BarberMike's projects(3) thread

**barbermike** · 10-24-2012, 08:18

The DIY bug bit me hard a couple weeks ago when I ordered material for three separate projects. I had plans to sew a 60"x120" 1.4oz ripstop channel end hammock with knotty mod, a 42"x48" 5oz Climashield Apex underquilt, and lastly a small tent for my dog that will be suspended from my hammock suspension. I've already named the last one the "Pup Tent".

Well I've been anxiously waiting about 2 weeks to even start the first project since my wonderful seamstress(mother) and I had to coordinate times. Last night it all began, I figured we would have plenty of time to finish at least the first two of the three projects. Boy was I wrong. When doing any kind of project I always seems to grossly underestimate the amount of time it will take to complete. Though its always the exact opposite when guessing driving times. I'm always within about five mins.

Well we started on the channel end hammock around 7ish and didn't finish until about 9:45! what was I thinking when I said this one should only take 30 minuets. Well lemme just say this, having never worked with thin slippery and shinny ripstop before its kind of a challenge and takes a different throught process when folding and preparing to stitch. Nothing like working with the crinkle taffeta we have used before. Now after completing one I think we could probably crank out another in about an hour all said and done.

Having completed the project well after dark, and my bed time

, I never got to hang it or test it. I can't wait to leave work today and rush home to hang and test the new hammock! Sadly it is a long day. Pictures will come later today once I am able to hang it. Lets hope my butt doesn't succumb to gravity.

More to come as I find time to complete the remaining projects!

**Klaussinator** · 10-24-2012, 08:40

Gonna be a long day . . .

I'm curious to see your ideas for the "pup tent" - Keep us posted!

-Klauss

**barbermike** · 10-24-2012, 08:58

Here is a quick sketch of what I am thinking of for the "Pup Tent". I had posted this in another thread a while ago but it's appropriate for the thread.

It will have a double layer floor, made from 1.4oz. ripstop that will be sewn on three sides to allow me to slip in a cut up piece of a WW blue CCF pad. This will allow some insulation and padding for my dog while also giving some structure to the shape of the "Pup Tent". The general shape is like a mailbox and the front will have a zippered opening that goes the whole way around the inverted "U" shape so that it will flop open like a mailbox. This door will be made from noseeum mesh and the remaining upper body will be from 1.1oz. ripstop. At the top center at each end I will sew in grossgrain loops in which to run some lightweight cord, zing it or equal, through and then up to where it can connect to my hammock suspension where it meets the end of my hammock. Its just a concept at the moment but should have time to finish it up in the next 2-3 weeks or so. I'm sure some of the design will change as I make it but I hope this gives you a general idea.

**barbermike** · 10-26-2012, 15:16

Well I finally got a chance to set up the hammock and snap a few pics.
Specs:
1.4oz. ripstop nylon
120"x58" final dimensions
Channel ends
Knotty Mod
2.2mm 7' Dyneema Whoopies
1.4mm Z-Line 100" SRL
WEIGHT=10.05oz. w/ whoopies and SRL

I think I'll name it the "Gray Cloud"

**Otter1** · 10-26-2012, 17:12

Very cool.

Thanks for the pics too.

**Hammonkey** · 10-27-2012, 02:08

I posted this on your old thread about the pup tent and I think this idea went unnoticed:

Make an underbelly gear sling, only instead of the gathered end design like eno does, make it more like a bridge design with extra flaps on three sides that you can stake down to form a shelter to make his bed in. Plus you can store your gear on it.

If you wanted a floor on it, easiest way I could see would just to make a tube and close one end of it. Attach the bridge bars and a couple tie-outs to hold shape.

**barbermike** · 10-28-2012, 08:26

Originally Posted by Hammonkey

I posted this on your old thread about the pup tent and I think this idea went unnoticed:

If you wanted a floor on it, easiest way I could see would just to make a tube and close one end of it. Attach the bridge bars and a couple tie-outs to hold shape.

that's a really neat design. never saw it in the other thread about dog tents. only thing for me is that I am trying to keep the design as light as possible. but if i were to fully enclose the ends and put in a floor and use sticks as spreader bars and sticks as stakes or even have the ccf pad in the floor it might work. You may have me rethinking my design.

Also a quick update. I finished up my Underquilt yesterday. the bloody thing took us 6 hours to finish! again ripstop can be a pain to sew but we are learning the more we use it. Pics to come when I get another chance to set it up. Weather hasn't been good here.

**Hammonkey** · 11-09-2012, 17:11

Originally Posted by barbermike

that's a really neat design. never saw it in the other thread about dog tents. only thing for me is that I am trying to keep the design as light as possible.

You can get aluminum tubing relatively cheaply from a hobby store in various thicknesses and diameters. Also if you know any Archers, arrow shafts would work perfect (thin, lightweight, rigid, cheap if you can score any salvageable broken arrows. It would not be much weight at all coupled with a couple Ti Stakes

Originally Posted by barbermike

Also a quick update. I finished up my Underquilt yesterday. the bloody thing took us 6 hours to finish! again ripstop can be a pain to sew but we are learning the more we use it. Pics to come when I get another chance to set it up. Weather hasn't been good here.

I understand that! I just finished a silnylon tarp. Talk about slippery thin pan of fire to be thrown into as my first stab on a thread injector. Everything turned out great though! I'm waiting on glowire to come back in-stock and my dutch flys to arrive before I get it strung and a picture taken.

**barbermike** · 11-12-2012, 12:19

Got out for an overnight trip with the Girlfriend this weekend. hope to get the pics off my camera later today and upload some of them!

**barbermike** · 11-12-2012, 18:05

here are the pictures as promised.

First off I will show you the little monster that I made the "Pup Tent" for.
She "Sophie" hiked in and back out the total 12 miles. We say she is a big dog stuck in a little dogs body.

And now on to what you all have been waiting for. The "Pup Tent in action.
it ended up being just a little to tall to comfortably sling under the hammock but could still be accomplished in a pinch if raining and needed. I had ordered carbon rods for where the sticks are but I did not get them before the trip. I have them now and even at 6mm OD and 4mm ID they are way to stiff so I will probably stick to sticks. also there is an evasote pad in the bottom and two Titanium stakes holding down the front two corners. And now for a picture.

And last but not least a quick picture of the underquilt that I made. It got down to about 40 that night maybe a little lower since we were in the gulf camping. But I'm not sure if I had it hung completely correct as I was a little cold in the morning even though I used 5oz Climashield APEX. Kinda wondering if my next project needs to be a winter sock?