DIY Hex Tarp

[Blundstoned Love]

This is really cool.

I do have an admission to make. I spent a lot of time yesterday looking at the diagram and your photos and I just couldn't get it.

Then I realised that you need a piece like your diagram and it's mirror image to make the finished article. It was so obvious and I felt so stupid.

 

[Philster]

Thanks Gents!
Yes, the dimensioned drawing shows half a tarp - glad you clicked! If you can get two pieces then you need just one seam to complete the tarp. You can make it from six separate pieces but you then have much more sewing to do and more opportunities to make a mistake - anything that increases the chance of a good result is a winner in my book. You also have less seam sealing to do to guarantee it drip proof
Cheers
Phil

 

[OurAmericanCousin]

Exceptionally clever. It's not often that a completely new design emerges in a saturated market. You should be very proud of yourself and strongly consider patenting your design before someone else does.

 

[ebt.]

Hi Phil,

Im trying to work out the storm flap. Am i right in thinking its pinned down at two points on the back right, comes over the top and pins down at on point on the front left?

 

[Philster]

Ebt - it's pegged out on the right corner and at the front of pic. Where it folds over the guy line at the top edge I have another point where I have attached it to the top of the pole with a carabina and a short piece of paracord. Then the open side of the flap has 3mm shock cord attached to the end, pinned out on the peg on the left of the entrance. I found the storm flap to be a tough one to figure out as you can fold a piece of material up so it fits but when you start to tension it the shape needs to change a little. Experimentation is definitely recommended and some offcuts of polythene mean you can have a few attempts to get it right before you start with your precious material
In all honesty I don't think the storm flap is going to be essential - I designed it so that you have 800mm of width behind the pole to lie down in (which is plenty wide). That gives you 1 meter of cover from the pole to the front edges of the tarp. If you set up with your back to the wind you will be dry if the wind changes direction by 90 degrees - if the wind completely changes directions and blows into the front of the tarp there still a lot of overhang to keep you dry. I considered bringing the "beak" of the entrance down lower but it is a trade off between easily getting in and out and the amount of protection you want. I like to see about a bit when I'm lying down - I'm used to having a regular tarp above me. But this design gives you a lot of cover while still giving you a good view I didn't particularly want it to become a "tent".
Hope this makes sense,
Phil

 

[ebt.]

Thanks, makes total sense

Now I just need to find a source of wide sil-nylon....think my last lot was from germany!

 

[widu13]

http://www.bearpawwd.com/tents_tarps/lair.html

http://www.zpacks.com/shelter/hexamid_plus.shtml

 

[Jack Bounder]

<deleted>
Jack - the material is very nice, strong without being too heavy. It would make a perfect traditional tarp!

I now have the material and am quite pleased with it. I'll be making the tarps soon and will record my attempts in a thread (after I have made the camo smocks for the kids Clicky).

 

[Philster]

Excellent - it's a little heavier than silnylon which makes it a pleasure to sew in comparison.
Cheers
Phil

 

[Angst]

great job mate well done!

regards,

s

 

[Famadventure]

Lovely project. With a great result.

 

[widu13]

For those of us that are challenged in the sewing machine department! £150 from a UK company.

http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co...oon-designs-deschutes-solo-tarp-shelter-p3327