Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Senior Member Lupus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Athens, GA
    Hammock
    ENO Double Nest
    Suspension
    Atlas Straps
    Posts
    145
    Images
    9

    Looking for material to make a cheap and lighweight DIY tarp. . . I came across. . .

    I was looking for a way to make a lightweight (comparable to silnylon) and inexpensive tarp when I came across this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqaSYONkTFQ

    Well, it certainly is cheap. I read somewhere that using 2 mil plastic sheeting weighs about 1.4 oz's/2yd.

    That's about what Silnylon weights.

    Does anyone have any experience using a plastic dropcloth as a tarp? Do you know how durable it is?

    I'm thinking it would be great to experiment with different DIY tarp designs and sizes till I get it just the way I want, all before spending the time and money to DIY a tarp out of 30D silnylon.

    What are your thoughts on this?

  2. #2
    New Member hangingforpeace's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Avon, CT.
    Hammock
    Warbonnet Black Bird DL 1.7
    Tarp
    Mamajamba
    Insulation
    Foam Pad
    Suspension
    Straps caribener
    Posts
    10
    Shower curtains work well too

  3. #3
    Banned
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Rosenberg, TX
    Hammock
    DIY 12' Channel end
    Tarp
    HH Hex w/doors
    Insulation
    Underwoobie T/UQ
    Suspension
    RacerLoops w/Cinch
    Posts
    4,703
    Images
    8
    Back during my misspent youth I camped along the Kancamagus Highway and later on in the Wichita Mountains using a plastic drop cloth as a tarp. Drape it over a picnic table or a handy limb or deadfall and there you go----

    Not sure how well it would work hanging from a ridgeline, there was never much load on them the way I used them. I was careful to avoid punctures and used rocks and such to hold down the edges. I imagine there would be some load at the tie out points when used as a hammock shelter.

  4. #4
    Senior Member webhanger's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Northern, Ut
    Hammock
    Handmade string & 1.1 dbl DIY
    Tarp
    Claytor diamond
    Insulation
    Wiggys FTRSS, pluq
    Suspension
    Webbing, whoopies
    Posts
    221
    Images
    12
    Quote Originally Posted by Lupus View Post
    I was looking for a way to make a lightweight (comparable to silnylon) and inexpensive tarp when I came across this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqaSYONkTFQ

    Well, it certainly is cheap. I read somewhere that using 2 mil plastic sheeting weighs about 1.4 oz's/2yd.

    That's about what Silnylon weights.

    Does anyone have any experience using a plastic dropcloth as a tarp? Do you know how durable it is?

    I'm thinking it would be great to experiment with different DIY tarp designs and sizes till I get it just the way I want, all before spending the time and money to DIY a tarp out of 30D silnylon.

    What are your thoughts on this?
    They tend to be a bit fragile but doable. The experimentation use is a good idea though. I might steal that one.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Moondoggy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Radford,Va.
    Hammock
    DDCamping/HennessySafari
    Tarp
    Etowa10/10silnylon
    Insulation
    GL TQ /Yeti&AHE UQ
    Suspension
    Whoopee slings
    Posts
    454
    Images
    3
    Just be careful you don't end up in a bad situation! Try tyvec! But if you need an affordable tarp try Etowah ultralight outfitters they have all types of tarps for under a 100$
    High ground is dry ground!
    Moondoggy

  6. #6
    Senior Member Pipsissewa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Yancey Co., NC - Home of Mt. Mitchell
    Hammock
    Too many to list
    Tarp
    Cuben with doors
    Insulation
    FlThrwr UQ+DIY TQ
    Suspension
    Whoopies + straps
    Posts
    1,741
    Images
    7
    I remember Chammock's experimenting with ultra-light weight clear plastic for a DIY tarp, which ultimately failed. Click HERE to see.
    "Pips"
    Mountains have a dreamy way
    Of folding up a noisy day
    In quiet covers, cool and gray.

    ---Leigh Buckner Hanes

    Surely, God could have made a better way to sleep.

    Surely, God never did.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    LaGrange, GA
    Hammock
    Yukon
    Tarp
    Kelty Noah 9
    Suspension
    Cinch Buckles
    Posts
    781
    Quote Originally Posted by Pipsissewa View Post
    I remember Chammock's experimenting with ultra-light weight clear plastic for a DIY tarp, which ultimately failed. Click HERE to see.
    I wouldn't exactly call that a failure. He had issues with his first generation tieouts that he appeared to rectify.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    NORTHWEST NORTH AMERICA
    Hammock
    DYI, ENO DB, HH
    Tarp
    Varies
    Insulation
    WOOL
    Suspension
    STOCK
    Posts
    469
    Ray Jardine went into a lot of detail, about his early days as a guide, and teaching survival skills, about using plastic sheets. Look on his website, it might save you some time in the planning stage.

    I have played with using them as a pattern for what I wanted to make. My designs are always seriously flawed, so I do a lot of adjusting or readjusting.

    Some of the very best discoveries have been made as a result of trying to make or do something else entirely.

  9. #9
    Senior Member WV's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    southeast WV
    Hammock
    DIY
    Posts
    4,816
    Images
    208
    Oh Boy! Another excuse to dredge up the Cubenist Manifesto. (There's actually some good info on using poly for a lightweight tarp here.)

  10. #10
    Senior Member Lupus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Athens, GA
    Hammock
    ENO Double Nest
    Suspension
    Atlas Straps
    Posts
    145
    Images
    9
    I am a Cubenist with cubenite tendencies.

    "Weight is an object, but only to the limit that there is money in my wallet."

    Love the Cubenist Manifesto.

    If you watch the video, he reinforced along all the edges and across the length of the pull of the guylines.
    Eagle Scout, June 1987
    Eagle Patrol--SR830

    "A man stands tallest when he stoops to help a boy."

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. Any ideas for what to make from this material ?
      By Klaussinator in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 24
      Last Post: 03-04-2013, 09:50
    2. Cheap tarp material?
      By djminnesota in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 18
      Last Post: 11-27-2012, 10:16
    3. Cheap UQ material
      By Pulpotomizer in forum Bottom Insulation
      Replies: 1
      Last Post: 08-11-2011, 16:58
    4. Help!!!!!! Im almost out of cheap material~!
      By stevebo in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 11-23-2010, 04:27

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •