIY Packraft Shop has recently been updated to enhance security and functionality, so if you encounter any […]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Reinforcing Strips bulging in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 months, 1 week ago
Great solution! I hope the first float was a success.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Reinforcing Strips bulging in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 months, 1 week ago
Hmm, that’s unusual… I’ve actually never seen that before. Could you send me some pictures from the inside of the cockpit, and maybe take one or two shots through the valve opening so I can see where tubes 4L and 4R are attached to the floor (if possible)? It does look like something might be separating there, but I can’t tell why. Can you see…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic in the forum DIY Accessories 7 months, 1 week ago
Very cool! I was thinking about foot rests just before you posted this, because I’m testing out a new seat, somewhat similar to yours. The footrest looks like a great design. I’m curious if you’ve tried using it without stuff inside it, just inflated – you mentioned that the larger one felt like pressing against a balloon, but I wonder if this one…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Parchment paper question in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 months, 1 week ago
Great to know! Thanks for the update.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic in the forum DIY Accessories 7 months, 1 week ago
Very cool! I should really get one of those pumps… and a 3D printer! I’m seeing some great ideas lately.
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Video: The Fabrics
I made this video to show the current fabrics that I use to make the Ultralight and the standard weight DIY Packraft kits. In the video, I talk […] -
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic in the forum DIY Accessories 7 months, 2 weeks ago
What a cool idea! Thanks for sharing. This might deserve to be a whole forum topic on its own.
It’s an interesting idea to use prongs to hold the check valve open – is the pump not strong enough to pump air through the valve, or does it just work faster that way?
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Attachment Points Strength in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 months, 2 weeks ago
In my tests, the D-rings themselves break at about 45 kg or 99 pounds load (on average), and the attachment point itself should be stronger than that, but over time things could wear. If I were you, I’d probably use it as-is but keep an eye on it and if it looks like distributing the load over one or two more points would help, then it looks like…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Seam Sealing in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 months, 2 weeks ago
I’ve never tried it, but I don’t think it would be a problem… I would try it in an inconspicuous area and see how it looks, and if it doesn’t melt or do weird things, carry on.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Heat-sealing tools in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Thanks for the report, Zach. It sounds like it would be good to have one of those as a secondary iron for little finicky things and hard to reach places. I might pick one up. Cheers
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Quite an issue, need best advice to hide my error in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Hi Mateo, don’t worry – it’s not hard to fix! If you look ahead to the Front Center Seam step and scroll down near the bottom of the page, there are instructions in case you run into a similar situation: https://www.diypackraft.com/construction/how-to/instructions-telkwa-kits/telkwa-assembly-front-center-seam/
Cheers!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Parchment paper question in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 months, 3 weeks ago
I’m not familiar with that product, but it sounds great. I would test it by ironing some scrap fabric over it to the point that the TPU melts and sticks to the parchment paper, and then let it cool and see if it peels cleanly away without leaving any residue.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Oops! in the forum DIY Packrafts 8 months, 1 week ago
I don’t think it’ll be a problem – if anything, it will probably be stronger than it was originally, now that it’s sandwiched between two layers of fabric. If it happens again though on a different seam, I would wait to patch it until after the adjacent tubes are attached, because you’ll have to work around that bottom patch when you finish off…[Read more]
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