DIY Gear porn thread

214728 Views 684 Replies 138 Participants Last post by BastrdSonOfElvis, 7 h ago

missiongravity

Discussion Starter · Apr 5, 2018

8

I am a person who enjoys making their own gear and I am sure many of you others are as well! Let's see those homemade drop bags, drag bags, tables, utensil holders etc. DISCLAIMER: I am not a gear company looking to rip your designs etc, just a guy who has a sewing machine and likes sitting in front of it!

Here are a few items I have made lately. Don't have any pics of my drop bags or gear bags but will try and get some.

Drag Bags(first design):

Map Book Case:

Sand Stake:

Med Kit:

Cup Holder:

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MT4Runner

· #62 · May 16, 2018

MountainmanPete said:
Great thread! I’m still interested in building my own oars. Have good, straight, clear Douglas Fir that I can use for the endeavor. What I’m not clear on is how to round out the shafts and particularly how to articulate the grips. Other suggestions I could use are how to treat/protect the blades (epoxy, fiberglass, plastidip, heat shrink, etc. I’m thinking pins and clips would be more straight forward than sleeves. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I have a 10' set of Doug Fir wood oars that has been running strong for 13 years, and a 9.5' set of oars going on year 9.

one has a cracked blade (fixable) and one now has a cracked shaft (maybe retired) where the grain ran off the wood....but considering 6 total oars and a few hundred river days, I'm not unhappy!

I'll add some pics.

#1: find good lumber. Find a lumberyard that will let you dig their piles. You want close-grained (old growth) wood. You don't care if it is 2x6, 2x8, 2x10...you don't really even care if it is flat grained or vertical grained. You will want to resaw and laminate it anyway.

Also, what tools you have available will dictate how you build them. Shoot me a PM with your email.

MT4Runner

· #63 · May 16, 2018

9

A few contributions:

Folding LPG burner/blaster stove, fits in a small 50cal ammo can

Anodized my own aluminum Dutch Ovens:

One 4-bay frame from 1.25" EMT conduit, painted yellow, gold pearl flake, and clear-coated:

Grab handle saddle with drink holsters

1.5gal water kettle from a cast off espresso shop stainless steel water softener tank. I welded on the tabs, handle, and spout.

Table:

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MT4Runner

· #64 · May 16, 2018

6

Table legs/frame:

I once turned an old UHaul into a motorhome:

Stern frame:

I need to add some pics of the drybags, drop bag, drag bag, and oars I've built.

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MT4Runner

· #65 · May 16, 2018

2

Found some ratty old 5# and 10# propane tanks. Wire brushed them, painted them yellow, and sent them in for a recert and to have new OPD valves installed

http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/f44/propane-tanks-revisited-61771-3.html

One of the 10# tanks got accent painted. Stuart gets to go camping. 30# Kevin stays home.

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MT4Runner

· #67 · May 16, 2018

altaholics said:
I have made a 4 rafting pads with PVC from a truck tarp maker and valves off of Amazon. 26 inches wide, 3 inches thick, and about 6'8" long. Cost per pad was 70 dollars with most of that cost going to the foam (who knew nice foam cost 50 dollars). I went with white for heat control and am really happy with the color. During the process, I found out that having a nice heat gun and some jigs to hold things makes a huge difference (I had neither), so I ended up gluing them rather than welding. So far, they are holding up great.

Here's a link to the thread I made on it while figuring things out.

http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/f44/diy-raft-pads-am-i-nuts-60069.html

I'm working on pads myself. Home Depot has 3" x 24" x 72" foam for only $25. I tested one out last weekend and I liked it!

Although...I'm 6'-6", and a longer pad sounds awesome.

Edit: just read that entire thread. I haven't been on the buzz much in the past couple years--looks like you inspired a LOT of other people to make pads!!

MT4Runner

· #68 · May 16, 2018

Wadeinthewater said:
You didn't build the tanks from some a defunct pressure cooker? Very nice work on all that gear you built.

Haha, no, I'm not brave enough to weld on any pressure vessels. Those were a cosmetic improvement only!

MT4Runner

· #70 · May 16, 2018

altaholics said:
MT4Runner - Are you some kind of DIY magician and where do I learn the magic?

It's my thing.

Ever see that Dilbert cartoon video 'The Knack'? I have it. I don't watch much TV, I took a lot of shop classes in HS, made a ton of messes in my dad's shop growing up, and my mom's sewing room. Mom and Dad built my childhood home, so I grew up building. Mom was a Home Economics teacher so my brother and I earned to sew at age 5 or so, woodworking at age 8 or 10, learned to weld at 12. I'm also socially awkward. haha.

I'm actually not that great with original ideas, but I do like to copy ideas or combine multiple ideas or skillsets into projects. Seriously--I'm inspired by your PVC pad thread. I started one 3 years ago and it stalled on valves and glue.

Like missiongravity said, everything is a prototype. If it works, great. If not, improve it!!

MT4Runner

· #82 · May 25, 2018

codycleve said:
Cloned a johhny partner, can you tell which one is the real deal?

