Recycled shade materials

pepperlime · Post by **pepperlime** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:34 pm

After reading through a few shade structure/material threads I kept finding that the idea of buying a big sheet of stuff to keep the sun off me just during Burning Man was distasteful to my environmental sensibilities (and budget). I did some research on recycled material art and fashion and came upon the idea of grocery bags. Goodness knows I have hundreds of them already. I was thinking of cutting them in wide strips and weaving them in a criss-cross pattern for a shade tarp, holding together the ends with strong (packing) tape.

The main criticism I got from my industrial designer friend was that it would be too fragile. I don't know about that.. the plastic certainly holds gallons of milk alright. There would be small holes to let the wind through from the criss-crossing and the whole sheet of it would be a double-layer of translucent plastic. It would just take a little time to put together something big enough, and I have that.

What do you guys think? I've also seen people who've crocheted plastic bags together to make bags or shoes but that's not really what I want to do.

Barbie · Post by **Barbie** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:16 pm

wow sounds like a great IDEA maybe you should make one.... and test it out in your yard for a couple days see if it holds up to normal outside conditions --- if it passed that test then, you could always take it- tye it to the car drive around at 30-50mph and see how it holds up!!! teeeheee love ya See ya in the Dust

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:41 pm

My suggestion in all things Burning Man is to have a backup. So do your crocheted shade :-> but have a back up plan. I bring three shades, complete with separate poles, just in case.

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:44 pm

A lot depends on what you figure your time is worth.

If you feel that spending 50 - 100 hours cutting and weaving a bunch of plastic pieces together and trying to tape them together with tape that will let loose in the heat, then another 4 - 8 hours picking up the moop......

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:25 pm

No. Sounds like a quick path to failure.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:28 pm

Sorry, I meant a slow agonizing path to failure.

Just hit the thrift stores & yard sales, buy old tents & tarps, and recycle those.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:55 am

Besides, if it's woven from plastic grocery bags it'll still be translucent and won't stop much UV except for what small amount the woven surface scatters.
On a relative note, the woven plastic mats that World Market and such places sell LOOK like they'd be GREAT for playa use...But they disentegrate rapidly in sunlight.

pepperlime · Post by **pepperlime** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:28 am

Thanks Barbie, testing is a great idea. I'll see how it holds up in the heat and rainstorms we have around here.

I thrift-store shop all the time and I've never seen anything resembling a tarp or mesh sheet. Hmmm..

Hoolie · Post by **Hoolie** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:40 am

Consider, also, that good tarps can be used over and over for shade. My tarps are on their third year at the playa and showing no signs of wear. Plus, they have other uses during the rest of the year.

I do like the idea of making shade out of recycled materials, but grocery bags don't give me a lot of confidence in terms of workability and durability. Now, if you can get your hands on some Tyvek, you could be sitting pretty.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:44 pm

And let's not forget billboard vinyl....

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:34 pm

If you want a 10'x10' camo net, I have one I'm giving away. PM me if you're interested, and I'll bring it.

Thunder Monkey · Post by **Thunder Monkey** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:44 pm

if you hold a plastic bag on each end so that it resembles a short length of rope, and simply tied these together in some kind of pattern i can totally see this working very closely to a camo net.

it would however take alot of time to cover even 100 sq feet.

you wouldnt need to tape them, just tie together a mesh.

i wouldnt expect it to hold up to rain without other materials. but as a simple shade totally feasible. good thinking!!!!