fast cat cut (amost but close)

**colonel r** · 09-15-2011, 14:24

The pics show how I cut my silnylon tarp using a generic 30 watt soldering iron. Just cleaned the tip before I used it on the material.

Lay out the tarp after the ridge seam has been sewn. I squared the edges, then marked down and in for each of the endpoints and make sued the marked endpoints are aligned.

The edge guide is a 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/16 aluminum angle. First, laid a double layer on the board and straighten it to be even along the edge. Then clamp the angle at each end so the backside of the angle intersects the marked end points. Simply bend in the middle. (surprisingly it would stay in place without further clamping) The widest cut I could make was about 5" as the cutting board is only 51/2" wide. The plan I used called for a 71/2" along the edge and 7" along the bottom. (So I was a little bit shy but I don't think it will matter in the end. I'll post hanging pics when I finish sewing.)

Then go to town with the soldering iron. All three sides took me a total of less than 5 min. I left each side welded together until I was finished and they easily pulled apart with no ragged edges.

**MAD777** · 09-15-2011, 17:07

Excellent execution!
That's a nice looking tarp!

**bluethundra** · 09-15-2011, 17:13

Nice work and a very good idea.

**colonel r** · 09-15-2011, 17:22

thx for the compliments. I failed to mention the ridge line is a straight cut with a flat felled seam. From what I have read, this gives you more alternatives for setup.

R

**Les Rust** · 09-15-2011, 17:29

Great work, Colonel. Nice looking tarp and an efficient and elegant way to cut it. Enjoy.

**gunner76** · 09-15-2011, 18:59

Always interesting to see the many different ways people solve the same problem.

I am still trying to learn how to sew a semi straight seam. I have perfected the the crooked seam.

**JohnSawyer** · 09-15-2011, 21:38

Brilliant!

Makes sense that the angle-AL would be stiff, I just figured it'd be too stiff to bend like that!

Very nice!

**Diz** · 09-15-2011, 21:58

Nice job, but I see in your pics how you clamped the ends of angel AL but how did you hold the center defection point?

**JayS** · 09-15-2011, 22:05

Good job! How did you keep the fabric from sliding while cutting it?

**colonel r** · 09-16-2011, 09:02

Answering the two questions: The angle stayed in place because it bent upward slightly as I pushed it back. This caused high friction on that edge and even caused the guide edge to be tight to the fabric. Before doing this, I thought I would have to clamp the center of the angle but it stayed firmly in place.

On how I kept the fabric stretched. Started with it flat, and clamped middle and both ends. Then one at a time replaced the end clamps with c-clamps holding the angle tight in place. I was sufficiently tight that when I bent the angle the fabric rotated a little under the c-clamp. Doing it one step at a time kept it tight. Additionally, the guide edge of the angle was planted firmly on the fabric. I went slowly with the iron cutting both layers and pulling the was away as I went.

I always compared slippery stuff to "owl s**t," from now it will be slipperier than silnylon!

I am also master of the crooked seam. I don't think straight is in my stitching vocabulary.

R