I took it out and use it this weekend but no rain. I guess it is a good thing for there to be clear skies during a hike, but not good when you want to test your new tarp's performance.
I took it out and use it this weekend but no rain. I guess it is a good thing for there to be clear skies during a hike, but not good when you want to test your new tarp's performance.
Here are some pictures:
And a shot of the tarp in the field - it is the middle hammock.
What color is that Rock?
My knife is so sharp it cut the sixth finger off my right hand!On the plus side, Inigo Montoya no longer hunts me.
That is supposed to be OD green. But when you are making it with mylar I guess the color sort of gets funky. At least it isn't Tyvec white.
What were your total costs, if you don't mind me asking?
I spent $26 x 7 yards = $182 on the material from Zpack, probably could have done it for $156 with only 6 yards, but I wanted extra for stuff sacks. Add another $1.60 for the flat cord to make the pull outs on the tarp, and $3.50 for shipping.
I spent $47 on tape, primer, and not cheap shipping from R.S.Hughes.
I also spent $18.60 on other odds and ends, and shipping from Zpack to make stuff sacks and some new, lighter lines (which are on back order) which someone making this wouldn't need to get.
A couple of thoughts about my plan too:
1. If I were to do it again, the pull out tabs would be bigger than 2" square. That area is hard to get good surface area for bonding to the tarp and also hard for sewing on pull outs. I think 3" would be better.
2. I would avoid making any triangle shapes. Those are hard to cut and fit 1/2" wide strips to cover. Next time I would keep everything square.
One other thing I should also mention I would change. I used the primer in ampule pens. If I did it again I would get a container of the 94 primer or try a tape that doesn't need primer - I think WV is testing that sort of tape.
Still working on those tests ... When I used the 94 primer on long seams 1" wide I used blue painters' tape to mask the edge of the seam, then applied the primer with a small throw-away foam brush. I'd use that technique again, but for small areas the ampules do sound convenient.Originally Posted by SGT Rock
That is what I thought too, but they dry out too fast for the application of large areas like this. I think having one as an applicator would be good, but with a small bottle of it to re-wet the applicator with. I bought 6 thinking it would be more than enough and it wasn't.
Ah, the perils of pathfinding! Sorry you had to be the one to discover the limited coverage of the ampules, but thanks so much for sharing this info. I have used about half of the 8 ounce can of primer I bought, and I'm hoping it will last through my remaining tests and gear projects. I believe I can go back and calculate approximately how many square inches of taped area I've primed, so eventually I may be able to make suggestions of how much to buy. I'm hoping that 8 oz. is a little more than enough for a 60 yard roll of 1" tape. (I'm also hoping that the 9485 and 9482 tapes don't need primer - tests will suggest an answer to that question.) I am expanding my tests a bit to include McNett Aquaseal, another urethane adhesive that's been used for cuben fiber. I'm also testing Loctite U-10FL.
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