[rogerstevens]

Originally Posted by Dang

USGS is free and you can download and print...

But...
Also worth noting is Offroute.com as you can build a seamless custom map and haev it printed on waterproof paper for around $12 or so.

HTH

Yes the best source I wish USGS had waterproof ones tho...

[cwi555]

There is nothing like a renewable source of maps. I prefer brass, but other metals will work.

Electrolytic Etching of Brass | The Steampunk Workshop

My method differs from what is found in the post, but for those who've never practiced it, I've found that gentlemens ability to explain the details in simple terms better than mine. It will also make this post short rather than multiple pages of data if I link everything from the paper to the ink as well.
I am putting together a how to for brass making, but it's a ways off. I will post it when done.

The whole and short of it, I have a significant radius of USGS maps etched into brass plates.

Brass is used for it's corrossion resistance value.
If you want something different than brass, you can use about any metal by sending it off to these folks or a company like them.
Custom Etching & Metal Forming, Plating, Heat-Set of Nitinol, Electro-polishing, Heat Treatment, Passivation: KEMAC Technology: Azusa, CA

Then all you need is paper, ink, and a press.
Those three are a pain, but doable without special tools. I've wrapped plates around a 6" piece of SA106 pipe and used it for a roller. No problems.


Lye from wood ash: Journey to Forever

The caustic soda needed for paper

Then the paper
Ancient Paper Recipes and Making Paper from scratch

Then the ink
How To Make Ink | How To Do Things.com

The catch???
If your going to use the laser printer on ink jet paper, then you must plan ahead.
It can still be done after the fact, but you will find yourself tracing it with whatever toner you can buy then heat fusing it to paper manually.

The original toner was simply carbon powder. For the best quality, you need to get that powder as fine as you can get it.

As an alternative, you can stash some old or new toner cartridges. One drum of toner will go a long long way.

[Mephistopheles]

Any local Survey equipement company will have them for your area.

[wnysd10]

One source of topo maps is here:

The USGS Store - One stop shop for all your maps, world, United States, state, wall decor, historic, planetary, topographic, trail, hiking, foreign, satellite, digital

USGS site.

[swamprat]

I use Delorme 3D topo maps which is a software package you can purchase from delorme.com. The topo maps for an entire state can be purchased for about $90. For another $100 yoou can purchase their XMap software which will give you Satellite imagery for the state. I print the topo map on one side of the page then feed it back through and print the satellite image of the same map on the back. The satellite image is better at times than the maps because wooded areas can be cleared (which shows up on the satellite image) but is still shown as woods on the topo map.

[wnysd10]

Originally Posted by swamprat

I use Delorme 3D topo maps which is a software package you can purchase from delorme.com. The topo maps for an entire state can be purchased for about $90. For another $100 yoou can purchase their XMap software which will give you Satellite imagery for the state. .

I've heard about Delorme, but never actually used it. I use 3 programs on a regular basis. First and foremost is MapTech Pro. It's pretty much the status quo for search and rescue in New York state. It has both topo and aerials and I've never seen another software printed map that equals the quaility of these. I also use TopoFusion, which is my second choice. Bringing up the rear is ExpertGPS. The author was gracious enough to give my team a free license! Each software package has it's strengths and weaknesses and everyone's mileage my vary......

There are several options out there, it just comes down to personal perferance for what you are actually trying to do with the software and maps. But, for the casual user, nothing beats the free maps available like on the USGS site!

[swamprat]

Originally Posted by wnysd10

I've heard about Delorme, but never actually used it. I use 3 programs on a regular basis. First and foremost is MapTech Pro. It's pretty much the status quo for search and rescue in New York state. It has both topo and aerials and I've never seen another software printed map that equals the quaility of these. I also use TopoFusion, which is my second choice. Bringing up the rear is ExpertGPS. The author was gracious enough to give my team a free license! Each software package has it's strengths and weaknesses and everyone's mileage my vary......

I have heard of the ones you mention but have never used them. The Delorme works well and if you carry a laptop in the field with you the XMap software has a split screen capability that allows you to view the topo and satellite imagery side by side.

[wnysd10]

Originally Posted by swamprat

I have heard of the ones you mention but have never used them. The Delorme works well and if you carry a laptop in the field with you the XMap software has a split screen capability that allows you to view the topo and satellite imagery side by side.

That's nice to know Swamprat... MapTech Pro does side by side (split screen) with topo and aerial (satellite) as well as a side by side interface with Google Earth. But, I imagine the Delorme is a little less expensive. MapTech Pro currently goes for around $299 I believe. I actually picked it up years ago for a $99 upgrade from the non-pro version which is a lot cheaper. I don't use the Google Earth interface much, but have downloaded all of NY state's aerials to my laptop so I have them available when called out on a search. They take up about 40 Meg of hard drive space. MapTech interfaces well with my Garmin 60CSx GPS and I'm sure the Delorme software will do that as well. I see that Delorme has come out with a nice GPS unit that can be loaded with topos and aerials. Nice looking unit! Some of the newer Garmin's will do that as well, but, for now anyways, I'm happy with my 60CSx.

[River Rat]

Libre Map Project : Data : Free Map & GIS Data

I found this site where you can get Topo maps and print for free.