Are my Grommets Good for high wind?
I bought this 7x5 tarp from walmart. It is a good overall tarp (only weighing 8 oz) but I question how strong the tie out would be in high wind?I will be using this tarp in both a a-sym and a-frame setup. I will be backpacking mt. Whitney this next summer known for high winds would the grommets stand up as my only shelter?
Is there anyway I can reinforce the grommets? I am already using little pieces of shock cord.
Thanks, Trent
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In general, grommets in lightweight materials either have the fabric pull out from around them or the grommet cuts the fabric. Either way they usually don't last.
Sew grosgrain or webbing loops to the tarp and use those instead.
Grommets don't fail. The fabric around them fails.
Nothing can be done about that. The holes distort and pull out of the grommet. It really is that simple. Will the grommets holes fail in the first good wind. Maybe not, but they will fail. Webbing loops are the best option.
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."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
Old Indian Saying: white man invented grommets to destroy perfectly good tarp.
If you can't sew webbing loops, use the pebble method (bunch corners of tarp around pebble, tie guyline to pebble). Works great.
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Do you have a picture of how to do this or a link? Also can I hand sew Webbing? and if so what is the best and easy design for the webbing?Originally Posted by SilvrSurfr
I imagine there a gazillion links, but here's a YouTube Vid.
Pretty easy to hand sew webbing as well.
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Here's the short version.
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Yes you can hand stitch webbing loops to the tarp.
Thank You Guys! When I am hand stitching do I need to reinforce the webbing? Will a sandwich style work? (ex: webbing, tarp, webbing). is there a simple design that I can use that is easy to sew?
Last edited by trbjr; 10-16-2014 at 01:01.
Anything that holds the webbing securely to the tarp is fine. A box X stitch formation is a good one but so are a few straight lines of stitching lengthwise on the webbing. One trick to think about is to twist the webbing 1/2 turn when placing it. That will keep the loop from closing and make it easy to deal with with gloves on for cold weather. If you are going to leave tie outs on the loops all the time then that may not be helpful but if you are one of those that removes the tie outs and winds them up separately it can save some frustration.
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."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
I went with the box stitch. It is very strong but man, hand sewing takes skills. Looks like a 5 year old made it.:It took me about 2 hours for this one too.
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