Discussion about making bushwalking-related equipment.
Mon 09 Sep, 2013 3:13 pm
simonm wrote:Oh and for those who like to save a few dollars the 25gsm (.75oz/yd) is approximately $1.30 per metre cheaper than the 18gsm (.5 oz/yd).
Sounds like a good option.
Wed 11 Sep, 2013 1:00 pm
Joomy wrote:simonm wrote:Oh and for those who like to save a few dollars the 25gsm (.75oz/yd) is approximately $1.30 per metre cheaper than the 18gsm (.5 oz/yd).
Sounds like a good option.
I should point out that this is also dependant on buying the same amount of fabric from the supplier, as the more you buy the cheaper it is obviously.
Given I am now entering into more a business discussion now I am transfering this to this thread
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=14724 for those interested.
Thu 03 Oct, 2013 7:58 am
Hi all,
If you had a choice between white and blue cuben which would you choose?
Thu 03 Oct, 2013 8:38 am
simonm wrote:Hi all,
If you had a choice between white and blue cuben which would you choose?
The cheaper one.
If price were the same, then, for tents/tarps I'd go blue.
Thu 03 Oct, 2013 8:55 am
icefest wrote:simonm wrote:Hi all,
If you had a choice between white and blue cuben which would you choose?
The cheaper one.
If price were the same, then, for tents/tarps I'd go blue.
Price is the same, this is for 18gsm (.51oz/yd). I don't mind the blue personally.
Thu 03 Oct, 2013 10:08 pm
Simon, I'd choose blue.
BTW, Just ordered one of Joe's cuben jkts, which is irritatingly white ( I fly fish, ski and bushwalk- white is a bad colour for the first 2, coz either you're seen, or you're not! Blue at least either blends in with sky, or contrasts with snow).
What sort of a price per m are you thinking it'll be?
I have lots of projects in mind, and cuben suits a few.
A
Thu 03 Oct, 2013 10:38 pm
Hi Andrew,
3 votes for blue including me is enough. Blue it is.
I am just waiting for the invoice to be done up to confirm postage costs but the 25gsm in black, which I will put up on the site shortly, will be around $31 per metre. The 18gsm is costing me more per metre but i am hoping the postage is less, so it may be around the same price as the 25gsm or slightly more. EDIT: Postage is actually about the same for the 18gsm, so it will be slightly more
Andrew will you require any of the tapes for your cuben projects?
Cheers
Sat 05 Oct, 2013 6:41 am
18gsm Cuben in Blue is ordered and should be here in 2-3weeks. I have been able to get a pretty good deal on this one as well, although has cost me slightly more than the 25gsm.
Fri 18 Oct, 2013 8:46 pm
It was interesting fiddling with cuben for the first time today. My high quality sewing scissors didn't cut it at all. Had to get out the Stanley knife and ruler......
But, beyond that, v easy to work with......it reminds me of my early sewing days when my girlfriend ( now wife) asked me to make her a silk strapless dress. The fabric was horribly expensive, and I was v anxious, but it all worked, and stayed up. Given that cuben can be taped, its miles easier to use than silinylon ( accepting that this can also be taped, which I've done).
A
Sat 19 Oct, 2013 2:46 am
andrewa wrote:It was interesting fiddling with cuben for the first time today. My high quality sewing scissors didn't cut it at all. Had to get out the Stanley knife and ruler......
You can use scissors if you get them "running", if you know what I mean. But I also find it easier to use an Xacto knife.
I originally tried a cheap hot knife. It was too cheap I guess as the blade actually fell off the end of the knife and melted a hole in the fabric. A moment of panic there until I realized the damage was very close to the edge. A good hot knife might be the way to go but that knife didn't get hot enough to cut with the heat. I found it worked no better whether plugged in or not.
Sat 19 Oct, 2013 8:05 am
here's what you guys need:

- Screen Shot 2013-10-19 at 8.56.33 AM.png (46.08 KiB) Viewed 16688 times
This one fits a gas portasol, there's a discussion somewhere on BPL about sealing the exposed dyneema fibres of a cut with heat, seemed to make sense.
You can also cut sinylon and other materials with heat, and complex shapes as well. I found the key is a metal template ie cutting along a metal ruler, cutting around a metal pan (you can cut perfect sealed circles in one move.. to make the base of a tube-shaped stuff sack). You can vary the angle of the head on the metal to sink more (or less) heat from the cutter tip as you go (to avoid burning holes along your cut line).
Sat 19 Oct, 2013 8:11 am
Many people just use a soldering iron for cutting silnylon and Cuben fiber. Simple, cheap, and no frayed edges.
Sat 19 Oct, 2013 8:20 am
Soldering iron is a excellent idea.
Sat 19 Oct, 2013 8:22 am
the tip is for a soldering iron : )
Sat 19 Oct, 2013 8:36 am
Oh, I thought it was for a "gas portasol" whatever that is! ....some sort of gas portable soldering thingy, presumably, now that I think about it
Sat 19 Oct, 2013 8:46 am
Yeah, portasol is just a brand- a gas powered soldering iron, you can likely buy tips for electric irons but gas is nice! (if buying one specifically). I guess some practice with an ordinary soldering tip would get similar results- being able to sink heat from the wedge shape did leave very neat cuts- pretty much as fine as a pen line.
Sat 19 Oct, 2013 11:36 am
Nuts wrote:Yeah, portasol is just a brand- a gas powered soldering iron, you can likely buy tips for electric irons but gas is nice! (if buying one specifically). I guess some practice with an ordinary soldering tip would get similar results- being able to sink heat from the wedge shape did leave very neat cuts- pretty much as fine as a pen line.
Ohh, I have one of those. I just called it a butane soldering iron.
Sat 19 Oct, 2013 5:16 pm
simonm wrote:Joomy wrote:simonm wrote:Oh and for those who like to save a few dollars the 25gsm (.75oz/yd) is approximately $1.30 per metre cheaper than the 18gsm (.5 oz/yd).
Sounds like a good option.
I should point out that this is also dependant on buying the same amount of fabric from the supplier, as the more you buy the cheaper it is obviously.
Given I am now entering into more a business discussion now I am transfering this to this thread
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=14724 for those interested.
Cool site. Finally an Australian stockist.
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