Cuben Fibre

[simonm]

Hi guys,

I am looking into importing some Cuben Fibre and have found there are a number of different weights. Which one would you want stocked?

See here for http://www.zpacks.com/materials.shtml.

[Davidf61]

Not that I'm any authority on the cuben, but a quick search around the place suggests the .51 and .70 are the most popular size.

As some have mentioned, happy to pay the price for the material, if we can slash the postage cost I think you'd be onto a winner.

[icefest]

Considering that you could send a cuben stuff sack MYOG kit in a normal envelope for 60c, it sounds pretty incredible.

[andrewa]

Youve asked, but im not sure that my answer will be that useful to you. I would want all weights available, as each would be useful in my forthcoming projects.

I have a hexamid twin, which I love, and I also own 5m of the 0.5 wt, which I am going to use to make an extended covered vestibule type Arrangement that is more suitable to my needs than that offered by Joe. Other projects from cuben would be a tarp made from 0.3? Wt, and some stuff sacks and parts of a rucksac from the 0.7wt......and I think you can also get a heavier wt too, can't you, like 1.4, which I'd find useful for other parts of rucksack.

Sorry.....

Andrew A

[simonm]

Youve asked, but im not sure that my answer will be that useful to you. I would want all weights available, as each would be useful in my forthcoming projects.

I have a hexamid twin, which I love, and I also own 5m of the 0.5 wt, which I am going to use to make an extended covered vestibule type Arrangement that is more suitable to my needs than that offered by Joe. Other projects from cuben would be a tarp made from 0.3? Wt, and some stuff sacks and parts of a rucksac from the 0.7wt......and I think you can also get a heavier wt too, can't you, like 1.4, which I'd find useful for other parts of rucksack.

Sorry.....

Andrew A

You are right that is not helpful at all .

Mate if I could I would stock a variety, it is just not possible at this stage. Well it is actually possible but I am pretty sure I would be divorced in the process, and yes that is a bad thing

[simonm]

Not that I'm any authority on the cuben, but a quick search around the place suggests the .51 and .70 are the most popular size.

As some have mentioned, happy to pay the price for the material, if we can slash the postage cost I think you'd be onto a winner.

Postage will definitely be slashed, whether we can supply it for the same or similar retail price will be the ultimate test. This will depend on a couple of things but I am working on it.

[andrewa]

Simon, I realise my response wasn't helpful!

But it was a response from someone who does a lot of MYOG, and is used to sourcing the best materials "wherever".

I'm not sure what your business is, but will have a google search after this. I think to sell this sort of stuff in Oz, you'd need to ensure that any Internet search engine puts you right up there on the first page, and even then, Oz is a small market for MYOG.....look back through this forum category, and you'll get a good idea of who is doing it, and what they are making stuff from .....cuben is "out there", so not for the first time seamster/seamstress.

I've been making most of my outsoor gear for 25 yrs, since I worked in Mt Designs as a student. I have made most of my stuff for the intellectual satisfaction.....like a differentially cut down jacket, including differentially cut arms , back in the 80's ( very hard to get your head around this), but nowadays my sewing is largely orientated to designs specific for my needs - eg Packrafting and fly fishing/ ski touring etc. ive made half a dozen sleeping bags and rucksacks, but some of the recent down gear available on sale is miles cheaper than I can design and make......sadly.

I till love to sew, but sometimes it isn't worth it. I'm better with my day job.

Andrew A

[simonm]

Simon, I realise my response wasn't helpful!

But it was a response from someone who does a lot of MYOG, and is used to sourcing the best materials "wherever".

I'm not sure what your business is, but will have a google search after this. I think to sell this sort of stuff in Oz, you'd need to ensure that any Internet search engine puts you right up there on the first page, and even then, Oz is a small market for MYOG.....look back through this forum category, and you'll get a good idea of who is doing it, and what they are making stuff from .....cuben is "out there", so not for the first time seamster/seamstress.

I've been making most of my outsoor gear for 25 yrs, since I worked in Mt Designs as a student. I have made most of my stuff for the intellectual satisfaction.....like a differentially cut down jacket, including differentially cut arms , back in the 80's ( very hard to get your head around this), but nowadays my sewing is largely orientated to designs specific for my needs - eg Packrafting and fly fishing/ ski touring etc. ive made half a dozen sleeping bags and rucksacks, but some of the recent down gear available on sale is miles cheaper than I can design and make......sadly.

I till love to sew, but sometimes it isn't worth it. I'm better with my day job.

Andrew A

All good Andrew, I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. My website is just kicking off, there is another thread on here about it. I am not sure what the forum rules are re:business promotion so I won't say too much in this thread .

I know the MYOG community is quite small at present but i do know they are a passionate bunch, and I thought it would be good to have a local alternative to supplement the gear we get from overseas. Hence why I have run with it. It's a bit of a risk, but man I am enjoying it at present, and I haven't even sold anything yet .

The more we talk about MYOG though the more others will give it a go I reckon. It is such an enjoyable practice, and I have only just begun down that path myself.

All the best

Simon

[andrewa]

Simon, I don't know the rules about associated interests either.....I thought you only needed to ensure you made it clear you have a business, as was clear to me when I read your post.

I'm a doctor, so I have no associated interests. I just love redesigning things, and making alterntives that suit my specific purposes.

Andrew A

[KANANGRABOYD]

If you can get it in, plus the different colors that would be awesome!
-.51
-.74
- 1.43
and DEFINITELY hybrid

[andrewa]

KB. Time for a long trip AWAY from sewing machine!

A

[icefest]

I do not think colors are that important at the start. That being said lighter colors would be preferable. Set up a vote in the equipment forums to find the first weight to stock (I'd suggest .75 or .5 as you can sell longer lengths to tarp makers and stuff sack makers)

[DannyS]

Simon I've sent you a PM, not sure of forum rules regarding businesses?

Cheers,

Danny

[simonm]

If you can get it in, plus the different colors that would be awesome!
-.51
-.74
- 1.43
and DEFINITELY hybrid

That would be nice

[simonm]

I do not think colors are that important at the start. That being said lighter colors would be preferable. Set up a vote in the equipment forums to find the first weight to stock (I'd suggest .75 or .5 as you can sell longer lengths to tarp makers and stuff sack makers)

I agree I think the lighter colours are preferable.

[simonm]

Simon I've sent you a PM, not sure of forum rules regarding businesses?

Cheers,

Danny

Replied

[Moondog55]

While I will never be able to afford enough Cuben fiber to sew/glue up a tent I would be very interested in enough to make reinforcing patches when I make my next tarp.
So I would hazard a guess that the heaviest weight would be best for that purpose.
My needs to would be satisfied by a section 300*300mm

[simonm]

While I will never be able to afford enough Cuben fiber to sew/glue up a tent I would be very interested in enough to make reinforcing patches when I make my next tarp.
So I would hazard a guess that the heaviest weight would be best for that purpose.
My needs to would be satisfied by a section 300*300mm

Noted .

[Joomy]

I just bought some .51 along with tape for making stuff sacks. It's great but I definitely don't expect them to last for more than a few years. .7 or 1.0 would make for much more durable stuff sacks and very light packs and tent fly fabric. Personally I wouldn't make a pack out of anything lighter than 1.43, and I would love to make some stuff out of the Hybrid fabric.

So, if it were up to me, for pack/sack making I'd get .51, and Hybrid. But if I were making a shelter I'd want .7 and 1.0 (floor). No perfect solution.

(mod- double/duplicate post removed)

[ULWalkingPhil]

I just bought some .51 along with tape for making stuff sacks. It's great but I definitely don't expect them to last for more than a few years. .7 or 1.0 would make for much more durable stuff sacks and very light packs and tent fly fabric. Personally I wouldn't make a pack out of anything lighter than 1.43, and I would love to make some stuff out of the Hybrid fabric.

So, if it were up to me, for pack/sack making I'd get .51, and Hybrid. But if I were making a shelter I'd want .7 and 1.0 (floor). No perfect solution.

(mod- double/duplicate post removed)

I will be keen to see if you get 3 years out of .51 cuben as a stuff sack. I would like to make some stuff sacks out of .7 or 1.0 for durability.

[Joomy]

I will be keen to see if you get 3 years out of .51 cuben as a stuff sack.

Yeah I'm interesting to see. .7 might be the optimal choice, but Joe from Zpacks reckons the .51 lasts quite well -- enough for a long thru hike (3-4 months?), which is likely more use than I would put on them over several years.

[simonm]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

My supplier seems to have gone missing over the last few days - extra long weekend perhaps?? I am still awaiting confirmation of postage costs, and availability of .51 and .7 in the lighter colours.

[ULWalkingPhil]

I will be keen to see if you get 3 years out of .51 cuben as a stuff sack.

Yeah I'm interesting to see. .7 might be the optimal choice, but Joe from Zpacks reckons the .51 lasts quite well -- enough for a long thru hike (3-4 months?), which is likely more use than I would put on them over several years.

Joe would certainly know. The strength is certainly there, It's not the strength you need to worry about it's the abrasion resistance at that weight. I would have thought the rubbing inside the pack would eventually wear through the cuben. I guess It depends how you pack.

[ULWalkingPhil]

I own a Hammock Gear .51 Cuben Tarp, it's been getting a fair bit of use of late and I've never had any issues with it, it's very strong. I make sure there's no trees or branches rubbing against the tarp. There's a few area's I frequent at certain times of the year, Due to weather conditions I wouldn't take it, higher risk of fallen branches poking a hole in my Cuben tarp. I don't thing .51 cuben would handle fallen twigs or branches as well as silnylon.

[simonm]

The Cuben Fibre we are looking at comes in difefrent coatings .08 and .18. The .7 has the .18 coating which is known to be more abrasion resistant, while the .51 has the .08 coating which has less abrasion resistance but is lighter in weight.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Not just an advantage in weight savings, Cuben is also very easy to repair out in the field, I bit of tape is all that's required.

[Joomy]

Joe would certainly know. The strength is certainly there, It's not the strength you need to worry about it's the abrasion resistance at that weight. I would have thought the rubbing inside the pack would eventually wear through the cuben. I guess It depends how you pack.

Well I would think the only reason you would ever damage a stuff sack would be through abrasion -- either from the contents or the draw cord. I've heard reports that doubling the fabric at the draw cord entrance is sufficient to prevent failure there, so yes it would be abrasion from the pack against corners of a mat or something that would do it. That said, cuben is very slippery stuff so that will minimise wear hopefully. If I need to patch a sack or two every few trips I won't be too disappointed. If I have to patch them after every trip that would be annoying.

Not just an advantage in weight savings, Cuben is also very easy to repair out in the field, I bit of tape is all that's required.

This is a really good point. Sil-nylon is a pain to patch whereas cuben is dead easy. Duct tape or tenacious tape reportedly work well, but I will probably just take some home-made cuben patches with me now.

[icefest]

As simonm was saying they come in different thickness' (both mylar and dyneema).
I'm sure many of you have seen this BPL thread but for those who have not, here is an explanation of the product naming scheme:

This is an old product sheet:

[simonm]

The latest figures i have is that the 25gsm (.75 oz/yd) now comes with the .18 coating and is classified CT1K.18.

Whlist the 18gsm (.5 oz/yd) is classified CT1E.08.

[simonm]

Oh and for those who like to save a few dollars the 25gsm (.75oz/yd) is approximately $1.30 per metre cheaper than the 18gsm (.5 oz/yd).