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Thread: Shrink Wrap for shelter.

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    Default Shrink Wrap for shelter.

    You know those rolls of shrink Wrap that they use at the lumber yards (Industrial Saran wrap) that is used to hold a load of concrete blocks all together. I think it would make a compact windproof emergency shelter construction material. Just tightly unroll & wrap it around some trees.


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    Lumpy chair made me do it oly's Avatar
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    That's a good idea, that stuff is strong.
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    Administrator Rick's Avatar
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    I envision a world with shrink wrap adorning trees like tinsel at Christmas. It probably would make great material. It's both windproof and waterproof.
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    That stuff is strong, you wouldn't want to pack a full roll around though, they are kinda heavy, But that is a good idea,,

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    Just unroll it as you hike. It will get lighter and you'll be able to find you way back if you get lost.
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    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
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    In addition to shelter, it can be used to keep things in place so they don't get lost.

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    Will also make good flash tinder

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    Quote Originally Posted by Justin Case View Post
    That stuff is strong, you wouldn't want to pack a full roll around though, they are kinda heavy, But that is a good idea,,

    I must have 10 end-rolls, everytime I am in Home Depot I find the very end of a nearly used up roll and ask if I can have it for free, they always say sure.

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    Perfect,, will be good for wrapping that salmon you are going to "Dip" too !

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    Sounds intriguing.
    But wouldn't that be a bit heavy to schlep around?
    And then you'd have to take it down and roll it back or fold it somehow. Hard to visualize that part. Actually, I can visualize it--a lot of cursing and you know...

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    Quote Originally Posted by BENESSE View Post
    Sounds intriguing.
    But wouldn't that be a bit heavy to schlep around?
    And then you'd have to take it down and roll it back or fold it somehow. Hard to visualize that part. Actually, I can visualize it--a lot of cursing and you know...

    A part roll weighs less than a pound. And it is not reusable, you just cut it down, and wad it up, and burn it or haul it out.......

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    Senior Member BENESSE's Avatar
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    How many would you carry around if it's a one time use?
    (you were probably yanking our chain, right?)

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    You're a tease AND you're into chains?! This is just wrong.
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    Senior Member BENESSE's Avatar
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    We talkin Sourdough, right?

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    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
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    B - if you are on a day hike, and just have a partial roll thrown in your pack in case you need an emergency shelter.....
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    I would like to see a picture if you manage to make one :-)
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    Senior Member BENESSE's Avatar
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    That makes two of us.

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    Voice in the Wilderness preachtheWORD's Avatar
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    I've not used shrink wrap, but I have used 4 mil plastic sheeting. The shrink wrap is probably a little thinner, but similar.

    I put the roll in my pack and took it with me. I dug back into a bank and made a "house frame" out of poles lashed together jutting out from the bank. I put the plastic over it and then piled and leaned poles, sticks, leaves, and other debris on to hold the plastic down. I also piled rocks around the bottom to pin the plastic to the ground.

    I was pleased with how it worked. It totally broke the wind and was surprisingly warm. The only drawback is that the smoke from my little fire couldn't escape very well. I had dug a "fireplace" back into the bank with a "chimney" coming out on top of the back. With the shelter sealed up so well, the fire wouldn't draw properly. That problem could be solved, I'm sure.

    Try out the shrink wrap, I bet it will work similarly.
    Last edited by preachtheWORD; 07-29-2010 at 08:42 AM.
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    Senior Member BENESSE's Avatar
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    Why not just carry a poncho tarp shelter that you can use over and over again?

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    (FMR) Wilderness Guide pgvoutdoors's Avatar
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    Some friends of mine use to make their hunting shelter out of sheet plastic. They would make a large tee-pee frame out of the trunks of small trees and then wrap it with plastic. They did this for years during deer season but now they have a four bedroom cabin in it's place.

    You could make a pretty durable shelter using the heavy shrink wrap used to weatherproof boats in the winter time. Around here they take the boats out of the lake in the Fall and store them on land. Then a wooden frame is made on top of the boat and then covered with plastic. The plastic is then heated with a special propane flame gun; the plastic will shrink as tight as a drum. Of course this wouldn't be practical for a BOB.
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