cuben fiber corp also makes cuben fabric in heavier strips (tape) something like this would be an option too, i don't know if you would want cuben against bark though, maybe some of the fabric on the outside and cuben tape as a core?
cuben fiber corp also makes cuben fabric in heavier strips (tape) something like this would be an option too, i don't know if you would want cuben against bark though, maybe some of the fabric on the outside and cuben tape as a core?
sailmaking tape would be good for "laminating" layers together. the c3 tape seems really good, i've used it to make permanent stick on patches.
if that fabric has spectra fibers running at a diagonal, would you not have to cut your strips following the spectra fiber? if you cut them any other way, the reinforcement fibers wouldn't actually take the load.
koaloha05, If I go to Cuben I plan to sew, I really don't trust the tape, especially for significantly stressed joins. I've sewn Cuben without any problem making a pack cover, bivy and some stuff sacks. Never have used the tape. Anyway, I plan to test the Dyneema strap tomorrow if the weather cooperates and will post my results.
SlowBro
warbonnetguy, The white spectra threads run the length of the strip and at right angles, but not diagonally so I am counting on the longitudinal ones to do the heavy lifting. The Dyneema X Gridstop fabric does have what appears to be a set of thicker nylon threads running diagonally that make up the "X" in the name. I am not expecting them to do anything.
That is a great idea to use the Cuben tape for laminating. I will consider that if I go to Cuben, but I'm not sure I would be comfortable with joining overlapping strips end to end. The Cuben should be fine on the bark unless it is too slick. It has good abrasion resistance, but is easily punctured which, although is important for waterproofing, is not important with a strap as I see it.
-SlowBro
the cuben strips should come in long lengths, that way you wouldn't need to sew pieces together to get 10 ft. you could then sew or tape the full length layers together.
you're probably right, the mylar might get nessed up, but that's not really the structural component.
good luck whichever way you do it.
when you sew cuben, and there is stress on that seam, it is transfered from mylar to mylar, not from spectra fiber to spectra fiber, those seams are fine because there isn't much load being transfered across the seam, if there were, the stitches would likely rip right out of the mylar, which could happen with the webbing unless you use full length pieces.
i don't think the reinforcement fibers will take the load, the stitching will be the weak point. the spectra fibers aren't connected through the seam, so they won't take/transfer the load, it will go to whatever the stitches actually pierce. in this case regular nylon fabric, which may indeed be strong enough, but will be stretchy unlike it would be if it had full length stretch resistent fibers holding the weight. it would be like getting a full length piece of this stuff and going through every 60" with a pair of sicissors and snipping all the reinforcement fibers.
Hang low over a crash pad until you are well convinced it will be safe.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
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