Originally Posted by
HMLCK
I'm thinking of making a new tarp. My current DIY hex tarp is made of RBTR 1.1 silpoly. I used a flat felled ridgeline seam, and sealed it on the inside with windshield silicon. I also used that silicon to bond on the reinforcement patches. The tarp's been pitched less than 5 times, and got rained on hard last weekend. When I woke up from the rain, I got some misting on my face. Not enough to wet anything through, but enough to make me think.
I use an 11 foot gathered end hammock, and want to cover the ridge, plus doors. I've been looking at the DIY gear winter tarp as a starting pattern. I think I'll make something like that with a 10 foot ridgeline.
I'm leaning toward PU4000 material. I want to bond reinforcement patches, as that worked well on my current tarp. Since the poly coating should be put on the side facing the ground, I assume I should use seamgrip to bond the patches to the underside? That way I can sew grosgrain to the patch, then bond the patch onto the tarp, and finally sew the rolled hem over all of it. This should give a well attached patch and tieout with no extra holes in the tarp. Those of you who have made tarps from the PU4000, how did you handle your tie outs and reinforcements?
I've also been thinking about the ridgeline seam. I want to try the standing seam with the grosgrain reinforcement. I want to try this with the spider web from Dutchwear instead of regular grosgrain. Has anyone tried this material for that use?
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