View Full Version : My DIY tarp
HitchHiking
03-18-2009, 05:03
So after humming and hawwing and asking questions here http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7502 and getting ideas here http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7485 I finally dove in and made my tarp.:scared:
I decided to go for a winter style with closeable ends for stormy weather:D
Here is my 210 D ripstop nylon fresh off the roll
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1659.jpg
Heres my machine at work on the seams and hems
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1660.jpg
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1662.jpg
Here is my flat felled seam that I stitched twice for strength
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1661.jpg
My guy rope connections
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1663.jpg
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1664.jpg
and the final tarp
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1665.jpg
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1666.jpg
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1667.jpg
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1672.jpg
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1674.jpg
Im very pleased with how it came out:)
Now I was wondering what others thought about some improvemtns on this could be. Like maybe some cat cuts or side pulls or any other ideas. I may need a couple fo days of prpoer field tests to see what else I want on it.
Thanks all:shades:
Cheers
Hitch
Sorry, can't give you improvement ideas but wanted to say that looks awesome!!!!
A few questions as I am looking to make a simple tarp.
1. Is yours a basic rectange joined down the ridgeline?
2. Where did you get the fabric and how much?
3. Did you just simply hem the edges and join the middle?
4. What method did you use down the middle?
Good work.
Ramblinrev
03-18-2009, 07:38
Now I was wondering what others thought about some improvemtns on this could be. Like maybe some cat cuts or side pulls or any other ideas.
I think generally speaking the time to put in cat cuts is before any of the stitching is done. You would need to redo all the edge work to put cat cuts in now. Straight edged tarps have a strong advocacy group here, particularly in the winter tarps. Playing with panel pull outs would certainly be a worthwhile process. Use something like the grip clips to set the position temporarily until you decide where you want them to be.
Looks good.
Cannibal
03-18-2009, 07:57
NICE TARP!
I'm a fan of side pulls on a winter tarp; just like the extra room. Rev is right, get some grip clips and figure out where you want them before you guess. Again, nice tarp!:thumbup1:
headchange4u
03-18-2009, 07:58
Nice job and good looking tarp.
Nice Job on the tarp.
What are the dimensions of it.
I am waiting for my 1.1 silnyl (from OWF) to arrive so I can start one.
Narwhalin
03-18-2009, 11:21
Awesome tarp, dude!
The SWT not only has cat cuts, but it also has caternary darts to take up some of the slack near the doors. So, that would be another thing you could have done to make it more like the SWT.
That said, just look at how close you got! :) The way the pictures look, you have a nice tight pitch and almost full coverage! I wouldn't be worried about adding any cat cuts or darts or anything because that tarp looks more than adequate as it is.
If you need more room inside or just a tighter pitch for the wind, invest in some grip clips and put 2 on each side. Once you find the sweet spot, you have the option of adding panel pulls for a permanent tieout.
Yeah Mate ..... right sweet lookin' home for the piney woods of the ultimate southland!
Shug
stoikurt
03-18-2009, 13:09
Very nice job. You should get lots of use out of it. I second all the comments and side pull-outs.
Great looking tarp! This is a project I haven't yet undertaken, but when I do, I hope my results are anything as good as yours.
Perkolady
03-18-2009, 14:34
Very Very nice ! :thumbup:
I suggest side pullouts too. They really make a huge difference with the damp/sag factor, and take it from me, they are very helpful when the wind is roaring as well!! :eek:
Great job!
I think side pullouts is a great idea as well. That thing looks sweet, love the color too. Wish I had the skills to do that .
TY
HitchHiking
03-18-2009, 16:37
Thanks for the great comments everyone:)
Seems like side pulls are a popular suggestion and thats what I was thinking would be. Cats would be possible more work then I really need as it goes up pretty well. I was thinking of it more as a weight saving thing but it wount be hardly enough to notice. I think this is coming in at about 800 grams but have yet to get the official weight will wait till I get my shock cord tensioners and looks like the side pulls on :cool:
HitchHiking
03-18-2009, 16:52
A few questions as I am looking to make a simple tarp.
