Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12
  1. #1
    Senior Member Kapang!'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Sac, CA
    Hammock
    SLD Streamliner
    Tarp
    Zpacks 8x11
    Insulation
    E.E. RevelationX
    Posts
    463

    Help. I can't let my old bag die.

    I do not sew. My nearly 20 year old 0 degree down bag has too many patches, a busted zipper and is losing feathers. I've been through hell with this bag. I love it. I just can't see throwing it away. I'm in talks with one of the vendors about re-purposing the bag into a quilt. But, he said that I would need to harvest the down myself, because its messy and time consuming. So here are my questions:
    1) What's the best method for removing the down from the bag?
    2) Do I just need to let it go?
    3) Are there options I'm not thinking of?

    Thanks in advance. I love this forum...................

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    El Paso,TX
    Hammock
    WBBB DL
    Tarp
    Superfly
    Insulation
    KAQ, HG
    Suspension
    Webbing, Whoopies
    Posts
    98
    I feel your pain. I have a threadbare North Face Bigfoot I bought from yard mowing money in the mid 70's. I had to put it down. I still haven't disposed of it. But, I did find a mint 80's version on Ebay for 72 dollars shipped....

    As to your question. A friend, who was a great seamstress, told me the way she harvested down from coats and sleeping bags was to put a new bag in a vacuum cleaner and then carefully suck the down out of the donor. Then you can put the bag into a large ziploc bag(s) and cut the vacuum cleaner bag open and empty. Never watched her perform the surgery but seems like it would work.

    Andy
    Last edited by Full_timer; 08-12-2012 at 12:05.
    Friends don't let friends sleep on the ground.

    My favorite data mining thread:
    http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=55659

  3. #3
    Senior Member dragon360's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Toronto, ON
    Hammock
    WBBB/TR, DIY, HH, SB DL, GT UL
    Tarp
    ID/OES/WB/WL
    Insulation
    HG/WB/Go-Lite/WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie/Straps/DW
    Posts
    4,704
    Images
    1
    Interesting way of doing it!
    The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering. - St. Augustine

    Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.
    - Bob Marley

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Cocoa, FL.
    Hammock
    Dream Hammock
    Tarp
    OES Four Season
    Insulation
    LeighLo FL UQ 72"
    Suspension
    WhoopieSlings
    Posts
    55

    Don't let it die!

    You might give these people a call about your down sleeping bag. I had them clean my 30 year old Camp 7 down bag and it came back like it was new. Renewed loft and clean. They are nice to do business with.

    http://www.rainypass.com

  5. #5
    If you really cant let it go...

    Then turn it into a Under Quilt like this guy did:
    http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=44808

  6. #6
    Senior Member Kapang!'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Sac, CA
    Hammock
    SLD Streamliner
    Tarp
    Zpacks 8x11
    Insulation
    E.E. RevelationX
    Posts
    463
    Quote Originally Posted by vinny View Post
    If you really cant let it go...

    Then turn it into a Under Quilt like this guy did:
    http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=44808
    I don't sew and it's losing feathers from the seams, i believe. It's hard to tell. They just magically appear. It really needs a new shell.

    Thanks for the suggestions, fellas. I'll, most likely, try the vac method. Although, I'm trying to picture sucking the feathers out without constantly sucking in the nylon, as well.

    One thought I had. Could I get the whole thing wet and try to move the down out by hand? Then, put it in a breathable bag and let it sun dry with alot of shaking and turning. It's really hot and sunny out here.

  7. #7
    Senior Member JohnSawyer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Hammock
    WB RidgeRunner
    Tarp
    8x10 DIY (speer)
    Insulation
    KAQ Lost River
    Suspension
    Straps
    Posts
    4,631
    Images
    108
    Manipulating wet down is not a lot of fun.

    The Vacuum method works well. Another, more mangeable vacuum method is to take an extension hose and put a piece of noseeum in the joint. WHen you vacuum it up, you get a hose full of down which can be transferred (don't blow!) with a stick into a plastic bag...

    I tried a clean shop vac, but when I opened it, it overflowed...
    "Do or do not, there is no try." -- Yoda


  8. #8
    Senior Member Kapang!'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Sac, CA
    Hammock
    SLD Streamliner
    Tarp
    Zpacks 8x11
    Insulation
    E.E. RevelationX
    Posts
    463
    My vendor suggested putting a mesh bag in the shop vac. I like your method, too, John.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Kapang!'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Sac, CA
    Hammock
    SLD Streamliner
    Tarp
    Zpacks 8x11
    Insulation
    E.E. RevelationX
    Posts
    463
    Well, this is a disaster. The stuff has no respect for the law of gravity. I'm using a small shop vac. One baffle filled it. The transfer to bag is nearly impossible. I'm gonna try a couple of different things. But, as of now, my wife's gonna be pissed. Little feathers all over the garage.

  10. #10
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    White Mountains, New Hampshire
    Hammock
    DIY, WBBB & Switchback
    Tarp
    HG cuben,OES Spinn
    Insulation
    DIY 3/4 UQ/TQ, UGQ
    Suspension
    Dynaglide / Dutch
    Posts
    10,950
    Images
    39
    Quick! Go buy a chicken and put it in the garage. Then blame it all on the chicken! Hey, you may even get chicken soup out of the deal
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •