Wouldn't it be great if we had a continually updated catalogue of sources for materials in retail quantities?

Let's do it. Maybe when it gets going BPL can organize it.

YES!

I agree.

Here are some of mine:

Fabric Outdoor Specific:
www.cubenfiber.com (for the elusive Cuben)
http://owareusa.com/fabric.html
www.owfinc.com (Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics)
www.questoutfitters.com
www.therainshed.com
www.rockywoods.com
www.seattlefabrics.com
www.thru-hiker.com

Other fabric sources:
http://www.americanhomeandhabitat.com/products/Silk-iene%20Silicone%20Coated%20Nylon%20Ripstop.htm (1.1 oz silicone impregnated ripstop. Lots of color selection, higher prices

www.kitebuilder.com

www.noahlamport.com (industrial and recreational fabrics)

Other handy stuff:
www.aircraft-spruce.com (shrink Dacron and other unique stuff.

www.cstsales.com (The Composites Store - braided carbon fiber tubes and other goodies for making hiking poles, chopsticks, etc.) MAKE A CARBON FIBER SPORK!!!

www.johnsweet.com (resins and cloth for fiber reinforced plastic projects)

www.eagerplastics.com (low viscosity eposy resin (perfect for carbon fiber hiking poles)

www.mcmaster.com (titanium sheet)

http//onlinemetals.com (titanium rod

www.widgetsupply.com (the ultimate in odd tools. Lots of Dremmel stuff like pin chucks for holding tiny bits.

www.thaisilks.com for Chinese Habotai silk

Edited by vickrhines on 12/05/2005 08:31:57 MST.

you may want to add http://www.fibraplex.com/

and http://www.raggedmountain.com/products.php?cat=176

Edited by ryanf on 11/30/2005 16:54:02 MST.

Ryan and everyone,
Give a little information on what category a source falls into or a short statement of their gig.

sewing markers and pens a visual of the types of easy to use sewing markers and pens one can find at a sewing store.

examples of sewing tracing paper examples of tracing paper for sewing projects. The marks wash off. This could be also useful for people developing and testing patterns for metal stoves.

description of what metalized fabric can do This could be, but I'm not sure, the manufacturer of the heat and solar reflective 1.3 oz ripstop now sold at Seattle Fabrics

Small titanium sheets at Thru-Hiker
Miniature cable rigging supplies Fishing wire is miniature aircraft cable. Cabelas has a great selection of fishing rigging supplies in larger quanities and better prices than most local sources. Tackle such as the crimps/thimbles shown in the link, nylon coated wire, snap swivels are strong and light materials to assemble and attach more than just fishing gear. Snap swivels are old- timey, ultralight, miniature carabiners like safety pins.


not material but nice to know for planning:
nifty weather forcasting stuff from NOAA click on map

Sun or Moon Rise/Set Table for One Year

Sun or Moon Rise/Set Data for One Day

Edited by catamountain on 12/05/2005 18:31:56 MST.

Damn Vick.... Your the Man!

Thanks for sharing your outstanding materials sourcing list.

Ps: I’ll email you inventory on the Epic tomorrow night

Regards

Joy and crew,

Feathered Friends informed me last week that they no longer sell down or fabric retail.

Thanks for putting in the hotlinks.

thru-hiker sells 800+ fill power down

Edited by jcolten on 12/05/2005 09:23:31 MST.

Knotable titanium wire
Short lengths of titanium cable 30 lb and 50lb fishing leaders

A nice article on machining titanium. Most people would only need to know that cobalt drill bits work better than high speed steel and either aluminum oxide or silicon carbide grinding discs would work OK in their dremel or flex-shaft (I bought a box of 100 as they wear down fast). But for those people who have access to a machine shop or plan to jig up their flex-shaft to work like a miniature tablesaw, more technical info is needed. Other articles like this are online.

For some inspiration on what to do with titanium rods check out the patened hinge designs on Lindberg frames. I have owned the Air frame since the early 90s. The twisted hinge part on the bow terminates in just the right spot so the bows do not open more than 90°. The titanium used in the frames is 75% thinner than the rod sold here on BPL, and it is laminated to achieve the three hardnesses. So don't expect the same results at home. But some interesting things can still be designed at home.

Edited by catamountain on 12/05/2005 20:00:24 MST.

Harbor Freight sells a motley collection of treasure to dud tools. The Hand Punch, item 44060-2VGA, is a cheap little Chinese jem. It punches holes in most metal, but titanium sheets would most probably tear up the dies. According to a former Boeing engineer, they would drill holes with cobalt steel bits instead of using punches. He shuddered a little when I mentioned Harbor Freight and titanium in the same sentence. The thin foil sold on BPL might be OK.

Edited by catamountain on 12/06/2005 22:42:02 MST.

The Harbor Freight punch will work on the .016" Titanium sheet sold by Thru-Hiker.com. I use it all the time and also use it for larger holes by making the smaller holes close and then trimming the hole larger with my tin snips. Great tool 5/5.

Glad to hear.

Micromark sells modelmaking tools. Item 82816 is a bending brake insert for a vise. Item 81477 is a hand nibbler.

Several years ago I bought a large cone of Nomex sewing thread at a military surplus store for $5. It sews just like regular polyester thread but much stronger.

Hot knife tip sold at owfinc.com

Edited by catamountain on 12/10/2005 17:08:24 MST.

Here's something we may need a source on:

MULETAPE, a flat kevlar tape used for pulling cable. 1/4" comes in 2 thicknesses good for 1250 and 1500 pounds, and would make really good bear line. The 3/8" versions (two) will handle 1800 and 2000 pounds. I've been using used 3/8 for hammock lines. Fifty feet of the 3/8" weighs 2.5 oz.

Unfortunately, the product is sold only through distributers with a usual minimum of 3,000 feet. I salvaged mine from a cable installation.

Here's the manufacturer's site:
MULETAPE

Edited by vickrhines on 12/18/2005 13:38:38 MST.

PLASTIC SNAPS
Super light, proven on outdoor gear, but the ones in fabric stores are not strong enough to hold toilet paper.

Has anyone found a good plastic snap for do-it-yourselfers?

The only decent ones I've found are from snapfastener.com which require an expensive bench press and dies ($500)as well as a 2,000 unit minimum ($50). So these aren't practical.

Edited by vickrhines on 12/22/2005 08:03:41 MST.

Titatium Goat $15 / sqft (Listed Thickness 0.005" / 0.127 mm)

Josh,
I copied these from another post of yours, but the URL's didn't come over.

Note that 1400 series Tyvek is very different from Homewrap according to DuPont.

V

Dancing Light Gear - Standard Housewrap

Backpacker Camper - Standard Housewrap (I think)
(Also sells tyvek ponchos)

Into the Wind - 1422R 1.15oz "Kite Tyvek"

Quest Outfitters - 1443R 1.25oz "Kite Tyvek"

Kitebuilder.com - 1443R 1.25oz "Kite Tyvek"

Edited by vickrhines on 12/31/2005 12:53:11 MST.

Seattle Fabrics sells heat sealable fabric:

http://www.seattlefabrics.com/nylons.html#heat%20sealable%20taffeta

Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics:
owfinc.com
sells heat sealing, coated nylon.