Homemade Tarp and Hammock
Mostly because I am poor, and because I like making stuff, I decided to make my own hammock and tarp. First the tarp.
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So, basically, I bought the fabric at Walmart in the $1.50 bin. I thought it was 1.1 oz breathable ripstop, but I have my doubts now. Then I looked online for tarp directions. I didn't follow the instructions completely, and I don't think I like the corner tieouts. Since I wanted an 8' X 10' tarp, and I didn't have enough material to sew the seam along the ridge line, I sewed it down the middle, perpendicular to the ridge line. I also read on another forum about people trying to make their own silnylon, so I decided to try that as well. Once the tarp was all sewn together, I set it up in my yard and mixed 100% clear silicon with mineral spirits. Then I took a sponge and scraped it all over the fabric. I did this twice all over, and a third time on the ridge line. A few days later, I set it up again and laid under it with my wife sprinkling it with the hose....NO LEAKS. I was very surprised and very happy. The final weight is 26 oz. It is a little heavier then I expected. I was expecting 16 oz. So, maybe it isn't 1.1 oz per square yard ripstop.
Now the hammock..
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Basically I followed the advice of this site...Just Jeff
He explains a lot. For the bug netting, I took an army mosquito net for a cot, and cut two holes for the hammock suspension to pass through. I plan to put some velco there to close the holes because I can also use the tarp and bug net alone without the hammock for a tarp tent.
