MYO cuben dry bag

[andrewa]

My cuben from Simonm arrived today. Couldn't wait to get home from work to make a cuben dry bag. Even though I've had some 0.5 oz cuben sitting around for a while, destined for extension to Zpacks hexamid.

Took about 45 mins. No sewing. All bonded with double sided tape.

Roll top made using triple thickness cuben to make a tape that I then attached the buckles to with a ~10cm fold back. This was then double sided taped to the top of the bag....I'd "hemmed" the top with a taped fold over seam. I think that I will use some rigidity for the next roll top - that blue 1cm plastic tie material that you see around boxes of 2500sheets of A4 paper in Officeworks.

I also think this dry bag would double as a pillow.....( just with air in it). Slightly crinkly, but better dimensions than a 10l wine cask.

Further info I found that relates to making cuben stuff is on

http://www.yamamountaingear.com/diy-cub ... uff-sacks/
And
http://www.suluk46.com/RandD%20-%20RD18 ... rybag.html

Thanks Simon. I've had a great afternoon!

A

[simonm]

Brilliant. You certainly don't waste any time Andrew.

Glad I could help.

[Redback]

Excellent work there Andrew. Did I read that right, are you taking a wine cask with you hiking?

Those dimensions look good for a nice comfy pillow. Some polar fleece sewn onto one side, a little wine...

[andrewa]

I've normally used a 10l cask as a pillow....and water bag.....and as part of my home made Packrafting PFD.

This ( with stiffener in roll top, so it doesn't unroll so easily, although i reckon the one ive made wouldnt unroll unless you sat on it ) would be a better pillow in terms of dimensions, but it is quite crinkly. You'd need a pillow cover..

A

[Nuts]

Nice job andrew, you'll be hooked!! Cuben undies next? : )
Maybe you could make a fleece or silk inner bag, thermarest make something similar (a stuff pillow) in nylon.

[andrewa]

Cuben undies! Somewhat see through!

A

[icefest]

Cuben undies! Somewhat see through!

A

But soooo light.

[Nuts]

I got the dyes for Cuben but chickened out on using them (they're pretty toxic) (and end up paisley)..
however, a permanent markers should work for camouflaging underpants.

[Onestepmore]

You don't muck around hun!
Nice job

[Giddy_up]

This cuben stuff sure does look great...........well done buddy. I would have typed your name but my computer chucks a hissy fit with it, sorry.

[andrewa]

Made a couple more roll top dry bags today. Very easy . No sewing. That's the impressive bit.

Looking fwd to the "no sew" Cuben quilt.....

A

[vorpal]

Good to see Simons gear going to good use. I wish I was this handy. 45 mins? I dare say after 2 hours I would just quit haha

[simonm]

Go on Ryan, you know you need some Cuben gear .

[simonm]

G'day Andrew,

Hope you had a nice Xmas.

Have you tested the waterproofness of the dry bag yet? I am about to have a crack at some dry bags this week. I made up some stuff sacks and am testing out a few different designs to test the durability, like reinforcing the inside and outside of the channel the cord runs through with Cuben Fiber tape not sure if it is needed but will see if it makes a difference.

Finished stuff sack 210mm x 150mm

5 grams with a 1.7 gram cord lock - needs a lighter cord lock

CF stuff sack weight.jpg (107.08 KiB) Viewed 28636 times

Not sure if this is needed, but when I made my first sack I thought the wear from the cord on the channel would be the weak point. I also created a cut out on the end of the channel to make it a bit neater.

[andrewa]

Hi Simon, mine appear waterproof, as they don't leak when filled with water. And the roll top bag holds air as well.

I think I initially linked to a site showing how to make cuben bags....the edges of the drawer string channel were just a triangular fold back, glued in place. If you can't find it, let me know, and I'll see if I can.

Currently sitting in Hawaii, so no MYO gear happening.

A

[Mark F]

Andrew, I suspect the link you mention is to Yama Mountain Gear.
http://www.yamamountaingear.com/diy-cuben-fiber-stuff-sacks/

[simonm]

Thanks Andrew and Mark I did follow Yama's method originally, but seeing the pics in that link I can see that I did something wrong on the end of the channel on my first effort, so there is probably no need for my cut out. Will try that method again and see how I go. I have to say though Yama is a master at work on the sewing machine and tapeing cuben.

Do you think there is a need to reinforce inside the channel with Cuben tape to reduce wear from the cord? I have not used Cuben stuff sacks before so don't know whether this is a weak point or not.

Edit: Actually it looks like Yama does have the reinforcement cuben backed tape in the channel - I missed that step before.

[andrewa]

Simon, I can't see the point in reinforcing it. You've got double layer cuben at each end, and, as long as the channel is wide enough, and the cord thin enough, the cord slides easily. I think you'd have issues if the channel is too narrow. The ones I've made had channels about 8mm wide, and work smoothly with 30lb fishing dacron braid, and some of Joe's mini cord locks. The braid has a smooth fairly low friction surface. I was also toying with using spectra 80lb braid, but it is thinner than the 30lb Dacron, and the cord locks won't grip as well.

A

[simonm]

Thanks Andrew. I have made a couple with and without reinforcement so will see if there is any difference over time. I have had a request to make a Cuben roll up organiser, which will be fun to make.

Now get back and enjoy Hawaii.

[simonm]

Here is my version of the Cuben dry bag. I used grosgrain at the top, which seems to work ok. There is a stiffer grosgrain which I am thinking of trying out next.

[Bluegum Mic]

If I buy one will it take me to there =D

[Strider]

Looks really good Simon!

[simonm]

If I buy one will it take me to there =D

Mic if you buy one I will take you there if you ever visit Tassie.

[simonm]

Looks really good Simon!

Thanks mate. Should have a final version done this weekend hopefully, with this grosgrain anyway. I would like to test the stiffer grosgrain to see if it is of any benefit. Though it does seem to seal quite well as it is. Anyway a bit of testing to do yet and get some feedback

[Strider]

Perhaps just use the stiffer grosgrain on one side?

[simonm]

Perhaps just use the stiffer grosgrain on one side?

I will see how it goes.

[andrewa]

One of my home made cuben fiber glued stuff sacks failed recently in NZ....I'd only glued the seams, but the bottom seams popped in recent trip.

So subsequent stuff sacks will now have bottom seam sewed before being taped.

My other glued roll top stuff sacks were fine....even used one for a water container for a few nights. I think it was just the pressure of stuffing a sleeping bag into the sack that ripped the seams....


A

[simonm]

That's interesting Andrew. How did you glue the bottom seam? Mine are double taped, which I am hoping adds some strength.

[andrewa]

Just used single layer of tape on a side to side join, but I do try to compress my sleeping bag a lot, so it gets a decent stuffing.

Also, somehow managed a triangular cut in the side of one stuffsack....presumably caught on something sharp, although I am normally very careful when using such light gear.....anyway, easy to fix with a Cuban fiber patch.

All my issues are easily fixed, but the purpose of the email was just some feedback regarding joining Cuban, esp for those making gear, so you can understand the limitations.

The tape on the sides of the stuffsack was fine, but I think I'll now reinforce the bottoms with some sewing, especially if using them to stuff something tightly into.

I was amazed that my roll top glued bag was entirely waterproof, and allowed me to to store 6-8 l of water in in overnight...as long as the top was supported to stop the water running out.

Will play more with Cuban soon...just been busy doing other things, like recent impromptu trip to Qtown for a week up the Lochy Valley fly fishing.

A

[simonm]

Now that is a good "busy" Andrew.