We don't need no stinkin' cat cuts ...

[bikerbobber]

Nice setup!
Love the tarp and no cat cut simplicity.
Great job!

Bob

[CorwinC]

As promised ... DIY UQ ready to use.


58"x72" full underquilt 1.9oz ripstop charcoal grey outside and khaki inside. Gathered end channel is 3" wide grey ripstop folded in half and caught in hem. Main suspension loops 1/2" grosgrain w/ 1/8" shockcord.


Hanging w/ 11' gathered end hammock (9335' elevation. Aspen just starting to leaf out. Monroe Mtn. in the background about 25 miles distant)


Detail of hardware free setup (I apologize for the focus.) Amsteel ridgeline; gathered end (zip tie style except I used several wraps of mason twine); Amsteel CL (7" complete, end of loop pokes out through gather); UQ shockcord pinched in CL (figure 8 knot); becket hitch 1" webbing to tree.

Initial impressions ... the APEX isn't as lofty as I was expecting, but it seems to be warm and was easy to work with. It also doesn't compress as much as I was hoping, but this large full length quilt will jam into a stuffsack made from a 24"x24" piece of fabric. I used 1.9oz ripstop for economy, but on my next one I'll be looking hard at some lighter fabrics (already saving more pennies.) I generally followed the underquilt kit instructions from ripstopbytheroll.com (layer everything, sew perimeter, then turn right side out.) I finished by hand so there is no exposed stitching. Next time I'll put the grosgrain loops for the main suspension in the side seam rather than the end to try to get the tension to be held by the seam rather than the seam being pulled down between taught fabric by the APEX. Overall I'm calling this a success and I'm sure this will see many camp outs (hopefully in the near future.)

More to come .... (TQ and bugnet)

[CorwinC]

It has been a while since my last post ... life getting in the way. At any rate, I find myself faced with an issue that I would like some advice on.

The tarp that I've made (earlier in this thread) has degraded such that as raindrops hit it, they create a mist on the inside of the tarp. My experience with this was a vigorous (3/4" per hr) rainstorm with big droplets just before dark with the sun shining in the open end and I could literally see the "spritzes" that the raindrops made as they hit. It soaked me and my gear within about 15 minutes. The pitch was very similar to previous pictures in this thread but without any tree cover to lessen the impact of the droplets. Looking closely at the fabric with a bright light behind it shows thousands of pinholes in the weave of the fabric. This tarp has been used quite a bit and in full sunlight much of the time (several times of week long duration), but it has not been abused in any way (it has stayed off the ground, has not been walked on or used in a manner that might damage it.) It has been well dried after use and stored in a loose fitting stuff sack made from the same material.

This happened last October and my frustration was such that I dried it out, put it away, and I have been using a silver poly tarp ever since.

My questions are: Is this tarp salvageable? What recommendations as to how to re-seal PU coated fabrics? Is there a recommendation as to a type of fabric that is more waterproof/longer lasting should I end up building another?

Thanks in advance

[GilligansWorld]

It has been a while since my last post ... life getting in the way. At any rate, I find myself faced with an issue that I would like some advice on.

The tarp that I've made (earlier in this thread) has degraded such that as raindrops hit it, they create a mist on the inside of the tarp. My experience with this was a vigorous (3/4" per hr) rainstorm with big droplets just before dark with the sun shining in the open end and I could literally see the "spritzes" that the raindrops made as they hit. It soaked me and my gear within about 15 minutes. The pitch was very similar to previous pictures in this thread but without any tree cover to lessen the impact of the droplets. Looking closely at the fabric with a bright light behind it shows thousands of pinholes in the weave of the fabric. This tarp has been used quite a bit and in full sunlight much of the time (several times of week long duration), but it has not been abused in any way (it has stayed off the ground, has not been walked on or used in a manner that might damage it.) It has been well dried after use and stored in a loose fitting stuff sack made from the same material.

This happened last October and my frustration was such that I dried it out, put it away, and I have been using a silver poly tarp ever since.

My questions are: Is this tarp salvageable? What recommendations as to how to re-seal PU coated fabrics? Is there a recommendation as to a type of fabric that is more waterproof/longer lasting should I end up building another?

Thanks in advance

Not certain it will stick but GE silicon thinned down with mineral spirits - thin like motor oil. Spread in thin coats while tarp is pitched - outside layer. At least 2 coats with 48 hrs cure time in between coats - inspect before re-application - light dusting of corn starch so it doesn't stick after done.

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