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  1. #1
    Senior Member stevebo's Avatar
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    cat tarp question

    Im working on a cat cut tarp (my first one, hence the question) --how deep do you make the cat cuts? do they all need to be the same length? Also, since Im planning on trimming the cat cuts with grosgain , do I just cut the arc with a rotery cutter and then sew on the grosgain? (verses useing a hot knife to seal the edges----since the grosgain is going over the top anyway, do the edges need to be sealed?) Thanks for all the help!
    FYI: If you want to know what type a certain bear is, sneak up behind it and kick it. Then,
    run like crazy and climb up a tree. If the bear climbs the tree and eats you, it's a black
    bear. If the bear just pushes the tree over and eats you, it's a grizzly bear : )


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  2. #2
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    Steve, here is a link to a method to create a hex tarp with all sides being equal, which means you only have to figure out one cat curve to use for all edges.
    http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=57710

    As to the amount of curvature, you will want more for silnylon that tends to stretch and less for spinnaker or cuben type materials that don't. I have used 3/4' foot for silnylon and was happy. For instance, a side of 6 feet would have a 4.5 inch deep bow in the middle.
    Last edited by MAD777; 12-27-2012 at 10:50.
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  3. #3
    Senior Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by MAD777 View Post
    Steve, here is a link to a method to create a hex tarp with all sides being equal, which means you only have to figure out one cat curve to use for all edges.
    http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=57710

    As to the amount of curvature, you will want more for silnylon that tends to stretch and less for spinnaker or cuben type materials that don't. I have used 3/4' foot for silnylon and was happy. For instance, a side of 6 feet would have a 4 inch deep bow in the middle.
    +1

    Although for non-stretch material like cuben I have found as long as it is cut straight and you have 90* angles I have found no need for cat cuts as the tarp pitches perfectly. If it isn't cut straight then the addition of cat-cuts almost in a sense counters the non-straight edges to allow for a tight pitch.

    JMO and YMMV
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  4. #4
    Senior Member
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    Another set of plans...http://www.backwoodsdaydreamer.com/diy-guides/tarps/

    I use a string to approximate the curve when cutting patterns. Here's a photo of a set up for a bridge hammock end panel. The cutouts on the left side of the cardboard are for a tarp.

  5. #5
    Jimbo3b's Avatar
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    I made both the hex tarp and the winter dream off the DIY Gear Supply page, both out of the seconds-grade polyurethane-coated camo.

    I started with a string, a couple of thumb tacks, a marker, and a piece of silver-sided building foam/insulation, and made one parabola 6 feet long and 6 inches deep. I plotted out both patterns on XY grids, based on the plans and given dimensions. Then on my coated nylon, I marked the points taken off the XY grid. Then I fit my curve as best I could between the points--if two points were less than six feet apart, then the curve just wasn't the full depth of 6 inches. Since then I've done patterns where I needed a longer curve, but it's easy to eyeball it, just put the curve halfway between and then extend the lines on each end to the correct point.

    I've always thought that a catenary ridge line looked pretty cool, but I did mine straight, and just cat-cut the edges. I was worried that if I cat-cut the ridgeline too then I might get floppy ends. Both the hex tarp and the winter dream, based on the plans, rig up pretty tight.

  6. #6
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
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    I just eye-balled and guessed at mine as I don't excel at math stuff)))))
    Shug




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  7. #7
    Senior Member hangNyak's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shug View Post
    I just eye-balled and guessed at mine as I don't excel at math stuff)))))
    Shug
    I'm math challenged myself. I just figured 1" depth for every foot of span. My tie outs were 7ft. apart. So, find the center point at 3 1/2ft. measure 7" up. Then, I took a piece of 1/4 round baseboard moulding and bent it to trace the arc.
    RON

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  8. #8
    Senior Member stevebo's Avatar
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    Thanks for all the great advice guys! You've given me lots to think about!
    FYI: If you want to know what type a certain bear is, sneak up behind it and kick it. Then,
    run like crazy and climb up a tree. If the bear climbs the tree and eats you, it's a black
    bear. If the bear just pushes the tree over and eats you, it's a grizzly bear : )


    Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me, either, just leave me alone.
    --unknown

  9. #9
    Senior Member Redoleary's Avatar
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    A depth of 4-6% of the length would work too. If they get too deep you start loosing coverage.
    Good luck,
    RED

    My Youtube Channel

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