Heavy Duty Silver Tarp Quality
- octoawesome
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:54 pm
- Location: Oakland, CA
Heavy Duty Silver Tarp Quality
So we all know that heavy duty silver tarps are the way to go out on the playa. I had a pretty nice little 12' x 30' monkey hut last year made out of some free PVC and craiglist tarps.
This year I decided to upgrade the size of my hut so I ordered a 20' x 30' tarp online at tarpaflex.com. First they sent me a 20' x 30' white tarp of the same quality and weight as my silver CL tarps. I called and complained because it was white, so then they sent me a silver "heavy duty" 20' x 30' one which is of a lesser quality than the others. It is mostly opaque give a few pin prick holes and feels a bit thinner than the others. I am 85% sure that it will be fine for monkey hut construction, especially once I throw over the rope ribs.
Sooooo... what I'm wondering is what allllll of you're experiences is with different qualities of heavy duty silver tarps are. Have any of you ever had one (of high quality or lesser quality) fail on you? Is this something I should be legitimately concerned about?
Thanks for any input!
This year I decided to upgrade the size of my hut so I ordered a 20' x 30' tarp online at tarpaflex.com. First they sent me a 20' x 30' white tarp of the same quality and weight as my silver CL tarps. I called and complained because it was white, so then they sent me a silver "heavy duty" 20' x 30' one which is of a lesser quality than the others. It is mostly opaque give a few pin prick holes and feels a bit thinner than the others. I am 85% sure that it will be fine for monkey hut construction, especially once I throw over the rope ribs.
Sooooo... what I'm wondering is what allllll of you're experiences is with different qualities of heavy duty silver tarps are. Have any of you ever had one (of high quality or lesser quality) fail on you? Is this something I should be legitimately concerned about?
Thanks for any input!
I will let you know how this year goes. With the help of some good friends who are experienced burners, I am cutting my 35' x 40' tarp down to separate panels. We attached the whole thing as a unit and it was just too big to manage. So, now there will be side wall panels with a roof panel, where air can move between the two. Thats all I got for now. Good luck.
- oneeyeddick
- Posts: 5592
- Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:08 pm
- Burning Since: 1996
- Location: Probably in your pants
Tarps vary a lot, even chinese.
If it's chinese and doesn't block light, I wouldn't bother with it.
Their cheapest are good and they offer better.
But there are other choices out there.
http://shelsys.com/
If it's chinese and doesn't block light, I wouldn't bother with it.
Their cheapest are good and they offer better.
But there are other choices out there.
http://shelsys.com/
- diamondmoth
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2010 11:24 am
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Fire_Moose
- Posts: 2488
- Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:40 am
- Location: Scottsdale, AZ
- Contact:
- diamondmoth
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2010 11:24 am
- Location: Seattle, WA
- oneeyeddick
- Posts: 5592
- Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:08 pm
- Burning Since: 1996
- Location: Probably in your pants
-
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 8:04 pm
- Location: The Mitt
gyre wrote:Solid aluminet or maybe silvicool too are probably the best tarps out there.
At the extreme end, single surface gold mirror will reflect almost all heat, when clean.
I've used it for electronics.
Shows what is possible.
... yes, but you'll cook while you're continually polishing your shade cover...
*mmmmmmmmmm .... burning man*
- Frankenstipe
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 4:19 pm
- Location: Arcata, CA
I don't know about that particular tarp, but if it blocks light totally, you don't need the aluminet.
Aluminet spaced over a tarp will help though.
The solid aluminet I refer to, seems to be unavailable in the usa, though I have seen it.
Mirrored mylar glued to tarps is what was being used by the mirrored camp.
Aluminet spaced over a tarp will help though.
The solid aluminet I refer to, seems to be unavailable in the usa, though I have seen it.
Mirrored mylar glued to tarps is what was being used by the mirrored camp.
- Frankenstipe
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 4:19 pm
- Location: Arcata, CA
I was thinking something like this:
http://www.shadeclothstore.com/products ... cloth.html
just straight up glued to a silver tarp from ACE or some sh**.
http://www.shadeclothstore.com/products ... cloth.html
just straight up glued to a silver tarp from ACE or some sh**.
