About a year ago, I purchased a DIY Cuben fiber stuff sack kit from Yama Mountain Works. After watching his how to video several times to figure out how to make the sacks ( the video does not have a soundtrack ), I made my first of several cuben fiber stuff sacks and found out that it was not that hard. The sacks might not have perfectly flat and or perfectly straight seams but they work and I had fun doing it. Yama Mt Gear has since added step by step instructions with pictures to his web site here....http://www.yamamountaingear.com/diy-...r-stuff-sacks/on how to make the stuff sacks along with a new how to video. I strongly encourage you to watch the how to video several times before you start. You can find several other working with cuben fiber related videos on Youtube.
After making some more cuben stuff sacks, I got the idea of making a double ended stuff sack out of cuben. If you want to purchase one, Zpacks is the only company I know of selling them and theirs is advertised for use with their tarps so I do not know how well it would work for use with a hammock. It is very close in size to the ones I made and the price is very reasonable so it should work as a hammock stuff sack.
I am sure that the methods I used are not the only way to make these stuff sacks, its just the way I made them. Also there is no sewing involved in the construction of these sacks.
For the most part my project construction methods are the same as shown on Yama Mt Gear except I used 3M Adhesive Primer. The Primer promotes a much stronger bond between the adhesive tape and the cuben fiber and it ( or a variation of it ) is used in the construction of some if not all cuben fiber tarps. I have used the 3M Primer over the years and once 3M Tape sticks to it, it is very hard to get it to come off.
I started by measuring the double ended stuff sack that came with my Warbonnet BlackBird Hammock which works out to about 17” long by 9“ wide when laid out flat. I have made many double end stuff sacks out of ripstop and worked out that a 18” x 18” piece of material gets me fairly close to the size of the Warbonnet sack when you take into account seam allowances and the size of the drawstring channels. I figured that if worked with the ripstop, why change things at this point unless I needed to drastically change the size of the bag. I did make the second stuff sack using a 18” x 19” piece of cuben.
Taking your time, you can make complete your project in under an hour. Once you have done one, it will only take about 15 minutes to make another one.
Materials used....
- Cuben Fiber ….0.51 oz Cuben Fiber from RipStopByTheRoll ( Light gray, semi-transparent ) for main body of sack. There are several other sources. You can use a heavier weight material if you want.
- Cuben Fiber Seam Tape / Repair Tape for re enforcement of corners from Zpacks..optional
- 2 Mini Cord Locks.....EBay. You can use any cord locks you want.
- Braided Mason Line.....Lowes Hardware or any other line you want to use. Just make sure it will fit you cord locks.
- 3M ...VHB Double Sided Adhesive Transfer Tape ..EBay
- 3M ….94 Primer – Ebay ….optional
- Cheap paint brush ….optional
I recommend using a large cutting mat for cutting your materiel on as the the measurements on the board will help keep your lines straight when cutting material and lining up seams. You will also need a good straight edge.
You can cut the cuben fiber with scissors, razor blade or a rotary cutter. I prefer a rotary blade and a long straight edge.
If you need to place reference marks on the cuben fiber, you can use a # 2 pencil and or a fine point black magic marker. I use a pencil.
I always use a seam roller ( as shown in the pictures ) to ensure I am getting a good bond between the adhesive tape and the cuben fiber.Please be sure to do so each time you place a piece of adhesive tape on the cuben fiber. If you do not have a roller, you can use your finger nails. Be sure and get both sides.
While you do not have to use the 3M Primer, I recommend you do so to ensure a strong bond.
Where ever you place the adhesive tape on the cuben fiber, a bit of adhesive might squeeze out when pressed. Just use the ball of your thumb to rub off the excess adhesive.
I started off by cutting the Cuben Fiber to a 18” x 18” size.
I then folded all four corners over using my cutting board as a guide for the fold to form a triangle of 2” long on the sides. This sidewill be the inside of the stuff sack. I used seam roller to make sure the cuben fiber had a nice crease. I then added two pieces ofadhesive tape to the bottom side of the triangle. I then removed the tape backing and pressed it into the cuben fiber. Repeat on the other three corners. I did not use the 3M Primer on this part as there is little if any stress on the folded corners
I then painted on a thin layer of 3M Primer 1/2" wide along one length of the cuben fiber, waited a few minutes to allow the Primer to dry.Then I cut a piece of 3M adhesive tape and place the sticky side on the cuben fiber. I then turned the cuben fiber over and pressed it to ensure a good bond.
I then cut a long piece of braided mason line for the drawstring. I like to insert the drawstring while I am making the channels as it saves the hassle of trying to thread it through the channel after the fact.
Next I folded the cuben fiber over using the cutting board as a reference to make sure that the location of the fold would allow enough room for the drawstring channel. Once I had determined the spacing for the channel ( about 1/4 of an inch ), I laid a piece of blue painters tape along the mark to ensure a straight edge and then painted on a 1/2” wide strip of 3M Primer where the adhesive tape would go. I allow a few minutes for the Primer to dry and then peel back the tape and using the blue painters tape as a guide, pressed the adhesive tape into place. Repeat on the other side. Be sure to remove the blue tape. You do not have to use the blue tape, it just acts a reference line.
If the drawstring gets stuck on the adhesive inside the channel, tug gently on the drawstring to break it free. Be careful not to pull the drawstring out of the channel.
Now you need to tape up the long side to finish the stuff sack. There are two ways to do this. One is to use the method shown on the Yama Mt Gear's how to make a stuff sack. The other is to off set the tape on the top and bottom of the cuben ( see my crude picture in the third post ). The first method will give you a slightly thicker seam and slightly reduces the circumference of the sack and the second method will give you a thinner seam and make for a larger circumference. Both methods work so you just have to decide which system works best for you.
My finished stuff sacks weigh in at.......
Sack # 1.....0.4 ounces or 11 grams and is 15.5” Long and 8” wide (from the 18” x 18” piece of cuben )
Sack# 2 …...0.5 ounces of 14 grams and is 16.75” Long and 9” wide (from the 18” x 19” piece of cuben )
Here is a link to the places I have found that sell cuben fiber and cuben fiber tape.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1smRvLm6NB-wyi6tIDdkIQaH4-g7cKBlKwunjSAfxhys/edit?usp=sharing
The 3M Primer and 3M Adhesive tape was purchased thru EBay
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks