DIY Silicon tarp

**psyculman** · 05-20-2010, 05:07

Here are some pictures of the tarp I made from fabric from Backwoods Daydreamer's 1.1 RS camo.

It is cat cut, weighs 18 oz. and is 10'-6"X10'-6". The end cat cut radius is 110". It is edged with 1" grosgrain, and has a 5" loop of cord at each tie point. I will say it sure pitchs out nice and taunt, compaired to a square tarp! I plan to make end closures for it later, using the opposite (mirror) cut template piece from the end cut template, so, it will retain it's curve.

I sprayed the 1.1 camo ripstop with the silicon mixture commonly used here on HF. The mixture is one part silicon caulk and 3 parts mineral spirits. So, that's a standard 10 oz. tube of clear silicon caulk, mixed with 30 oz. of mineral spirits, or paint thinner. NOT laquer thinner! I have a commercial finish spray room, and paint mixer machine, so, it both mixed and sprayed easily. Spread out against a large panel of cardboard, the silicon solution shot directly through the fabric, and, dried almost instantly, with no drips or runs, no squegee! This process might work with an hand held airless sprayer. DO NOT BREATH THIS SPRAY. Although on it's first trial, the tarp did seep rain, with an additional coat of spray, it seems to be acceptable now, although time will tell. But, it packs down to almost nothing, and weighs about 1/2 my other poly hex tarp.

**gargoyle** · 05-20-2010, 05:15

Looks good. You can always fold in the ends for the doors.
Nice shop.

**NCPatrick** · 05-20-2010, 07:29

Looks great! I'm glad you reminded folks not to breathe in the spray. Seems like it would be really bad if you did.

**Cranky Bear** · 05-20-2010, 08:07

Wow that's a great lookin tarp! Nice job!!!!

**SmokeHouse** · 05-20-2010, 08:40

great job,,, looks nice

**bigbamaguy** · 05-20-2010, 08:54

absolutely fabulous job on the tarp. I like the idea of spraying the tarp. Did you use all of the mixture on the first coat and did you pull the tarp taut when you were spraying it?

**mercop** · 05-20-2010, 09:17

New guy question, would the reg Wally World Sil Spray be sufficient? Digging your tarp bro.- George

**TOB9595** · 05-20-2010, 09:31

The tarp looks really fine in the woods. Blends in mighty fine.

Two coats huh?
Even with two coats I'll wager you had a lot left over.
Nice work
Tom

**Col_M** · 05-20-2010, 11:20

Looks fine to me, good job

Just an observation but what you have there is a regular circular arc, a true catenary curve doesn't have a radius. Not that it makes much difference on a tarp, I just wanted to point it out

/pedantic engineer

**Knotty** · 05-20-2010, 11:41

Originally Posted by TOB9595

The tarp looks really fine in the woods. Blends in mighty fine.

Two coats huh?
Even with two coats I'll wager you had a lot left over.
Nice work
Tom

When I did the soak and squeeze method more solution was left over than absorbed but having the large volume of liquid made it easier to thoroughly saturate the tarp. Using a sprayer psyculman may be able to get buy mixing a smaller batch.

psyculman - I notice you have gaps in the template between the arcs. I assume those gaps get closed when material is used up in the rolled hem? I did the same with my first (and only) DIY tarp but don't recall reading about others doing it.