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#101379 - 08/16/08 07:42 PM Best light/strong tent fabrics ??
300winmag Offline
member

Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 1342
Loc: Nevada, USA
If "one" were to attempt making a copy of an existing single wall tent with better fabrics what would be the best lightest and strongest fabrics for the following purposes? i.e. Does Cuben fabric come in a well waterproofed version?
Is there a ultralight ripstop fabric reinforcd with Spectra? Should I consider coating an "ultra fabric" myself W/ a very low knap roller & thin 5:1 mineral spirits:silicon mixture?
( PRICE NO OBJECT)

NETTING> nylon no-seeum knit

TENT BODY> as light as silnylon but will not mist in driving rain

TENT FLOOR> as light as double coated silnylon and at least as impermable to water

ZIPPERS> 2-way pulls, light nylon coil (YKK I'm assuming)

Note: The materials, except flooring, do not necessarily have to be stronger than top quality silnylon currently used in good single wall tents but it would be nice.

Thread recommendations? (polyester? nylon? cotton-wrapped poly?)

IF I decide to make this tent I'll use our Viking sewing machine, a pretty good piece of Swede machinery. The tent will be catenary cut for a smooth, wrinkle-free tensioned setup. And yeah, I'll likely use one short DAC Featherweight pole.


Eric
_________________________
"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."

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#101380 - 08/18/08 02:33 PM Re: Best light/strong tent fabrics ?? [Re: 300winmag]
marksclan Offline
newbie

Registered: 11/11/05
Posts: 13
Loc: PA
hey while we're building tents, can someone recommend a fix for metal poles? I have a gigantic 10 x 16 tent with some 'glass poles and another series of metal ones for shape and support.

A wind/thunderstorm two weeks ago in Cape Hatteras actually broke the metal pole. I assume the tent collapsed then bent the pole until it broke.
Any ideas where to replace or build/bend a new one?

cme
_________________________
marksclan

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#101381 - 08/24/08 07:26 AM Re: Best light/strong tent fabrics ?? [Re: 300winmag]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
Eric, I can't answer your question on the fabric you are refering to but have you tried using a roller to coat nylon? I set up the fabric piece and coat with a squeege. Polyester thread will work fine just coat after everything is sewn. If you copy a tent like you speak of, post some pics and maybe a drawing of it. I think it's a worthwhile project and I would be interested in making a tent like that. BTW where all still waiting for the chair you promised us. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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Enjoy your next trip...

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