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  1. #1
    Senior Member grich9860's Avatar
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    Cat Cut vs. Straight Cut

    i have been doing some thinking and some research and have not had this question answered. what is the benefit to a cat cut? does it make a the tarp easier to keep taught.....or set up.....cut the weight of the tarp....or just look cool? any input would be great!! thanks everyone!!
    Last edited by grich9860; 03-13-2011 at 20:12.
    Hops

  2. #2
    Senior Member packeagle's Avatar
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    It helps get a taught pitch. The flap that you can get from a straight cut tarp will be cut out of the fabric leaving the sides taught. The force pulling out on the cat cut helps to accomplish this from my limited observations.

  3. #3
    Senior Member bloomgorge's Avatar
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    +1 on packeagles response and you save a little weight.

  4. #4
    Senior Member grich9860's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by packeagle View Post
    It helps get a taught pitch. The flap that you can get from a straight cut tarp will be cut out of the fabric leaving the sides taught. The force pulling out on the cat cut helps to accomplish this from my limited observations.
    thanks packeagle
    Hops

  5. #5
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    So if I understand it correctly, there is no big reason to switch from a straight tarp to cat-cut or vise versa if you already have one or the other?

    Already have a lightweight straight tarp from Cooke Custom Sewing, just starting to think about trying a hammock this year.

  6. #6
    Member Gumbi's Avatar
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    RE: Cat Cut vs. Straight Cut

    Quote Originally Posted by grich9860 View Post
    does it make a the tarp easier to keep taught.....or set up.....cut the weight of the tarp....or just look cool?
    It does all of the above!

    I recently took my rectangular homemade tarp and put Cat cuts in it... You would be amazed at how much material it cut off! And now I can actually get a tight pitch with it!
    Nothing is foolproof to a talented fool.

  7. #7
    Senior Member taylo's Avatar
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    most straight cuts will have 3 tie outs per side to keep it from flapping about. alot of cat-cuts just have tie outs on the corners since the middle gets plenty tight from just the corner tie outs. so your saving yourself 2 tie out cords.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sparetime View Post
    So if I understand it correctly, there is no big reason to switch from a straight tarp to cat-cut or vise versa if you already have one or the other?

    Already have a lightweight straight tarp from Cooke Custom Sewing, just starting to think about trying a hammock this year.
    No, you can pitch it just about the same! I had a straight cut rectangle tarp and with careful attention to pitching I was able to get it very, very close to a cat-cut pitch! I will say that during/after a big rain storm and the sil is soaked and stretches is when a cat-cut in my opinion helps greatly (along with tensioners of course)! Just My Opinion!!!
    "yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift---thats why its called a present" - Master Oogway
    It's always best if your an early riser!

  9. #9
    Member Gumbi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sparetime View Post
    So if I understand it correctly, there is no big reason to switch from a straight tarp to cat-cut or vise versa if you already have one or the other?

    Already have a lightweight straight tarp from Cooke Custom Sewing, just starting to think about trying a hammock this year.
    If you already have something that works well, and you are happy with it, I wouldn't bother switching. I changed my own tarp because I made it myself and I wasn't happy with how it sagged when I pitched it (which is probably my own fault for not getting the seams straight).

    If I was making another tarp from scratch, I would definitely put in Cat cuts, but if I was to buy a tarp, I would be more worried about the price, which means I would go with the cheapest tarp that would work for me, which probably means a square or rectangular tarp.
    Nothing is foolproof to a talented fool.

  10. #10
    Senior Member clb's Avatar
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    Does this theory still hold true when using cuben?
    Leigh
    aka LookinUp

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