Bolo Grubb

I am looking for a source for the hard plastic sheets to stiffen the backs of panniers. AN old pair of Jandd Pannier have a nice white plastic stiffeners that work well.

I am think that will the plastic sheet and the replacement hooks and cords that you can get for most panniers companies I could custom make a briefcase pannier out of an old soft sided briefcase/book bag.

Any idea where to get the plastic sheets? None of the company web sites shown them (tried Jandd, Arkel, and Orblieb).

Thank you

arctos

Call Arkel. I imagine that if you bought a set of their excellent mounts that they might also have a plastic sheet to fit your needs. They have been very helpful to me in the past.

teamcompi

Try plastic garbage cans, not the round ones. If it is only a small bag the cans that dog bones come in work fine. Another option and one which is easy to get is thin aluminum sheets.

MichaelW

Carradice panniers use corrugated plastic sheet, the kind you use in For Sale signs and vote-for-me signs. Rejoice in your winning candidate or gloat over the discarded signs of crushed opponent in the Hillary/Barak contest.
The material is very tough, weighs next to nothing and can be rivetted or glued.

DBC Steve

A few days ago I saw a fully loaded LHT with kitty litter plastic container panniers -- complete with snap-on lids. They were attached to the rear rack with metal hooks rivited to the containers. Sorry, no photo to capture this moment! If the thin plastic sheets suggested by others are not stiff enough for you, perhaps cutting out the side of one of these plastic containers?

thecrunge

I recently finished making my own set of panniers and used high density polyethelene plastic (HDPE or HMWPE) for the stiffeners. I simply bought a small leftover sheet kicking around a plastic supplier for cheap. I copied the Arkels GT 54's, GT 18's and handlebar bag. You might consider doing what they did (and what I did) by incorporating a bottom "shelf" for your pannier. Just allow for some extra material for the bottom, along with the back, and use a propane torch to slowly bend it 90 degrees. It's very strong and rigid.

cyccommute 

Try Small Parts for low density polyethylene.

I'd go with the Ortlieb hardware. Works well and is easy to retrofit. I did it on a set of panniers from Detours.

bwgride

Some hardware stores carry sheets of Lexan that they will cut to specification.

Fueled by Boh

cutting board! the slightly floppy kind.

cyccommute 

Lexan or acrylic would work but the sheet stock I've seen in hardware stores are too thick. Most of the backing sheets I've seen are 1/8" or 1/16" thick. 1/32" aluminum would work too but you have to cushion the edges to prevent cutting through the bag.