I just bought some ripstop nylon from (dare i admit) Joann Fabric. I made a 15'x15' rain fly. with with 10 loops to tie off with. As soon as I finish sewing the loops on i will try to get a photo. cost me $75 total. and so far ive put in about 20mins of work... worth the pay off!

I really was planning on doing the same thing. But I purchased two tarps I found links to from a hammock site. But, I will be looking back at this project later.

Yes, thats where I got the idea from too was a hammock camping group. some light wieght camping there!

Is the nylon coated? I've seen material at Joans with DWR but never a coating (sil/urethane) that I would trust for a fly.

quote Merganser: "Is the nylon coated? I've seen material at Joans with DWR but never a coating (sil/urethane) that I would trust for a fly."

This has been my biggest hurdle, finding silnylon. Does anyone have a source for this that is reliable? I'd really like to make one or two my self.

I have not done a tarp yet but I have done a number of other projects. Most of my materials have come from Quest Outfitters or Thru hiker. Both are good to work with and both have silnylon.

CCS used to have some supplies listed, don't see them any more but it wouldn't hurt to send Dan an email.

Outdoor wilderness fabrics and diygearspupply are other places that carry it. I have not dealt with either company. Diygearspupply seems to get mentioned a lot on hammockforums for what that is worth.

quote Merganser: "I have not done a tarp yet but I have done a number of other projects. Most of my materials have come from Quest Outfitters or Thru hiker. Both are good to work with and both have silnylon.


CCS used to have some supplies listed, don't see them any more but it wouldn't hurt to send Dan an email.


Outdoor wilderness fabrics and diygearspupply are other places that carry it. I have not dealt with either company. Diygearspupply seems to get mentioned a lot on hammockforums for what that is worth."

Thanks Merganser. Exactly what I was looking for. Now I just need to convince my wife to let me use her thread injector!

Ok, I might have lied. My biggest hurdle is not having a pattern to make a tarp, #2 is fabric source:) Can you help? I've cruised HF a bit but haven't found much.

Unless you're trying to make something to big for your fabric width (which is usually 60in) you plan on a felled seam at the ridgeline and one piece sides.

I've know I've seen some rough drawings. What sort of tarp do you want to make? Hex, diamond, asym etc. If its hex will it have doors or caternary cuts? I may be able to point you somewhere if I had a better idea what you want to do.

quote Merganser: "Unless you're trying to make something to big for your fabric width (which is usually 60in) you plan on a felled seam at the ridgeline and one piece sides.

I've know I've seen some rough drawings. What sort of tarp do you want to make? Hex, diamond, asym etc. If its hex will it have doors or caternary cuts? I may be able to point you somewhere if I had a better idea what you want to do."

Ideally I would like to make a Super Fly clone. 132x120 or so with a cat cut and doors. This is pretty advanced but you have to start some where right?

So you could start with a blackcat tarp and add doors. Here is the link you need to get started

Sweet! Thanks Merganser. I probably won't get to it for a few months but i'll for sure post how it turns out.

The problem with search is sometimes you just have to know what (i.e. blackcat tarp) to search for :)

Good luck. I will be looking forward to those pics.

Here is the site you need. Everything to build what you want at reasonable prices (and free instructions). http://www.diygearsupply.com/

I bought some factory second 1.1 oz silnylon (red) from quest outfitters this past spring to make a 10 X 10 foot tarp. I used it on an early summer Quetico trip ... Worked great thru wind and rain. I'll post a pic when I get home next week.

dd

Home now:

quote RainGearRight: "

quote Merganser: "Is the nylon coated? I've seen material at Joans with DWR but never a coating (sil/urethane) that I would trust for a fly."

This has been my biggest hurdle, finding silnylon. Does anyone have a source for this that is reliable? I'd really like to make one or two my self."

I realize this thread is old but I think you can get good water proofing from rip-stop soaked in a solution of the following: 1 tube of clear silicon, 2 quarts of odorless mineral spirits / thinner. Mix it up good, submerge the tarp and work the solution through the material, hang to dry 1-2 days.

I've seen youtube videos of this process but have yet to try it. I need to figure out how to stop getting big loops on the back of my stitches first. :)