Cutting Challenge Ultra 200 issues

[Philip Tschersich]

I’m doing a project with Ultra 200 fabric. It’s impressively difficult to cut. My mat and rotary cutter can get through most of the fabric but leaves a lot small threads uncut so that I have to go back and laboriously snip the remaining threads with scissors. Even multiple passes with the rotary cutting wheel don’t finish the job despite using a new blade. I have decent scissors but that just mangles the cut if I don’t start with the rotary cutter. I guess I should be impressed at the strength of the threads in the fabric, but it’s also causing some frustration. Anyone have a good approach here? A hot knife or laser would be great. It’s worse than trying to cut heavy Cuben.

[Monte Masterson]

You might try an X- acto knife with brand new blade on a hard surface or cutting board. Apply adequate downward force on blade when pulling.

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

Why not ask Durston?

[Philip Tschersich]

I have reached out to Ripstopbytheroll (where I bought it) and Kevin at Seek Outside. The folks who use this stuff on an industrial level probably have laser cutters though, so not very applicable to my situation. I know some folks here who sew ‘recreationally’ have worked with the fabric, so I was wondering what worked for them.

[nunatak]

One project? Suck it up with rotary and scissors. A fresh cutting mat surface gets more of the little fibers

A handful of projects? This one cuts dyneema like butter

Edit: you mention a hot knife. Anything over 100d and all webbing will require active ventilation for safety. Under 100d active ventilation for comfort. One way is to place a big portable fan in an open window and set it to blow out, then cut right there in front of it

[Philip Tschersich]

Wow, now that’s what I’m talking about. An electric rotary cutter!

[Eric Blanche]

Ascend  Tools Kevlar Shears: https://www.ascendtools.com/shears-to-cut-high-performance-materials.html

 

They work wonders if a hot knife does not work. **Hot knife does not work well with Aramid fibers

[Pierre Descoteaux]

My 2 cents. I used a scalpel to cut some loose weave Spectra. Worked very well! My rotary cutters were useless on the fabric.

[Philip Tschersich]

I picked up one of those powered rotary cutters, and holy cow do they work well. They slide right through the Challenge UHMWPE cloth like there’s nothing there. If you go really slow and you’re not careful, it can wander a little bit, but it’s very maneuverable, and otherwise easy to handle. I did tape a Nightcore tube light to the barrel to illuminate the cutting area. If it came with a nicely positioned LED, that would make it even better, but at this point I’m happy.

By the way, Challenge Ultra 200 is incredibly pleasant to deal with once you get it cut. It plays nicely with my machine, is easy to manipulate, takes stitching brilliantly, and is just a pleasure in every regard. Very light and insanely tough.

A day hunting pack bag for my Seek Outside frame:

[Author]

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