DIY tarp tensioners

[DarenN]

over at BPL one of the members posted this little tutorial on how to make tarp tensioners.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... d_id=19526

i only had about a foot of surgical tubing left laying around so i made two six inch ones. it took very little time and effort for good results. i like that!

Daren.......

[Ridgerunner]

Great Idea ! Thanks for linking us to Dennis' nice myog link, Daren Now I have to find some surgical tubing. On a side note: does anyone know where to get Notangle guidelines on the cheap like Speers uses for his hammock rainfly. It is 1/16" spectra core with nylon sheath, 275 lb breaking strength, highly visible bright orange. The stuff is stiff/waxy like and is much easier to work with. He sells it for $26/100ft. Seems like you could find it cheaper, don't know, have not ever seen it locally.

[DarenN]

spectra is pretty specialized line. i've only ever seen it in marine chandleries, and never that small. 1/8" is the smallest i've seen. my HH hangs on 1/8" spectra.

26 cents a foot doesn't sound like a bad price to me.

Daren.....

[Ridgerunner]

26 cents a foot doesn't sound like a bad price to me.

maybe not but I can be tighter than bark on a tree when it comes to letting go of those hard earned pennies.
That's why I like to thrift...more bang for the buck !

[DarenN]

26 cents a foot doesn't sound like a bad price to me.

maybe not but I can be tighter than bark on a tree when it comes to letting go of those hard earned pennies.
That's why I like to thrift...more bang for the buck !

i completely understand! i cut cheap paper towels in half because bounty half-sheets are too expensive.

[Vibe]

does anyone know where to get Notangle guidelines on the cheap like Speers uses for his hammock rainfly. It is 1/16" spectra core with nylon sheath,

I'm not sure why you would need to put 275# of tension on a rain fly. I picked up a fluorescent roll of 1/16 braided nylon masons twine at Harbor Freight for less than $4 for a couple hundred foot roll. If you need stronger, double it up.

[Ridgerunner]

does anyone know where to get Notangle guidelines on the cheap like Speers uses for his hammock rainfly. It is 1/16" spectra core with nylon sheath,

I'm not sure why you would need to put 275# of tension on a rain fly. I picked up a fluorescent roll of 1/16 braided nylon masons twine at Harbor Freight for less than $4 for a couple hundred foot roll. If you need stronger, double it up.

Vibe, I have a roll of mason twine. What I really like about the spectra is how it is "tangle'free" almost , because it is kind of "stiff". and if it does get a little tangled up, it is easy to untangle.

[irrationalsolutions]

thats a good link. i saw this a while back on hammockforums but i think this is easier to understand. i've been thinking about doing this myself but i havent gotten around to going to get the tubing.

[zelph]

Good link Daren, thanks.

Mason line is good stuff. My preference to nylon.

Mason line being pure cotton and little stretch. Feels better than nylon but takes longer to dry if gotten wet etc.

[SSDD]

That is a cool idea