I may be crazy but at least I'm not sane.
The mesh aluminet is stretchy.
I don't think it can be glued to a tarp well.
And it isn't cheap.
Get 80% if you can.
But I don't recommend gluing it to anything.
Solid or 100% aluminet is a tarp, if you can get it.
It is available in other countries.
Silvicool is available in canada and may be the same thing.
I don't think it can be glued to a tarp well.
And it isn't cheap.
Get 80% if you can.
But I don't recommend gluing it to anything.
Solid or 100% aluminet is a tarp, if you can get it.
It is available in other countries.
Silvicool is available in canada and may be the same thing.
Costco blue and green silver backed tarps?
They are Huge really thick but do they reflect? How effective are they?
See ya on the playa,
War & Love
Griffen Agrippa
War & Love
Griffen Agrippa
- epic_elite
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:39 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
im not a big fan of the silver tarps.
a camp mate bought into the silver tarp craze and roofed his puma den with a 30x20 silver tarp that was black on the reverse side. people say to black out the shelter to block the uvb rays as well and reduce the amout of sun that passes through for maximum cooling.
what we noticed, if you stick your hands within 3 inches of teh wall, is the extreme amount of heat the tarp was holding and radiating onto teh backs of our chairs.
if you have a massive shelter, then this would be fine because your not up close to teh wall of the shelter.
but guess what. i went asthetics over function and got the bright orange truckers tarp of the net. it let through quite a bit of light still, but it didn't retain the same heat as he silver and black tarp. it was significantly cooler under my monkey hut, than his puma den.
kinda defeats the whole concepts of blacking out the shelter.
this year i ordered two of teh same orange tarps to cover both large and small shelters.
we'll see how it breaks down this year
a camp mate bought into the silver tarp craze and roofed his puma den with a 30x20 silver tarp that was black on the reverse side. people say to black out the shelter to block the uvb rays as well and reduce the amout of sun that passes through for maximum cooling.
what we noticed, if you stick your hands within 3 inches of teh wall, is the extreme amount of heat the tarp was holding and radiating onto teh backs of our chairs.
if you have a massive shelter, then this would be fine because your not up close to teh wall of the shelter.
but guess what. i went asthetics over function and got the bright orange truckers tarp of the net. it let through quite a bit of light still, but it didn't retain the same heat as he silver and black tarp. it was significantly cooler under my monkey hut, than his puma den.
kinda defeats the whole concepts of blacking out the shelter.
this year i ordered two of teh same orange tarps to cover both large and small shelters.
we'll see how it breaks down this year
Silver or grey tarp?
White is superior to grey, IF it has an opaque backing.
Naturally a tarp will absorb all heat not reflected or passed through.
That's the reason for an air space between the top layer and others.
And black is a superior radiator.
If it was containing heat, you wouldn't be feeling it.
Poor choice for a back unless....
Might even work better with the black on top, if that's the choice.
White is superior to grey, IF it has an opaque backing.
Naturally a tarp will absorb all heat not reflected or passed through.
That's the reason for an air space between the top layer and others.
And black is a superior radiator.
If it was containing heat, you wouldn't be feeling it.
Poor choice for a back unless....
Might even work better with the black on top, if that's the choice.
I bought a shade structure from this company built it and tested it last week, it worked great!!!
You can buy just the tarps at a steel, they are reinforced with grommets, I don't see myself ripping this thing for quite sometime. Check em out!
http://shelsys.com/catalog/tops.html
P.S. the website sucks, but they are really nice, they almost look like duct tape to be honest, I wouldn't steer you in the wrong direction!
You can buy just the tarps at a steel, they are reinforced with grommets, I don't see myself ripping this thing for quite sometime. Check em out!
http://shelsys.com/catalog/tops.html
P.S. the website sucks, but they are really nice, they almost look like duct tape to be honest, I wouldn't steer you in the wrong direction!
