where is the seam on your tarp. ridge? because i haven't found cuben more then 54" wide
where is the seam on your tarp. ridge? because i haven't found cuben more then 54" wide
great job.
MountainFitter,
Did you make this tarp or buy it? I logged onto Mountainfitter.com and didn't find pricing as I'd like to have a Cuben tarp
thanks
That's a VERY nice looking tarp. Got any advice for the DIYers to make something similar?
"Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities." - Mark Twain
“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” - John Burroughs
The seam is a 1" wide bonded seam along the ridge-line. As you said cuben comes around 54" wide. Its actually more like 54.75" but it all depends on how you trim it..
The tarp isn't available for sale just yet. I still have some cosmetic details to iron out but should have them available for sale in the next few weeks..
DIY'ers I will answer any questions you have..
I'm just finishing my first cuben tarp, about 9' x 11'. It has one center seam, taped with 1" wide 3M 9460 tape, pre-primed with 3M Primer 94. The edge seams are reinforced by being turned over once and taped (same materials, but 1/2" wide.) Next I will attach toggle-reinforced tie-outs (a la Gnome). Then comes the hard part: waiting a week before trying it out so the taping can "cure", that is, reach maximum strength.
What I've learned so far (after 51' of taping):
1) The easiest way to cut cuben accurately, especially near the edges where the HMPE fibers stop, is with a soldering iron and a metal straightedge on masonite, formica, or glass.
2) Using a printing brayer or laminate roller is the best way to press the tape after it's properly positioned.
3) The easiest way to remove the backing strip from adhesive transfer tape is with the cuben pieces already pressed together. The backing strip folds back and slides out of the space between them and the cuben bonds immediately (where it's supposed to).
4) If the adhesive on the tape touches anything except the surfaces you're bonding, it becomes unusable.
5.) If you want to tape edge seams 1/2" wide, don't try to cut 1" tape in half lengthwise. (I did it, and lived to tell the tale, but will not hesitate to spend $24 on a roll of 1/2" tape if I decide to do it in the future.)
6) The Primer 94 is available in 1/2 pint cans (and bigger), and also in 66 ml. ampules. I got the 1/2 pint size, but it goes a long way.
7) There's a knack to handling this stuff, but it doesn't take too long to learn. Your second or third tarp should start looking pretty good.
Sounds like you got everything pretty dialed in. How many hours did it take to build? What cuben did you use? Did you build your tarp on a table or the ground?
We Want Pics
Still in the process of dialing, but I've done some research. The cuben is CT1K.08 (about .48 oz/ sq. yd.). I didn't keep track of the hours, but your questions about work surface are very much to the point. I used a 4' x 8' piece of masonite on my porch floor, with an extension piece of formica to give a 12' working length. I'm pretty sure I want to have a folding table in my new workshop (estimated completion 2011) so I can lay out new projects, whether sewn or taped. A 6' x 12' work surface at a comfortable working height would have made this project go much quicker.
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