Don't buy or DIY a light green tarp or hammock!!! dyeing ripstop?

**TreeBeard13** · 05-08-2017, 08:57

Don't buy or DIY a light green tarp or hammock!!!
I DIY'd my hammock out of black nylon I got in the $1 bin, but there wasn't enough material to do the tarp as well, so I chose the least hideous color that was in the $1 bin, light green.

I built a hammock stand this weekend and hung my hammock and tarp to test a few ideas and new Dutch Bling. In 2 minutes it was covered in bugs!...It's ALWAYS covered with bugs, and it finally dawned on me as to why.

Light green looks like tender, yummy new foliage to bugs!

They were probably munching on it as well. Next time I'm out hanging and it rains it will disintegrate and I'll get soaked.
I'm thinking of dyeing it a darker color...any ideas on how this is best accomplished?

**droidrunner** · 05-08-2017, 08:58

Soak that sucker in Permethrin

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**CrackerJack** · 05-08-2017, 09:04

I have to agree with Droidrunner....Permethrin is likely to be a much better solution in the long run and easier to apply.

**Cabmanhang** · 05-08-2017, 09:05

Ive got a Kelly Green hammock that used to attract bugs. After I sprayed with permethrin, the bugs don't much care for it. Some take their chances, but they don't stay long.

It is springtime. Definitely the color for tender-greens.

**jellyfish** · 05-08-2017, 09:23

Omg. I'm now rethinking something...

**TreeBeard13** · 05-08-2017, 09:54

Originally Posted by droidrunner

Soak that sucker in Permethrin

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does it smell? I have breathing issues and hate citronella.

**droidrunner** · 05-08-2017, 09:55

Originally Posted by TreeBeard13

does it smell? I have breathing issues and hate citronella.

Petroleum based ones have an odor but they last longer. Ones like Sawyer are odorless but I've read some people can pick up a slight odor.

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**dscotthep** · 05-08-2017, 11:43

If your tarp is waterproof, it won't dye.

However, FWIW, I just dyed a nylon hammock over the weekend. I used Rit Dye More for synthetic fabric. I chose royal purple and was working with a heavy white nylon fabric (uncoated pack cloth basically). I followed all the directions on the label. I ended up with a very lavender shade of "royal purple".

**TreeBeard13** · 05-08-2017, 13:25

Originally Posted by dscotthep

If your tarp is waterproof, it won't dye.

However, FWIW, I just dyed a nylon hammock over the weekend. I used Rit Dye More for synthetic fabric. I chose royal purple and was working with a heavy white nylon fabric (uncoated pack cloth basically). I followed all the directions on the label. I ended up with a very lavender shade of "royal purple".

HMMM...It not waterproof. It sheds light to medium rain, but if it is a hard rain I get little micro mister drops that come through. I was going to eventually do the alcohol and 100% silicon dip to make it and my current project, a dark green cat cut winter tarp, into DIY silnylon.

Maybe I could use black colored silicon when I dip it (???)

**dscotthep** · 05-08-2017, 13:51

If you decide to do the DIY sil treatment, you might want to check out this thread. It's more than 500 posts long so I'll sum up for you: Use odorless mineral spirits and 100% silicone mixed ~3:1 (not critical) and brush or sponge onto your pitched tarp. I don't know if the black silicone has ever been tried before. A test on some scrap would be a good idea before committing your whole tarp...