Homemade Tarp

I did this a while ago and just realized I forgot to post it here. That is kind of rude, since this site's ingenuity made it all possible. Basically, I found some fabric at Wallyworld for 1.50 a yrd. It looked like 1.1 oz, but now I think it was 1.9. It was uncoated. I was foolish and only bought enough for a speer style. I wasn't planning on using for a tarp initially, but later decided to because of thread about silicon coating it. So, chock this up as another success in DIY Silnylon. Once the tarp was all sewn together, I set it up in my yard and mixed 100% clear silicon with mineral spirits. Then I took a sponge and scraped it all over the fabric. I did this twice all over, and a third time on the ridge line. A few days later, I set it up again and laid under it with my wife sprinkling it with the hose....NO LEAKS. I was very surprised and very happy. The final weight is 26 oz. It is a little heavier then I expected. I was expecting 16 oz. So, maybe it isn't 1.1 oz per square yard ripstop.

Here are some pictures of me using it in October 2009.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/...1e4acf25_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2443/...da1a5e3d_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/...64be22fc_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/...62e4cac5_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/...8deaaf66_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/...4f663d76_b.jpg

It looks like you did a good job. Like the tieouts making a loop with the strapping. Very picturesque setting. Where do you have it setup at?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by richtorfla

It looks like you did a good job. Like the tieouts making a loop with the strapping. Very picturesque setting. Where do you have it setup at?

---

It is about 9500 ft and close to Deseret Peak in Utah. It is a great place to go if you like high alpine and don't like people. Plus it is a 30 min drive to the TH. High alpine really brings out the best in hammocks. Every time I have gone, we have had to hike around a lot to find a flat spot for the tent people. In the last picture, you will see a small blue tent. The owner of that tent really wants a hammock now. The 4 person dome tent was almost at 45 degrees with the occupants trying not to fall out all night. It sure is nice only needing two trees.

Sorry--TH is...?

Nice looking tarp!

Tarp looks good, beautiful area,,,last pics says it all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by francescaloves2hike

Sorry--TH is...?

Nice looking tarp!

---

Sorry. TH= Trail Head.

Nice job onthe tarp.

I have the same camo pattrn that I got at WM also, just that the suff I bought I thought was Sil turned out to be a PU coating on it. It is waterproof. How I detertermined it was PU... I sprayed a test piece of the material with sil spray and the sil spray beaded up and and wouldn't adhear to the material at all. Not sure waht it weighs yet. But thiskind of find at My WM is rare. I ended up buying the 2 bolts they had just for the sake of it.
Once I'm done with the current tarp i'm working on I'll make one with the WM stuff and see how it works.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BOB1520

Nice job onthe tarp.

I have the same camo pattrn that I got at WM also, just that the suff I bought I thought was Sil turned out to be a PU coating on it. It is waterproof. How I detertermined it was PU... I sprayed a test piece of the material with sil spray and the sil spray beaded up and and wouldn't adhear to the material at all. Not sure waht it weighs yet. But thiskind of find at My WM is rare. I ended up buying the 2 bolts they had just for the sake of it.
Once I'm done with the current tarp i'm working on I'll make one with the WM stuff and see how it works.

---

Thanks. The stuff I got at Wm was definitely not coated with anything. Plain Jane. Water went right through. It soaked up the silicon like a sponge. My guess is that it was different than what you got.

real cool tarp buddy!