DIY tarp tensioners

[DarenN]

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

it will also rot. especialy if it got wet inside the tubeing due to wicking.

poly line would be best. no stretch; no rot.

Daren.....

[zelph]

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

it will also rot. especialy if it got wet inside the tubeing due to wicking.

poly line would be best. no stretch; no rot.

Daren.....

It won't get wet, the area where the tubing gets tied is soaked with paraffin or boot oil no capillary action past that point.

[texron]

I know this is a few months old but did anyone try this? Looks pretty simple and looks like it will work well.

[DarenN]

i made six of them for my Hennessy Hex Fly. i used one of those stretchy excersize things. all six of them have failed because the rubber tubing is too soft and the whipping cuts through it. i think that if i had used true "Surgical Tubing" i would not have experienced the failures.

Daren.........

[Scoutmaster]

Another source of surgical tubing is wrist rocket (the slingshot) replacement tubing. I know Walmart carries them. You could probably make 4 tensioners from one package.

[texron]

Another source of surgical tubing is wrist rocket (the slingshot) replacement tubing. I know Walmart carries them. You could probably make 4 tensioners from one package.

Great Idea!!! I thought the exercise tubing might be a bit flimsy. I'm going to try this, maybe this weekend.

[realityguy]

Most fishing stores sell surgical tubing,usually in 2-3 sizes..used for making weight snubbers for fishing for larger fish so the weight banging around won't lose the fish..or for river fishing for steelhead with 1/4" thick "dropper" lead.If the lead gets hung up on the rock,it releases that rather than losing the entire terminal gear and having to retie everything.Just slip in a new piece of lead to the rubber that is tied to a 3 way swivel so it hangs lower than the mainline.
You might also check the fishing area of wally's...
I tied up a half dozen of the tensioners out of surgical tubing and I think some exercise stuff..haven't tried them yet.
On the other hand..I got 3 feet of the good stuff at a garage sale the other day for a quarter!

[texron]

On the other hand..I got 3 feet of the good stuff at a garage sale the other day for a quarter!

Nice, Wally sells replacement slingshot tubes, might try those? Also sell fishing drop lines that are water resistant, I 'll use those to tie off the tubes. What did you use for the guy lines?

[irrationalsolutions]

doesnt lowes and home depot sell the stuff by the foot in the plumbimg section? well i know they do but i dont know how well that kind would work.

[texron]

doesnt lowes and home depot sell the stuff by the foot in the plumbimg section? well i know they do but i dont know how well that kind would work.

I checked my local Lowes and no dice. Ebay has a TON of it though.