--Mikey
"Somewhere Something Incredible is Waiting to be Discovered"
"Somewhere Something Incredible is Waiting to be Discovered"
- junglesmacks
- Posts: 5818
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 9:54 pm
- Burning Since: 2018
- Location: Your mom's tent
- capjbadger
- Posts: 2691
- Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2005 1:17 am
- Burning Since: 2005
- Camp Name: Lamplighters
- Location: Horus' Left Armpit
junglesmacks wrote:Just an FYI, Harbor Freight has 19' x 19' HD silver tarps on sale for $23 right now. I picked up 2 today online to tie together to make a 19 x 38.. for under $50
I'd take a close look at them... Don't get me wrong, I love HF for some things, but a lot of what they sell is total junk. I'm betting those tarps are really thin and will tear the grommets out in the first stiff breeze. Tarps are really one of those things where you get what you pay for.
-Badger
Arrrggg!! Avast ye fucking fluffy bunny shirtcockers! Haul your drunken hairy fat ass out of our sight or prepare to receive a hot buttered hedgehog fired up your aft quarters!
Honey Badger don't care. Honey Badger don't give a shit!
Honey Badger don't care. Honey Badger don't give a shit!
- junglesmacks
- Posts: 5818
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 9:54 pm
- Burning Since: 2018
- Location: Your mom's tent
capjbadger wrote:junglesmacks wrote:Just an FYI, Harbor Freight has 19' x 19' HD silver tarps on sale for $23 right now. I picked up 2 today online to tie together to make a 19 x 38.. for under $50
I'd take a close look at them... Don't get me wrong, I love HF for some things, but a lot of what they sell is total junk. I'm betting those tarps are really thin and will tear the grommets out in the first stiff breeze. Tarps are really one of those things where you get what you pay for.
-Badger
Agreed.. HF isn't known for quality, more like getting the job done for cheap. FWIW, here are the specs:
Made of 14 x 14 mesh of 1000 denier nylon threads (compared to 1200 denier for more expensive tarps)
Four double stitched hemmed edges
Thickness: 11 mil
Savannah wrote:It sounds freaky & wrong, so you need to do it.
horsecut wrote:I bought a shade structure from this company built it and tested it last week, it worked great!!!
You can buy just the tarps at a steel, they are reinforced with grommets, I don't see myself ripping this thing for quite sometime. Check em out!
http://shelsys.com/catalog/tops.html
P.S. the website sucks, but they are really nice, they almost look like duct tape to be honest, I wouldn't steer you in the wrong direction!
At least they have more than one page on their site now.
More stuff in their catalog.
- capjbadger
- Posts: 2691
- Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2005 1:17 am
- Burning Since: 2005
- Camp Name: Lamplighters
- Location: Horus' Left Armpit
junglesmacks wrote:capjbadger wrote:junglesmacks wrote:Just an FYI, Harbor Freight has 19' x 19' HD silver tarps on sale for $23 right now. I picked up 2 today online to tie together to make a 19 x 38.. for under $50
I'd take a close look at them... Don't get me wrong, I love HF for some things, but a lot of what they sell is total junk. I'm betting those tarps are really thin and will tear the grommets out in the first stiff breeze. Tarps are really one of those things where you get what you pay for.
-Badger
Agreed.. HF isn't known for quality, more like getting the job done for cheap. FWIW, here are the specs:
Made of 14 x 14 mesh of 1000 denier nylon threads
Four double stitched hemmed edges
Thickness: 11 mil
Hmmm... those spec don't actually look too bad. I'd still add grommets to spread out the wind load.
-Badger
Arrrggg!! Avast ye fucking fluffy bunny shirtcockers! Haul your drunken hairy fat ass out of our sight or prepare to receive a hot buttered hedgehog fired up your aft quarters!
Honey Badger don't care. Honey Badger don't give a shit!
Honey Badger don't care. Honey Badger don't give a shit!
- junglesmacks
- Posts: 5818
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 9:54 pm
- Burning Since: 2018
- Location: Your mom's tent
Return to “Building Camps & Villages”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Kenshiro and 5 guests