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  1. #1
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    How to get more width for a tarp....

    Or how to use narrower fabric and still gain something...

    I was looking at dimensions and coverage and fabric widths and had a bit of an epiphany that while it involves more seams is also an efficient use of fabric and allows a greater effective width... Depending on the chosen dimensions the gains may be considerable. With the nominal BlackCat dimensions about 30" width per side could be achieved if you so wanted....

    Here is an attached drawing showing how. Basically the parts you cut off for the taper of the hex at the ridgeline get sewn on the outer edges of the fabric. Piece 1 on the drawing, goes to the position shown. The tip (piece 2) may be used to fill the low point, again as shown. Repeat for all 4 corners...

    Do the piecing then cut your curves. In my case I wanted a 14' ridgeline, and a 9' length at the 60" width fabric, but once I cat cut it my maximum effective covered width dropped from 10' to about 8'...

    I LIKE BIG tarps (and I cannot lie... sorry flashing on MC Hammer ), so I wanted MORE... This gives me up to 24" more on each side... I chose a middle ground where the dotted line shows the tarp cut I'm planning. This increases my coverage by about 18" on each side at the points and I get more like 12' coverage...instead of 8'.... (in the flat..)....

    Anyways.... Here's the PDF of the idea....
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Last edited by Rapt; 09-27-2007 at 12:48.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
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    It appears to sacrifice coverage on the ends for the extra width. Is that correct?

    You can call it the "OrigamiCat".

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cannibal View Post
    It appears to sacrifice coverage on the ends for the extra width. Is that correct?
    Not really....

    If you use a "hex" design that's material you'd just throw aside as scrap. Instead you attach it to the edges... Like I mentioned with the BlackCat standard dimensions you cut off a triangle with a 34" base and a 66" height. This is material you could maybe use on another project, or to make a stuff sack, but it wasn't going on your tarp... Now it is.

    There are already things that show a hex tarp has more coverage than a square for a given ridgeline length. Such as this photo by Blackbishop

    In my case I wanted a 14' ridgeline, but to get a reasonable angle so I'd have a taut pitch I couldn't make the sides between the tie-outs much longer than 9'. That still gives more end coverage than a square. But the length difference meant I was cutting off a triangle 30" at the base by 60" high. This way I can add them to those sides and gain most of that back, instead of wasting it.

    Giving me a tarp that can either be pitched wider and flatter with more area under it, or higher and narrower with better side coverage and headroom.


    You can call it the "OrigamiCat".
    I was wondering what to call it...

  4. #4
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
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    I get it now, thanks!

    Looking forward to pics of the final project.

  5. #5
    Senior Member stoikurt's Avatar
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    How much more width are you trying to gain? The BlackCat already uses material that is 60" to 66" effectively giving you a 10'X12' tarp less the cat cuts. IMO it's a pretty big tarp already. Any bigger and it just gets heavier and cumbersome to handle.
    Stoikurt
    "Work to Live...Don't Live to Work!"

  6. #6
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    I'm limited by only having 60" fabric, but the idea would work with any width of fabric so it'd be possible to use 48" width say...

    But personally mine is going to be 14' along the ridgeline and about 12' at the tie outs... Yes its larger than absolutely necessary, but 1) hate getting wet, 2) at times it'll be sheltering more than one person, 3) I want it to be absolutely bomb proof when it comes to rain...

    So I'm not using all the potential gains. Just what I want to get from it...

    I have 10 x12 tarps now and they never seem big enough.

  7. #7
    Senior Member schrochem's Avatar
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    Interesting Rapt.
    How much would you loose if you had the cat cut go just above the #2 pieces? I was just thinking that would be three less seams (per side) and still give a pretty darn wide tarp.
    Scott

    "Man is a stream whose source is hidden."
    RWE

  8. #8
    Dutch's Avatar
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    Rapt that is a big tarp. I just finished mine and when I was done I thought it was huge already. I say go for it. It will weigh less than a pound and a half anyhow. I used the scraps from mine to make rain kilts for my wife and I. I also think putting end sheild could easily by using the scrap. I know I've seen pictures of it done.
    Peace Dutch
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  9. #9
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dutch View Post
    I used the scraps from mine to make rain kilts for my wife and I.
    That is classic. What a great idea!
    Is it still a 'kilt' if a lady is wearing it?

  10. #10
    Dutch's Avatar
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    Is it still a 'kilt' if a lady is wearing it?
    I really call it a rain skirt around most circles. Actually I really like mine and I am trying to figure out a way to turn it into a weather shield for the end of my tarp or my bridge hammock. It should be a piece of cake since it is just a rectangle with elastic and a couple buttons. I don't usually dress in drag in the woods, but I can't hike in rain pants and the skirt, errr kilt weighs nothing and keeps my bum dry.
    Peace Dutch
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