1. Is yours a basic rectange joined down the ridgeline?
2. Where did you get the fabric and how much?
3. Did you just simply hem the edges and join the middle?
4. What method did you use down the middle?
Good work.
Cheers mate,
To answer your questions
1. Yes its two peices of fabric they had jsut enough left to make it 3.6meters long joined at the ridgeline.
2. I got it from a Outdoor Supplies store in Sydney . I work in the industry and got workers prices but I think they retail here for 15 aussie a meter. probs much cheaper in the states.
3. yeah I Hemmed the edges as usual but in the middle I used a flatfelled seam which I stiched twice as you can see in the pic to keep it from popping up.This is hold the two peices of fabric. Ray Jardines book has a good write up on making tarps and I followed his stitched for most barring the second stitching on the seam I did. Ed speer has a good write up about making a tarp in his hammock camping book. Bother were great helps as was just jeffs page, neat to see all the different ones. http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingDry.html and of course every one here is awesome:cool:
4. I think 3 covers this but yeah the flat felled seam. works the treat, seam seal the under side :)
hope that is a help Atison:)
BOB1520,
the total dimensions are 360cm long and 298cm wide as I lost two cm width from the hems and middle join.
anewconvert
03-19-2009, 01:23
Nice work
BC
Ramblinrev
03-19-2009, 01:54
The flat felled seam is demonstrated in one of the 'We Don't Sew... We Make Gear!" vids.
HitchHiking
03-19-2009, 16:53
Just finished the stuff sack.
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1676.jpg
Im impressed with its size and the weight comes in at 900 grams, not to bad.
Rushthezeppelin
03-20-2009, 13:23
That looks exactly like a Claytor MH stuff sack. Very nice craftsmanship though for sure.
HitchHiking
03-21-2009, 07:27
Thanks very much mate, its a peice of an old coleman tent fly that I got from my work for free. heaps of water proof material now. :D
Splinter
03-21-2009, 08:04
:thumbup: Excellent looking tarp!!:thumbup:
What is the spacing for the panel pull tie-outs along the bottom?
now just to make set up easier you could make some snake skins for that little ol' tarp.
HitchHiking
03-21-2009, 18:54
[QUOTE=Splinter;109943
What is the spacing for the panel pull tie-outs along the bottom?[/QUOTE]
Yo, I never actualy measured with a tape measure as such. I think they came out at 76 cm afterwards. But after I got the ridgeline in it I set it up and tryed differet lenghts of the pannels with the thought that when I had it closed up I still had enough room to be in the hammock. and thats how I got their lenght:cool:
Yeah eh Golfer
Might have to look into some snake skins, but I think its the side pulls first.
jeffjenn
03-21-2009, 21:46
Just finished the stuff sack.
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1676.jpg
Im impressed with its size and the weight comes in at 900 grams, not to bad.
That's a really heavy stuffsack:scared: How much does the tarp weigh?:lol::lol:
All kidding aside just wanted to say it looks great!;)
HitchHiking
03-23-2009, 22:01
Thanks to everyone who suggested side pulls.:D They are a great addition. Gives me heaps more room on the inside. Got some proto type guy ropes on it to see how it looks. once again very pleased.:cool:
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1677.jpg
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1679-1.jpg
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1681.jpg
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1682.jpg
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq304/soccerevan/IMG_1687.jpg
jpanderson80
03-28-2009, 11:43
Nice job. I like the green color. The side pull outs seem to allow for loads of room underneath.
medicineman03
04-02-2012, 10:08
Good work! What are the dimensions of the cut pieces? Does the seam run along with the ridgeline? I'm looking into making one about this size. I worry about the seam down the ridgeline, but I believe the sil I have is only 64" wide. So no matter what I would have to connect two pieces together in order to make one this size. Does sil come in wider rolls, or does anyone have any ideas?
Beautiful tarp. Have you sealed the seams and tie-out attachment points? And this is a dumb question, but I just have to ask: this fabric is waterproof, isn't it? Silicone or polyurethane? :rolleyes: