Bergen frame replacement tip

[BOD]

I’ve been annoyed for some time at the rivet failure in the aluminium frame in the issue Bergens. I also found that an empty pack could have the stays bent if someone place a heavy object (like his b*m) on it.

I thought of riveting them back or getting new aluminium strips till one day I just realised that the best material was in the garden - bamboo!

A bit of chopping and splitting and then bevelling the sharp edges and I had a new set of stays in 15 min.

Checked Wikipedia and it seems bamboo has a higher ultimate tensile strength but significantly lower weight than structural steel and aluminium.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_tensile_strength

Material UTS weight

Structural steel ASTM A36 steel 400MPa 7.8g/cc

Aluminium alloy 6063-T6 248MPa 2.63g/cc

Bamboo 350-500MPa 0.4g/cc



A biceps curl test showed the difference in weight between the two empty packs.


As I am a FIFO bush crafter now I think it’s time for an upgrade to bamboo for all the Bergens!

 

[basha]

What a good idea! Plus you have the advantage of the natural spring in the bamboo.

 

[drewdunnrespect]

what an ausome idea cheers for sharing

 

[BOD]

What a good idea! Plus you have the advantage of the natural spring in the bamboo.

You're dead right on that. If some one's f*t b*m sits on it it simply returns to the original shape when he gets up.

No need to get upset at anyone!