Sweet!!

MT4Runner

· #91 · May 30, 2018

Nice work elkhaven! I really like that wood drybox!

MT4Runner

· #99 · Mar 21, 2019

6

Building a dory, does that count?

Working on casting my own oarlock design.

Also rebuilding my table and beaver board. They were both painted 5/8" plywood. They'll get a fiberglass overlay, then heavy kraft paper soaked in epoxy (like MDO ply) over that.

And possibly a wood drybox, and an everything bag.

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MT4Runner

· #102 · Mar 21, 2019

almortal, thank you. I have a couple of QC issues to sort through (more draft on my pattern, more heat in the foundry), but I'm excited about the shape.

Andy Hutchinson dory plans. All the pieces fit nicely per his pattern

matt man said:
Man, that boat is sure coming along nicely, Mt4 runner! Even making par locks!

Stoked to see this thread, gonna have to get pics of some of my gear posted one of these days!

Thanks!

MT4Runner

· #106 · Mar 23, 2019

Wow sweet Hanspeter!

MT4Runner

· #116 · Apr 5, 2019

wack said:
I've got a bigger trip coming up and was worried about having to brew tons of french press coffee. I'd prefer to make one pot and be done with that chore. I work at a brewery, so sourcing this stuff was fairly easy for me. This mega-coffee pot will make 2gal of coffee in one shot....enough to fill 16 Yeti 20z tumblers to the top.

I built a 1.5gal SS water pot. Works great. I tend to keep it for hot/fresh water only, then fill percs or french presses from it.

Does it have a drip basket of some sort?

Hope you enjoy yours!

MT4Runner

· #128 · Apr 8, 2019

FD, that's brilliant!

I don't fish, but I respect the creativity in this solution. I can see a lot of people copying it. Better patent the FlyingDutchman Super Anchor Fairlead system.

I'd also like to see more pics of that seat. Looks crazy simple.

MT4Runner

· #131 · Apr 8, 2019

Nice. I run the NRS atomic aluminum oarlocks on my day frame.
It's surprising that 2# is actually noticeable on a light rig!

MT4Runner

· #148 · Apr 12, 2019

2

Found an old camera card...couple oldies:

My 1.5gal water pot, made from a SS commercial under-counter water softener tank.

Buncha throwbags.

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MT4Runner

· #152 · Apr 15, 2019

JustinJam said:
Has anyone done a DiY oar counterbalance system for wood oars?

Yes.

Search DIY wood square top oars.

MT4Runner

· #167 · May 4, 2019

What is the purpose of the bars on the top of the lid?

MT4Runner

· #176 · Jun 11, 2019

2

Got an invite on the Main in 3 weeks.
Dory won't quite be done, so I'm taking the 156R.

Wanted an everything bag, but wanted to build it.

Bought a 10' x 14' mesh tarp:
10x14 Multi Color Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarps from Tarps Online
They say colors are random, and they weren't lying. Examples were a blue-green and a tan-rainbow, and this is pink-orange. I'm glad it appears kind of a nice rusty canyon color. It's not a color I would have chosen, but I like it.

The other half will become another bag or may become folding chair seats.

Cut it in half lengthwise, and cut a piece of trampoline mesh for the floor.

1.5h of sewing later, and I have most of the bag. Still need to add grommets to the top.

Trying to decide if I will leave the back open and add grommets I can lace up. Thinking it would make loading/unloading easy, especially if I anchor with my stern to the beach.

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MT4Runner

· #180 · Jul 8, 2019 (Edited)

3

Good timing. Just got off 8 days on the Main Salmon:

markhusbands said:
an everything bag with a big zipper under a spider would be pretty trick.

May build the spider, really had no issues with gear security. Didn't flip, but wasn't really worried about the gear had I flipped.

edit: 2020 added a spider. Highly recommend. Bag is still simple with minimal attachments and haven’t found a reason to want them

So..I kept this simple both because I was short on time, and because I didn't see a need to put a lot of connections on the bag. I did put grommets in the floor to correspond to my beaver board...so had a loop strap from outside the bag, looped through the board. Buckle was on the outside at each corner d-ring.

I REALLY liked the cam strap laced through the grommets. It opened HUGE when we were loading/unloading. One 4' strap laced up the back to close both sides, and then two 1' straps laced through each side of the grommets on top to snug Santa's bag closed. Then ran a 10' strap up and over the whole thing from each side diagonally. Spider would add a strap down to each side and would be easier to tighten sequentially than the 10' straps over everything.

I don't think I'd like a zipper. Slightly faster, but also one more thing that could break. I also wanted to get into my gear bag at Buckskin Bill's to grab cash, and was able to loosen a single strap to get an arm down inside my Watershed duffle (the duffle was not in any risk of coming out if a single strap had loosened on its own in a flip)

10/10 would do again, and would keep simple. SO much faster than a strap through every handle and a gear net over the rig. I brought a never-ever family with me on the trip and they were loading and rigging on their own by day 2.

Oh, and bought a $120 4-bow 8' eBay bimini. LOVED IT.

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