Cat cuts

[Jburke1]

Im trying my first DIY catenary cut hex tarp and i was wondering what is the best way to make the cat cuts? I was thinking using cardboard but i dont really know. Thanks.

[WetRivrRat]

I used packing tape and hung the fabric on the wall and traced a string hung to the desired depth. I did this for all cuts of the tarp, but upon further investigation I learned that gravity was not playing along nicely. So I took the tarp halves and folded them in half and lined up the cuts , one half on top of the other, and cleaned them up with a roller cutter.

Your idea of using cardboard sounds like it would be easier.... And more uniform

[doogie]

I used an old woodworkers trick of taking a thin strip of wood and tying a string to the ends to make a bow shape. Here's my post with pictures on it http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...0&postcount=43

[SmokeHouse]

Cardboard will work fine, needs to be length of ridgeline. Put string on each end, drop it in the middle to desired length as stated above. Trace and cut...

[Fireline]

I have some fiberglass rods for fishing wires in walls.... It takes two people but one can flex a rod so it touches all three points and someone else can trace it. If you have something flexible like a piece of matchbox car track or something I like that method.

[Lerms]

I have used the string trick. Just put a piece of cardboard up on the wall and pin a piece of mason line with the desired droop to the cardboard. Then carefully trace and cut. Worked on 4 tarps so far.

If all else fails free hand it by marking some points on your fabric. Ends, Midpoint, and a few points in between. This works great on stacked Silnylon. You just need to get the fabric taught or at least flat before cutting.

[Resqsarge03]

I have not used this technique with hammocks but I've done something like this in my **** Yankee Workshop. This link shows a way to do it.
I've asked other hammockers how they made their cat cuts and many say they use the "string trick" but I am not sure it is the same as this. Hope this helps.
-Sarge

http://www.mathopenref.com/constellipse1.html

[Hiknhanger]

DIY gear supply has full plans for a hex tarp including a technique for establishing the cat cut. I have never tried it to vouch for it, but it might give you a good idea.

[jordo_99]

I'm a bit late to the game...but I found a helpful excel document that plots out the points really well.

I used it to plot out points on a ridge line for a tarp and it worked great.

I used 3in of deflection for a 96in ridge-line and it pitches very well with all the hemmed edges being straight.

[MAD777]

Here is a link to my thread shoeing how to make all sides of a hex tarp equal so that you can cut one cat cut pattern on cardboard, or similar, and use it for all the sides. It's a time saver.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=57710