custom tarps - venders?

**cinnamon** · 01-03-2015, 20:22

which venders will make a tarp to custom specs?

i recently started a tarp with silpoly from RSBTR but have come to the realization that I do not have the space or the patience for making a tarp. yes i may finish now that i have started and use it as a learning experience, but there is no way that i would trust it to keep me dry in a downpour, (holes all along the ridge seam from where the material bunched up and got stitched into place and seam ripping said seam several times)

~cinnamon

**craige** · 01-03-2015, 20:38

Undergroundquilts, simply light designs, I'm sure there are others.

**OutandBack** · 01-03-2015, 20:47

OES has made all my custom designs and 2QZQ have done some custom doors and hot tarp vestibule for me. You should contact the vendor with as much details as possible.
They take custom jobs on a case by case basics. You should also consider their current work load.
Sometimes if you are not in a hurry you can ask about their slow times of the year and you might have better luck
getting the sure we can do that.

Good Luck

As for your current project you may have punched too many holes causing a perforated line that could tear under wind load.
It might be worth recutting and re sewing the top RL. Yes the tarps wall will be an inch shorter but it will be much stronger when sewn correctly.
Just my opinion...

**Boston** · 01-03-2015, 20:48

As long as you seal the holes, I'm sure you'll be fine. With your creation. I wouldn't give up on it so quickly.

Rub yhe punctured areas to help close the holes up, and use a silicone seam sealer, applied lightly and wiped smooth. I like tp use GE silicone II - undiluted.

**cinnamon** · 01-03-2015, 20:58

Originally Posted by OutandBack

OES has made all my custom designs and 2QZQ have done some custom doors and hot tarp vestibule for me. You should contact the vendor with as much details as possible.

I have a message out for Brian and hopefully I get a response. I have one of his already and frankly of all the tarps I have / seen I like the way his are made.

**cinnamon** · 01-03-2015, 21:05

Originally Posted by Boston

As long as you seal the holes, I'm sure you'll be fine. With your creation. I wouldn't give up on it so quickly.

Rub yhe punctured areas to help close the holes up, and use a silicone seam sealer, applied lightly and wiped smooth. I like tp use GE silicone II - undiluted.

Already thought of that but that is not the only issue. I gave up on using a flat felled seam for the ridge and instead bound it with grossgrain and laid it down and stitched it so it looks like a flat felled, unfortunately after doing so I strung it up and while the ridge is nice and tight the fabric not so much - hold the pull outs and the entire side billows......

**Shug** · 01-03-2015, 21:14

HammockGear would make one I do believe.
Shug

**Boston** · 01-03-2015, 21:34

Is the ridgeline the only issue?

**cinnamon** · 01-03-2015, 21:46

Originally Posted by Boston

Is the ridgeline the only issue?

that and a patch against the ridge line where it got sliced. can this tarp be salvaged? yes i'm sure that it can could be, would i trust it to keep me dry? not a chance!

**Floridahanger** · 01-03-2015, 22:46

Just trim the damaged area of the RL like was said earlier by O&B. You loose an inch or 2 or 3, no biggy.

Instead of a Flat felled Seam, try the Warbonnet-like method of making a RL.
-Join the 2 panels and sew them together about a 1/4" from the edge.
-Use a 1" grosgrain ribbon folded in half over the edge of tarp and sew it near it's edge away from the fold. Make a second line of stitching down the middle of the grosgrain if you would like(but not needed). The grosgrain will hold the stitch tightly.
-Seam seal the stitching on the grosgrain if you would like, or don't.
-Make you RL guy out and your done.

Since your only working on the tarp edge the whole time, less room is needed and there is no bunching of material. An 9'4" wide tarp is not worse than a 9'6" or 10' wide tarp. That's only 4" shorter per side. Less than the height of my hiking shoes.