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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Telkwa Floor To Sides Seal in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 4 months ago
I’m not sure if you saw the second “Note” on the heat sealing page, but what you’re describing could be normal. All of the seams in the packrafts are designed to avoid that kind of peeling force – they’re either shear forces only, as in the areas where the tubes attach to the perimeter of the floor, or the area that would feel a peeling force is…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Self-bailing floor? in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 4 months ago
Hi RhettB, I’m sorry I’m not doing any bulk fabric sales at this time. Maybe when global supply chains are back to normal and I have plenty of stock I will, but that won’t be in the foreseeable future. Some people have had success modifying inflatable camping mattresses to fit the packrafts floor – that’s the approach I would take, as it would…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Failed project? Packraft not holding air. in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 4 months ago
Can you elaborate on what you mean when you say locating the leaks and sealing them hasn’t helped? It sounds like either there are more leaks to find and seal or your method of sealing them didn’t work.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 5 months ago
Well done! And what a gorgeous location! Thanks for posting 🙂
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Heat-sealing tools in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 5 months ago
Ah, okay 🙂
It sounds like you’ve already got it solved, but one thing I noticed with mine is that the heating element can slide outwards, and if it’s not pushed all the way into its hole then it doesn’t transfer heat as well as when it’s fully inserted. Also, if the element is a bit loose in the hole, maybe adding some thermal paste (a heat…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Heat-sealing tools in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 5 months ago
It seems like you’re spending a significant amount of time and money trying to get the measured temperature to match some value, but from your posts I can’t tell if you’ve tried welding any scraps of fabric to see if there’s actually a problem there that needs solving.
If so, carry on – I just don’t want to leave other readers with the impression…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Skeena kit with 250 GSM Floor? in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 5 months ago
It’s not possible because the design uses floor fabric that is coated with TPU on both sides and the 250 GSM fabric is coated on only one side.
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 3 years, 5 months ago
James Cummins sent me an excellent build report detailing his experience assembling first one, and then another DIY Packraft Telkwa kit. He shares some great lessons and inspiring photos, so please check it […]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Trouble Joining Bow Seam in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 5 months ago
Great – thanks!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Trouble Joining Bow Seam in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 5 months ago
This is great – thanks! If it’s okay with you, I’ll copy these pictures to the instructions page and give you a shoutout there so more people will see it.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Seam Sealing in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 5 months ago
The freezer might work – I haven’t actually tried it, but Gear Aid does recommend storing opened tubes in the freezer.
I usually toss the screw-on brush after the first use, and then I re-use the metal-handled brush even if it’s totally hardened, but in that case I use it more like a spatula. Sometimes I just use my finger to spread the sealant…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Trouble Joining Bow Seam in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 6 months ago
I meant, did you read the section below the video with the heading “Ironing around the pointy bow”?
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Trouble Joining Bow Seam in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 6 months ago
Just to make sure, did you see the “Ironing around the pointy bow” section on the instructions page?
It’s okay to have a few small wrinkles towards the edges of the seam strip there, so don’t stress about it.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Any ideas for a stiffer spray deck? in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 6 months ago
Sure, send me an email if you’d like to order a replacement piece.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 6 months ago
Great work, Mike, and thanks for the tips! Cheers
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 6 months ago
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing the details of your rowing rig – very cool!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Backrest valve melt fix in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 6 months ago
Hi Cate, someone else did the same thing and was able to fix it by cutting off a bit of the valve stem (or the flange) and using the iron to melt it like hot glue and press it into the hole (kind of like welding metal). Give that a try first.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Single Sided TPU Issues, Fabric to TPU Failures in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 6 months ago
Hi pnwdavis,
I’m not sure why that’s happened – would you mind sending me a sample of fabric from that old seat? I’ll email you with the shipping info.
The packraft itself is made with the TPU on the outside, so it will be easy to see if the same thing happens there. If water is somehow part of the cause, that won’t happen to the tube fabric, as…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Single Sided TPU Issues, Fabric to TPU Failures in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 6 months ago
Hmm, I have a lot more than 21 days on one of my boats made from that same batch of fabric, but I haven’t seen anything that bad – just a tiny bit of fraying along the edges.
I can’t really tell what part of your old blue seat that is in the picture – is that where you peeled it by hand, or did it actually come apart that much from normal use?…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Mistake fix advice in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 6 months ago
Hahaha!
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