This is my first DIY, First forum post, so please forgive any faux pas and/or ambiguity in this.
I have generally lurked online and read many a forum on a wide variety of topics, and never really participated. But watching Shug's videos and reading the hammock forums here, I thought I would give it a try.
I wanted to protect my food from bears and other critters, but never wanted to lug the large hard sided containers about. I used the PCT hang method to protect the tasties, but finding a suitable branch could take some time. I saw an Ursack in a video, and it I knew it was what I wanted. Being frugal(pronounced "cheap") I balked at the $90 price tag. I knew the bag was made of a tough synthetic material like Kevlar, and knew where to get that for free. Used air bags. I happen to know of several collision repair shops, so I walked in and asked. And ended up with everything I could of wanted. I got a huge piece of multilayer Kevlar curtain airbag. It was coated with silicone rubber on both sides, so It was silicon/Kevlar/Kevlar/silicone. It was also bonded on the interior to make pockets for the bag. I tried separating the Kevlar layers, but there was no seam to unstitch, no adhesive to unbond, and my heat gun was ineffective.
The material itself proved very difficult to cut, puncture, and wouldn't melt with my heat gun (800° I use it to reflow solder). Yeah tough stuff, and waterproof. I decided to leave the 2 pieces together, it was tougher together anyway.
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Materials are:
Curtain Airbag
Upholstery or leather craft thread
Sewing machine
Scissors
Synthetic rope (I used 10mm static climbing rope)
1. After trimming off the ragged pieces and metal tabs and combustion chambers I cut it into a rectangle.
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2. I then sewed a channel at the top for the cinching rope.
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3. I then folded the bag with the outside of the bag facing inward; I sewed around the outside of the bag, careful not to sew the rope channel shut. I haven't sewn since high school (back when we wore furs and hunted mammoths) and I learned a lesson on thread tension. I thought it was the machine, so I switched to my wife's industrial Juki, but nope, just get the tension right. (please excuse my poor sewing seam)
4. I inverted the bag so the right side was out and made another seam along the outer edge, again making sure not to sew the rope channel shut. This seam is for strength.
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5. I then threaded the 10mm static line through. Done
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Remember to tie the cinch with a double overhand and hang from tree with a square knot.
Afterward, I wanted to do some testing; I am not a small man and lift weights, but not a bear (but the closest bear analog I had). I tried tearing the bag, stood on one lip and using my hands, pulled on the other, I tried kicking the bottom out of the bag. The leather craft thread and the dual layer Kevlar was super tough and did not tear or deform.
Disclaimer: I am not a bear, nor has this bag been tested by a bear. I cannot claim this bag is bear proof or even bear resistant. I will come back and edit this post if the bag is attacked by a bear, and let you know. As always follow the local regulations concerning bear safety and food storage.
-UltraZim
"No matter where you go; There you are." -BB
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Originally Posted by UltraZim
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