Pack Build-Along, Frame and All

[Tartan]

Where will you be hunting with this setup (state)?

Western Oklahoma this year. There are a couple of areas where you can get 1-2+ miles back from the roads.

Grew up rifle hunting the allegheny national forest in PA. We generally do the same thing. 1-2 miles in. There are areas you can go deeper. Won't make it home this year bc of the newborn. But will be going back. Dragging a deer uphill for a mile will hopefully be a thing of the past if I can debone it and carry it with the pack.

Hopefully working on some western hunts in the future. This excursion to OK will be a good introduction.

 

[5shot]

Sounds cool. I'll be trying mine out in NE Washington State.

 

[5shot]

Well, I finally got pushed off of center and got the ball rolling with the sewing. Still a bit to do on the frame, and then it is on to the shoulder harness. The belt is a Kifaru that I had. I think I am going to run with a cargo panel and just a simple stuff sack for my gear. I may have time to do something like a tail gunner, but not sure.

Thanks to Tartan for the inspiration.

 

[JP100]

you making all them pack companies look bad!!
Awesome work!!

 

[Tartan]

Well, I finally got pushed off of center and got the ball rolling with the sewing. Still a bit to do on the frame, and then it is on to the shoulder harness. The belt is a Kifaru that I had. I think I am going to run with a cargo panel and just a simple stuff sack for my gear. I may have time to do something like a tail gunner, but not sure.

Thanks to Tartan for the inspiration.

Looking great! Now I'm jealous and want to upgrade my machine already...

 

[5shot]

Looking great! Now I'm jealous and want to upgrade my machine already...

It would be cheaper to buy from kifaru! I use it in my business...or I wouldn't have it either.

 

[WoodBow]

It would be cheaper to buy from kifaru! I use it in my business...or I wouldn't have it either.

DIY is funny that way sometimes. I've been eyeing a $1000 machine for a while. I could buy a lot of gear for that kind of money. But I like making stuff and it sure is nice to be able to make or modify anything you can dream up.

 

[5shot]

DIY is funny that way sometimes. I've been eyeing a $1000 machine for a while. I could buy a lot of gear for that kind of money. But I like making stuff and it sure is nice to be able to make or modify anything you can dream up.

Mine is a Brother B837. It is a triple feed...Walking Foot, Feed Dog and Needle Feed. The Juki 563 and the Consew 206RB are similar. My B837 uses a huge bobbin, in fact, the largest bobbin found in industrial machines. I paid $1100 and it was like brand new.

 

[Tartan]

DIY is funny that way sometimes. I've been eyeing a $1000 machine for a while. I could buy a lot of gear for that kind of money. But I like making stuff and it sure is nice to be able to make or modify anything you can dream up.

This is true with pretty much every project I've ever made. Between the investment in tools and hours spent, if I was just looking to save money I would be better off just taking a part time job to raise the funds. But that's no fun. Whether it's building arrows, making my own bow strings, making furniture, or customizing a pair of old motorcycles, etc... I just get enjoyment by thinking things out and making them happen.

 

[5shot]

The fun of it and the learning are why I do most of my projects as well.

 

[WoodBow]

This is true with pretty much every project I've ever made. Between the investment in tools and hours spent, if I was just looking to save money I would be better off just taking a part time job to raise the funds. But that's no fun. Whether it's building arrows, making my own bow strings, making furniture, or customizing a pair of old motorcycles, etc... I just get enjoyment by thinking things out and making them happen.

You're in good company. I've heard it said to "never pay a man to do what you can do yourself". I also like "what one man can do, so can another". I am most content when I have a project underway of some kind. My brain and hands just need to be busy. God gave me the ability. Seems foolish not to use it.

The hog in my avatar was killed with a take down recurve that I made, a quiver I made, a string i made, an arrow I fletched, and broadhead I made. Why? Just because I could.

The consew 206rb is what I want. The problem is that I do not believe it zigzags. I'd like a machine that does both but it's not a deal breaker.

 

[5shot]

There is only ONE heavy duty, triple feed, industrial machine that does both...it's $6k. The feed is far more important. I could have never done this frame without needle feed.

 

[WoodBow]

There is only ONE heavy duty industrial machine that does both...it's $6k.

That counts me out

 

[5shot]

The 206RB is a great machine.

 

[Tartan]

belt is finished. going to post as much of a step by step as I can.

first thing was to sew all the webbing and buckles on first. I tested sewing through the foam and my machine just doesnt have enough vertical needle movement.

then add the tip of the spandura liner

add the main layer of spandura and trim.

flip the spandura around, hem and sew the frame pocket. I bar tacked the inside edge just to clean it up. Also sew down the middle of the main pocket. The foam is split like I've seen on the Kifaru packs.

Then it's just add foam. It was a huge pain, but it got in there eventually.

 

[5shot]

That looks great! My machine is marginal on sewing through the foam as well, but it should make it. You need a really high lift, and you pretty much need a needle feed machine as well. When you have a presser foot and feed dogs, the material just doesn't want feed through the machine. Your approach was the best way to do it for a home machine.

I'll be doing a belt eventually, as I need the in-between "Marge" size, but since I have the Kifaru one, I'll make do for now. I'll be starting the shoulder harness this week (hopefully) - still waiting for the Spandura to arrive.

 

[5shot]

The frame is like 90% done on mine. I borrowed some of the design from Tartan - the back pad attachment with the velcro, for example. I am still waiting on the Spandura, so I don't have any back padding or lumbar padding at the moment. I'll be making the cordura base for the back pads today.

I made the frame with the multiple loops for adjusting the load lifters and put on a set of ladder locks at the bottom of the loops. The harness will have load lifter AND stabilization straps. I will be able to stabilize the shoulder harness in case I don't like the single point style. I will be mounting a 2" common loop at the bottom of the frame sheet cutout so that I can run the attachment webbing through there, to further stabilize it if I want to.

I had made the pod to go on the outside of my ILBE (based on Dunamis Gear's product), and it fits great, so I have something to carry lunch in for now!

 

[Manosteel]

That is ridiculously good work for a diy Project!

 

[5shot]

Speaking for myself only...I cheated. I sew every day, and have done tons of prototyping in the past.

Tartan has knocked it out of the park.

 

[5shot]

I have the first back pad panel finished. I think I will sew the Spandura to the top, leaving the ends open in order to stuff the padding in. I'll use velcro tabs to seal the ends so that I can adjust the padding if needed.

Now a question...where is the best location to mount the ladder loc for the belt stabilization strap? I am thinking of running a piece of webbing across the lumbar mount with a ladder lock on each end.