12-06-2010, 04:42 AM
Let's go straight to the end this time:
BULLETPROOF!
![[Image: 5237054026_7cec39a199_z_d.jpg]](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5237054026_7cec39a199_z_d.jpg)
I don't think this will fail...
So what's different this time? No Glue!
I tested welding the heat seal fabric to the valve plastic before, but found that it peeled without TOO much force. BUT, I think when I was testing I didn't want to ruin a good valve and went "cheap" with a small area and a small piece of fabric and not much heat.
This time I said screw it and went big. Cut off the leash of the valve and put the heat to it good and long.
Result of the top panel:
![[Image: 5237043838_52fa81d058_z_d.jpg]](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5237043838_52fa81d058_z_d.jpg)
![[Image: 5237046604_73d2f42b05_z_d.jpg]](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5126/5237046604_73d2f42b05_z_d.jpg)
exTREEEEEME CLOSE-UP!!!":
![[Image: 5237048878_7bf51098f0_z_d.jpg]](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5237048878_7bf51098f0_z_d.jpg)
You can see that the seal is complete (all dark through the plastic) and that I got enough heat not only to melt the coating on the fabric but the valve itself is melted a bit to strengthen the bond.
One thing about the earlier test was that I welded a strip on, then peeled it back. BUT, with the full perimeter weld, there's no physical way of peeling the fabric away, only shearing it, and the area makes it extremely unlikely that it'll do that.
Add to this I welded on the backer panel to "sandwich" the valve flange in:
![[Image: 5236464525_45985da293_z_d.jpg]](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5236464525_45985da293_z_d.jpg)
Bulletproof. Period.
The valve testing took a bit longer than I'd hoped so I didn't get around to finishing the "U" section this weekend. However, I'm feeling pretty good about the progress and I've learned a LOT and made a bunch of jigs and templates to speed the process along in the future.
Maybe U-section this week, by the weekend for sure.
_SHig
[signature]
BULLETPROOF!
I don't think this will fail...
So what's different this time? No Glue!
I tested welding the heat seal fabric to the valve plastic before, but found that it peeled without TOO much force. BUT, I think when I was testing I didn't want to ruin a good valve and went "cheap" with a small area and a small piece of fabric and not much heat.
This time I said screw it and went big. Cut off the leash of the valve and put the heat to it good and long.
Result of the top panel:
exTREEEEEME CLOSE-UP!!!":
You can see that the seal is complete (all dark through the plastic) and that I got enough heat not only to melt the coating on the fabric but the valve itself is melted a bit to strengthen the bond.
One thing about the earlier test was that I welded a strip on, then peeled it back. BUT, with the full perimeter weld, there's no physical way of peeling the fabric away, only shearing it, and the area makes it extremely unlikely that it'll do that.
Add to this I welded on the backer panel to "sandwich" the valve flange in:
Bulletproof. Period.
The valve testing took a bit longer than I'd hoped so I didn't get around to finishing the "U" section this weekend. However, I'm feeling pretty good about the progress and I've learned a LOT and made a bunch of jigs and templates to speed the process along in the future.
Maybe U-section this week, by the weekend for sure.
_SHig
[signature]