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  1. #1
    Senior Member leroybrown's Avatar
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    DIY Blackcat (Bishop)

    I am staring at a huge pile of silnylon. I have a 4 day hike at pictured rocks on the 9th and I have no tarp.

    I've studied the plans for the blackcat tarp Bishop made -

    I might keep the basic design but make the ridgeline shorter than the ends so I can have doors - undecided.

    I'm looking at you seasoned DIYers for some advice here - any little tricks or tips that makes tarp making easier.

    Thanks guys

    the most over his head in the whole town

  2. #2
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
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    Make sure that ridgeline covers the ends of your hammock by 6-8 inches .... don't goof there.
    Just start laying it out ..... make sure .... cut .... start sewing.
    Now you ain't got much time so just get started)))))))) ..... now!
    Seam seal it when done.
    Shug
    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

  3. #3
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    Personally I would not change the pattern that way. I would make it more rectangular and put multiple tieouts along the edges to provide door flaps. If this is your first foray into DIY tarps I would tend to follow the directions closely. It has been tried and tested. If you are a seasoned DIY person then adapt away. But There are ways of sealing the ends of the black cat without the use of full doors. That is what I would suggest you explore if this is a first project of this type.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

    "Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
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  4. #4
    Senior Member gargoyle's Avatar
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    LB, what width fabric do you have?
    As said, a big rectangle is less fuss, and offers great coverage. You can still do slight cat cuts, if your up to the challenge. I've never tried to do a cat cut, find the rectangle to serve my needs fine.
    I've got a few extra tarps if you need 'em.?
    8x11, 10x11, seem like a good combo of coverage, versatility, pack size, and weight.
    Ambulo tua ambulo.

  5. #5
    Senior Member gargoyle's Avatar
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    Check Backwoods Daydreamer' site for easy illustration of tarps.
    BWDD Link Click on a tarp and look at some of Scott's details. Helps me.
    Ambulo tua ambulo.

  6. #6
    Senior Member leroybrown's Avatar
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    Gargoyle - Thank you so much for the offer; I might take you up on it. Depends on frustration level. I can dedicate tonight, depending on how the wings are doing and have two other days where the tarp can be my main focus. Shug and I just talked about cat cuts- Sassy cat tarps as he said, they just look so sweet!

    Shug - Measure twice cut once. I'm with you. I'll go slow... but hurry

    Ramblinrev - I'll take your advice - no changes. Thanks for bringing me back to reality.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
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    Assuming you've worked with sil before? If not, there are three rules when working with sil.

    1. Go slow. Really, really slow.
    2. Pins are your friends
    3. Be sure there are no kids in the house. The amount of liquor and foul language required to construct a sil tarp will have a negative effect on them.
    Trust nobody!

  8. #8
    Senior Member leroybrown's Avatar
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    Cannibal -

    #3 made me laugh. Thanks! I am amazed at how slick it is. I'm looking forward to this project. Thanks all for the help.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Just Jeff's Avatar
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    I also wouldn't alter the design to have doors. If you want doors, make a BlackCat and add the doors afterwards. You'll get a much tighter pitch that way.
    “Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.” ~Judge Joseph Story

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  10. #10
    Senior Member leroybrown's Avatar
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    More Problems. Here's the website if you don't have it handy

    http://www.teamgunnparker.com/blackc...#_Toc173479834

    For those of you who have done this Tarp -

    This portion is giving me lots of trouble. I have the spreadsheet, but when I follow the directions the Angle AB cell never opens - even when you search for it. Has anyone else had this problem? If you've done the tarp - can you just give me your measurements and I'll duplicate yours?



    "Once you've decided on the amount of cut-in, enter your choice (in inches per foot) in the cell labeled "Sag inch/ft" and push the "Feed the Cat" button again. You're done entering data!

    When the file is done calculating, take a look at the cell marked "Angle AB". This is the measure (in degrees) of the angle between diagonal "a" and side "b" in the hex diagram. If the angle is larger than about 55, you're fine. Skip ahead to the next section, leaving the file open.

    If "Angle AB" is less than 55 or so, look at the bottom of the spreadsheet. There should be a new tab there, labeled "AlternateShape". Click this to view it. You'll use these measurements instead of the ones on the main sheet.

    The reason for having alternate measurements here is that you want "Angle AB" to be around 60 degrees. This gives the right amount of end coverage, in my opinion. To accomplish this (while keeping the ridge length and width you want) requires making the tarp edge parallel to the ridge (between points "O" in the diagram) longer than the other two, instead of having all three the same. Unfortunately, this complicates the layout process - you'll have to make two different catenary patterns. This is why there are two "a" measurements ("a1" and "a2") and two sets of catenary measurements ("a1" and "a2") on the "AlternateShape" sheet."


    I've already spent about 2 hours trying to figure this out. Thank you so much for the help

    lb

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