Filling a UQ with Primaloft Eductor Method

**Carolina Razorback** · 09-23-2011, 23:23

Does anyone know if this method will work with Primaloft like it does down? Thanks for any and all tutalege in advance!

**Otter1** · 09-24-2011, 07:12

I thought Primaloft (I know at least some like PL1) is in sheets like Climashield. You'd need to shred it which would suck and probably not be as warm, either.

WV · 09-24-2011, 07:37

I'd also like to know if anyone's tried this. I've accumulated scraps of insulation from a couple of projects, and the next insulated hammock will likely produce some odd-shaped left-overs. I expect something simple like a pillow or a hat would make a good test project.

**hangnout** · 09-24-2011, 08:31

If you did cut up your scraps it would be easy enough to put in by hand since the PL would not be light enough to float away like down.

I tried this on a small scale since I have a source for lots of climashield scraps

I think CL would be similar to primaloft used like this. The CL tends to clump together and not distribute very well. For a small pillow it would work but on a UQ you would have to stuff a lot (heavy) in to avoid cold spots from the clumping.

**Carolina Razorback** · 09-24-2011, 08:53

I was under the impression that climasheild was a sheet material but primaloft was a loose fill type. I bought 5 lbs of it for $40 shipped and by the description i felt that it was a loose fill. I guess i will see when it arrives. then again they did give a chart on on how much fill power for it to match the fill power of down. we shall see.

WV · 09-24-2011, 09:29

Originally Posted by Carolina Razorback

I was under the impression that climasheild was a sheet material but primaloft was a loose fill type. I bought 5 lbs of it for $40 shipped and by the description i felt that it was a loose fill. I guess i will see when it arrives. then again they did give a chart on on how much fill power for it to match the fill power of down. we shall see.

It's a sheet material, just not made from continuous fibers like Climashield. Are you sure you didn't buy 5 yards, not 5 pounds? Even if that's the case, you got a bargain. What was the source?

**sclittlefield** · 09-24-2011, 10:21

Originally Posted by Carolina Razorback

I was under the impression that climasheild was a sheet material but primaloft was a loose fill type. I bought 5 lbs of it for $40 shipped and by the description i felt that it was a loose fill. I guess i will see when it arrives. then again they did give a chart on on how much fill power for it to match the fill power of down. we shall see.

When it shows up, would you be able to snap a picture and post it? I've been really curious about this. I've only seen primaloft in sheet form and this 'baffles' me.

Here's the source (or, at least a source).
http://www.shopdownlite.com/wholesal...gs-p-3096.html

**PapaSmurf** · 09-24-2011, 11:07

I've also got some of this stuff on order and here's what I know so far.

Downlite is licensed by Albany Int'l to produce a loose fill made from Primaloft fibers called "PrimaLoft - Luxury Down Alternative".
Here's the press release. http://www.primaloft.com/pl-home/pre...ore%C2%AE.html

"PrimaLoft - Luxury Down Alternative" - It is a loose fill roughly equivalent to 550 fill power down with many of the same handling properties of down. Possibly the greatest advantage would be the ability to use it right alongside of IX without the worry of reducing insulating power due to wet insulation.

shopdownlite.com sells this fill in 5lb. batches for $35.00 + shipping.
http://www.shopdownlite.com/wholesal...gs-p-3096.html

My order with UPS Ground and sales tax came to $51.59 for 80 ounces or $0.644875 per ounce.

Cost comparison for approx 2.5" loft in underquilt
12oz of 800+ FP down at $6.50/oz = $78.00
6yds of 4oz. Primaloft at $10.95/yd = $65.70 (could save some by stitching pieces together)
18oz of Primaloft loose fill @ .644875/oz = $11.61

I'm currently thinking about an underquilt tutorial using this fill combined with IX for Scouts, Car campers, and folks who just can't afford the good stuff. Would there be interest in the HF community for heavier budget underquilts and top quilts?

WV · 09-24-2011, 11:48

PapaSmurf, that's great info. Thanks! I think your IX + Primaloft idea is a good one. My limited experience with synthetic underquilts leads me to think that the heavier the quilt, the harder it is to fit to the hammock without air gaps, but I see a real need for a cheap summer-weight UQ.

Hangnout, the scrim that comes with sheet Primaloft isn't bonded to it, and IMO its main benefit is to keep the rolled primaloft from tangling with adjacent layers as it's being unrolled and sewn to fabric. There's even a question about whether the scrim is necessary while sewing, once the insulation is unrolled. Thanks to RamblinRev I now know to put the fabric on top of the layer of insulation while sewing. It doesn't catch in the feed dogs, but I used to have problems with it catching on the presser foot doing it the old way with the insulation layer on top.

**nothermark** · 09-24-2011, 22:24

>snip<
I'm currently thinking about an underquilt tutorial using this fill combined with IX for Scouts, Car campers, and folks who just can't afford the good stuff. Would there be interest in the HF community for heavier budget underquilts and top quilts?[/QUOTE]

Also us folks looking at a lot of dampness. I just picked up a pair of poncho liners to play with. I'm starting to think of a multilayer TQ with a PL, "poncho" wind block layer, and a double wt PL equivalent. Mix and match as needed.