I visited a friend yesterday and showed him the GVP G4 Scout pack (made almost entirely of recycled materials) I made for my son, and my current project: The FrankenHammock / DIY WBBB.
He rushed off to the garage and said "follow me", and emerged with a huge sail or wing (not sure of the right term) from a hang glider.
Then he went in the house and pulled a parachute of some sort out of a closet. It may be one that they used to tow behind their boat. Is that called a parasail? (no, not a normal boat... a high performance boat made for towing a parachute... like you'd see at a resort.)
Parachute pictures:
He gave them both to me so that I could a) study the construction techniques, as both are obviously used in perilous conditions where integrity is very critical and construction methods are well thought out, and b) as a source of raw materials for future projects.
Both items were very actively used and are considered "worn out", although to my untrained eye they look fine.
While part of me hates to cut up such well crafted items, the eco-weenie in me is tickled at the chance to keep some great materials out of the land fill and give them new life.
So, the question is... what to make with the wing and parachute?
I haven't had time yet to lay them out and measure them, or even get a look at their shapes. Both were folded when I got them, and I won't have time to really look at them for a couple of days. The creative side of my brain is in overload!
I wonder if the wing will work as a base camp tarp?
Talk about a conversation piece!
Way too big and heavy for packing,
The parachute has spectra for the weight bearing lines. The main body looks similar in weight to the 1.1 silnylon I have. Also a few straps and
He also threw the cloth cover from a towable tube (like you'd pull behind a ski boat) on the pile, which I think will be a great donor for durable cloth like the bottom of packs.
So, what would you make?
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Originally Posted by Rat
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