View Full Version : Made some gear! -Speer 8x10 tarp kit
PuckerFactor
08-07-2009, 18:57
Woohoo! It works! Okay, got my 8x10 tarp kit from Ed the other day and just finished it and got it hung out in the back yard.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=86&pictureid=898
I took some "liberties" with the directions to personalize and reinforce it. I put a 6"x6' cat cut along the long edge to see if I could.. :D Worked out alright. Wish I could have kept it from bunching so much.
Ridgelinehttp://www.hammockforums.net/forum/picture.php?pictureid=900&albumid=86&dl=1249687508&thumb=1 (http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/album.php?albumid=86&pictureid=900) long edgehttp://www.hammockforums.net/forum/picture.php?pictureid=901&albumid=86&dl=1249687508&thumb=1 (http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/album.php?albumid=86&pictureid=901) cornerhttp://www.hammockforums.net/forum/picture.php?pictureid=902&albumid=86&dl=1249687508&thumb=1 (http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/album.php?albumid=86&pictureid=902)
I got Linelocs for all my tieouts and they're awesome!! I used paracord for the ridgelines and some 2mm cord I have a spool of for knot work for the edges.
Here's another shot with the flaps down a bit.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=86&pictureid=899
Now to make a bishop bag for it, or skins, I haven't decided yet.
Ideas? Comments?
Acer
gargoyle
08-07-2009, 19:31
Looks good. Nice camo touch. Keep up the good work.
HitchHiking
08-07-2009, 23:47
kickin mate. looks the part no doubt
I like the camo tieouts - and it looks like you did a bomber job on the ridgeline seam, which can be really tricky on silnylon. Congrats!
Brian
PuckerFactor
08-08-2009, 11:20
Wow, thanks for the comments guys! That's high praise coming from you Brian, I still wish I'd been able to get it to bunch less, but it works, so...
Off to camp and party!
Acer
Looks terrific and lots of good coverage......
animalcontrol
08-14-2009, 10:27
I prefer skins to a stuffsack on the tarp...
tarp looks good and I have the same issues with puckering on the corner reinforcements...
functionality over fashion, BABY!
Great looking tarp. OH yeh!
PuckerFactor
08-14-2009, 10:55
Once I figure out a way to tame my guy lines, I'll probably go with skins.
I also figured out the solution to my puckering problem. Bobbin tension. I loosened it maaaayybe a 1/8th of a turn, and now it's smooth as silk. So I went ahead and made a double layer out of some nice tan 1.1 from wally World. Now to play around with some different gather styles...
Acer
Ramblinrev
08-14-2009, 11:10
I also figured out the solution to my puckering problem. Bobbin tension. I loosened it maaaayybe a 1/8th of a turn, and now it's smooth as silk. So I went ahead and made a double layer out of some nice tan 1.1 from wally World. Now to play around with some different gather styles...
Acer
I'm glad that worked. In general the bobbin does not need to be adjusted once it leaves the factory. That's what the top thread tension range is for. You spool thread tension should be set about in the middle of the range for normal type stitching. If it is not then you system is out of whack. It would be worth the trouble IMO to recalibrate the tensions to fall within those ranges. That means you might need to redo the bobbin tension setting if it was changed dramatically before. The theory here is that all the tension adjustment is done quickly and easily from the accessible controls on the machine. That way you can dial in the proper tension without having to mess around with rethreading the machine. This is particularly important when doing gathering ruffles and such.. not whipping styles) where the tension getts changed to a wide degree. The less messing with the bobbin that is done the easier it is to return to the default settings for the machine.
PuckerFactor
08-14-2009, 12:41
Thanks for the info Rev. I was playing with it, and to get the bottom thread up into the fabric, I was having to turn the top tension up in the 8 to 9 o'clock range sometimes, which is what I think was bunching things up. I read somewhere that you want to be able to barely hang the bobbin by it's thread without it spooling out, and mine was much tighter than that. The bobbin spring plate thingy also has a bit of surface rust on it, so I think that may be where my extra friction is coming from. That tiny bit of turn loosened it just enough that I can have the top tension back down in the 5 to 6 o'clock range. I probably should take it to a mechanic though since I doubt it's been cleaned or anything in at least 15 years, probably more.
Acer
Ramblinrev
08-14-2009, 13:03
Thanks for the info Rev. I was playing with it, and to get the bottom thread up into the fabric, I was having to turn the top tension up in the 8 to 9 o'clock range sometimes, which is what I think was bunching things up. I read somewhere that you want to be able to barely hang the bobbin by it's thread without it spooling out, and mine was much tighter than that. The bobbin spring plate thingy also has a bit of surface rust on it, so I think that may be where my extra friction is coming from. That tiny bit of turn loosened it just enough that I can have the top tension back down in the 5 to 6 o'clock range. I probably should take it to a mechanic though since I doubt it's been cleaned or anything in at least 15 years, probably more.
Acer
Serendipity is a wonderful thing..... You are now adjusted just about right if you have a 1-10 spool tension range. It wouldn't hurt to have it oiled and deep cleaned... but you are about where you need to be.