Well, I've been lurking long enough and it is now time for me to post a question. I've been thinking about JustJeff's tarp tensioners at http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGe...ensioner2.html , and I was curious. Why couldn't/shouldn't you put the tensioners inline? In other words, put the surgical tubing on right on the existing tarp lines?
One day I'll come up with a clever sig.
I like your signature; I think you should keep it.
I use shock cord and rubber rings as tensioners, not surgical tubing, but what you're proposing makes sense to me. Try it and see?
Klaatu:
If you just use tubing (without the line inside it), you run the risk that the tubing snaps (especially as it ages) and leaves you with an unsecured corner (at least), or whips around and tears your tarp someplace.
At least that was my guess when I was setting up my own tarp rig.....
Thanks for the replies! To clarify a bit, the line is still inside the tubing, just with some slack.
One day I'll come up with a clever sig.
I think I have seen the tarp lines encased in the tubing. However, there needs to be slack built into the tarp line assmebly when the tubing is not stretched. In other words, you would put the tarp line inside and allow it sag or coil around inside the tubing. I hope that is clear...
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
Righto. I was building them just like JustJeff's, except inline. They seem to work in my kitchen. Field test coming soon I hope. My main concern was putting the tensioners on all 6 points of my tarp. As long as I don't launch a stake at anyone, or into orbit, I can't see a reason to not put the tensioners on the existing line, except that they aren't very portable.
One day I'll come up with a clever sig.
I have tensioners built just like you're describing. The reason jeff made them separate was because he was hanging a HH fly to the hammock straps with it.
Don't put tensioners on your ridgeline... they won't let you pull it as tight as it needs to be.
Excellent point! There is a good reason to not put them inline! What if you go from a rectangle to a diamond? You would suddenly have a tensioner on your tarps' ridgeline!Originally Posted by east_stingray
Doh!
One day I'll come up with a clever sig.
I use the Warbonnet Mambajamba, so I don't have that problem... there is really only one way to pitch it. I use tensioners on all four corners.
It's not the end of the world if you reorient the tarp to a diamond and have the tensioner on the ridgeline. It's kind of cool; it allows the entire pitched tarp to move laterally in the breeze, but stingray is right, you won't get nearly as taught a pitch. If you plan on changing your tarp's configuration often, you can just larkshead your guylines and ridgelines on to your tieouts. That makes it quick and easy to swap a ridgeline for a guyline.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks