Received my order the other day. Went with khaki. Arrived fast for international. Thanks Kyle for sorting the shipping issues out. Watched it eagerly through the USPS tracking.
Obviously charmed as well because it didn't get hit by customs
After all my faffing over colour turns out that's an awsome colour to blend with british hazel and oak coppice in autumn and winter. Which given I'm making a big tarp this was for.
The fabric is seriously light. Ever so slightly translucent. Lets in light and you can vaguely see your own hand through it with normal daylight.
Its pretty slippery, but doesn't stretch as advertised.
Not having worked with SilNylon I cant comment on how easy it was to work with compared but I ended up with two neatly paired ends after I did my flat felled seam.
I certainly found the slippery silicon side to be troublesome but probably way way easier than silnylon.
It's very difficult to distinguish the different sides. I know one side is PU coated and the other silicone. If I remember right Kyle recommends the Silicon on the outside (less shiny). I think I got it right. But I'll be damned if I can tell.
Its weird not seeing the ripstop in the material. I know silpoly gen 2 and above lost any ripstop to allow the coating to form a better waterproofing. It makes it look a weirdly uniform fabric. Also-most like a plastic sheet.
I went for a 3m square tarp with lots of tie outs (so it can be pitched as a hex, or hex with partial doors. No cat cuts.
It pitches very tight. I've not tried it long term so cant comment on sag. It probably would pitch a lil tigher if it were A) hex B) had some light cat cuts. But I always intended to try square first and add both of those later if I wanted. As long as I pitch one side at a time it seems to go drum tight. So far seems very strong. I've not pulled it too hard yet as it needs more reinforcing stitches.
Total weight at the moment is 435grams (15.3442oz) which includes random 2m guys in weird materials (for now), a long dynameea ridge line with two mini carabiners and some heavy reinforcing. on the central ridge pullouts that I may switch to something lighter.
Also I went with 1cm grogain ribbon for the outside seams which probably added a fair bit of weight.
But for a 3x3M tarp that's AWSOME!
I'm dead impressed with this material. couldn't have asked for better.
Also some pics of it so far (needs more sewing and tie outs)
IMG_20160211_130044260.jpg
I received my Forest Green and agree - it's strange not seeing the ripstop grid. However, I have a Green Tea tarp of silpoly gen 2 and it certainly has a ripstop grid. I was a little surprised at first not to see it in the MEMBRANE silpoly, until I recalled that my MEMBRANE 10 didn't have a grid.
I'm also having some trouble determining which side is which with the Forest Green, but I usually have to ask my wife, anyway. It looks like you have a great pitch even without cat cuts, I'm still trying to decide what I will do on the winter tarp I have planned. I'm thinking maybe a slight 3" cat cut on the long sides and call it a day.
I love what you did with the ridge tie outs - I might steal that idea.
Caminante, son tus huellas el camino y nada más... - Antonio Machado
10-4, thanks for straightening me out!
Caminante, son tus huellas el camino y nada más... - Antonio Machado
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