Help on DIY tarp

[shanewalker10]

I need some help, I want to attempt at making a lightweight tarp. Right now I'm using a tarp I got from walmart and its a pain trying to carry and pack that thing. I have a couple questions.

1. What are a few type of lightweight materials that are good for a tarp that is waterproof and keep the wind off me?

2. Where do you buy it at?

3. Is there is "making" a tarp or is it just buy an 8x10 piece of the material and using it?

thanks for the help

[Bags4266]

1) Sil-nylon probally the best value for light weight and price.

2) Noah Lamport comes out to around $4.00 a lin yard including shipping.

3) I don't understand the your grammar. If what your asking is do you need to make it? Then yes you will need a sewing machine, minor skills to use one, thread, hardware etc.

[sclittlefield]

Hey Shane,

1. Materials: Silnylon, PU Coated Ripstop nylon or polyester, Spinn (very expensive), Cuben (extremely expensive). Silnylon (silicone impregnated ripstop nylon) is by far the most common for tarps here amongst experienced hammock campers as it is relatively easy to obtain, not horribly priced, is very lightweight, and works well.

2. You can buy Silnylon at a lot of places:
Backwoods Daydreamer Gear
Tree to Tree Trailgear
Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics
Quest Outfitters
Rockywoods

3. There are lots of ways to shape your tarp. The simple method would be to sew two 11ft x 5ft (fabric comes 5ft wide generally) pieces together for a nice big 11x10 tarp. You'll need tie-out reinforcement material (can use scrap silnylon, or something more robust like 210d Oxford), tie-out webbing, D-rings are nice but not necessary.

Some of the more common tarp shapes are shown on my website gallery and there's a design pic with dimensions of each one amongst the photos. Ask lots of questions and you'll do great.

[JerryW]

There's an excellent tutorial right here on HammockForums written by one of our members:

Black Cat Tarp


Jerry

[bdbart]

Lightweight - Go for a Asymmetrical Diamond Tarp http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...t=Diamond+Tarp

[shanewalker10]

thanks every body...I'm going to try and make something this week when I go home for Christmas break...this weekend will be my first really cold night on the trail.

[shanewalker10]

What is the difference in Silnylon and Ripstop nylon...in terms of making a tarp with it?

[gargoyle]

Silnylon is reasonably waterproof.
Ripstop..not so much.
Sil is ripstop which has been silicone impregnated for water resistance.

[shanewalker10]

oh ok that makes more sense

[Bags4266]

Going to make something this week! It will take you that long to get all the materials together. I admire your positivity.