2016 One Item A Day For BM List....

[ZigZag]

Made a test cover for my tent's mesh windows. I can't figure out how to get them cut to the right size
Not sure how the Beacon 557 glue is going to hold up once it stretches out when the tent is assembled.
Test. Re-test.

[ZigZag]

Covers were a total fail. Think i will go looking for a Kodiak. Ugh.

[leebroadway]

Hi, my name is leebroadway, I'm a birgin and I'm about to buy a 10x10 Kodiak! I'm just debating on the vestibule...

[Roundabout]

Hi, my name is leebroadway, I'm a birgin and I'm about to buy a 10x10 Kodiak! I'm just debating on the vestibule...

I have the Springbar version, and the vestibule is great for regular camping, but not at all suitable for the playa. The wind would rip it to shreds. You need a shade structure, not the vestibule.

[leebroadway]

Hi, my name is leebroadway, I'm a birgin and I'm about to buy a 10x10 Kodiak! I'm just debating on the vestibule...

I have the Springbar version, and the vestibule is great for regular camping, but not at all suitable for the playa. The wind would rip it to shreds. You need a shade structure, not the vestibule.

Thank you! It's honestly an expense I don't want to take on unless it's really worth it. I'm looking into aluminet or something similar for my tent.

[illy dilly]

Covers were a total fail. Think i will go looking for a Kodiak. Ugh.

We have had a lot of luck with the simple 2" spring clamp and old sheet method. It does take a ton of the little clips, but they're pretty cheap at HD and amazon.
Have you tried the clamp and sheet method?

[ZigZag]

I was trying to make covers from some nylon I got at JoAnn Fabrics. Cutting the covers to fit was near impossible on the small screens and the bigger ones are going to be tougher. I got some Beacon 577 glue because I was told it would be the strongest glue and would work on the rain treated tent fabric. It didn't stick hardly at all and the edges of the nylon frayed and it looked like it was going to be moopy at best. Hot glue might have worked here in the cool of a Minnesota April but in the Nevada desert in August? Probably going to be a big mess.

This was an experiment going rapidly downhill

Realizing this was going to take a lot of hours to work out, I turned to Craigslist and found a guy selling a brand new 10x10 Kodiak for less than half the retail price. I pick it up tonight.

Tent dust problem solved. Now I can turn to my shade structure. Film at 11.

[trilobyte]

Ratty - please just make a new thread for 2016.

Roundabout - you're damned right on that one. New boots arrived, a full size bigger, and still uncomfortably tight. That and the insoles that were recommended didn't really feel quite so magical. I'm going to take the hunt in a different direction and look for a different brand or style that may get the job done.

leebroadway - welcome aboard! Unless you're already committed or determined, you may want to reconsider the kodiak tent. Aside from the expense, their massive bulk makes it significantly more challenging for you to build a suitable shade structure, and without that the tent would be incredibly uncomfortable to sleep in during daylight hours. My advice would be to look for a solid 3-4 person tent, and consider building a monkey hut (you'll find a bunch of great threads on the subject, it's a type of pvc-pipe and tarp quonset hut).

Zigzag - wow, sounds like a crazy tent mesh mod adventure. For what it's worth, I've found that as long as you're under a decent shade structure and the mesh parts of the tent have a decent rain cover you should be fine (since a good shade structure blocks both the sun and a lot of the wind). Good luck with whichever tent you decide to use!

[Oldguy]

I received a new set of tires and wheels for my Lincoln Towncar Limousine via UPS. I installed new battery but not the new alternator. I will get it done, when I take the limo to the local dealer for a tune up and smog check. I am saving up for a new Lanau roof which costs $575 material, plus labor. I want it to look good as a disability vehicle. I can carry 8 in back.

[TT120]

Going to Burningman in a Limo! Awesome!!!

[BoyScoutGirl]

Finally bit the bullet on one of these guys:


The deciding factor was the length of the poles - larger Springbars have poles >5' that don't collapse, while the smallest Springbar and the Kodiaks have 35" poles. This probably weakens the uprights, but I think they've been tested enough on-playa for me to trust them. Plus, it will make packing much easier!

Also, planning continues apace for the handcar. Sourcing parts now.

If anybody knows a large maker space in Seattle we can rent room from, please let me know.

[illy dilly]

Ahhh! Interesting approach! I wish it had worked because that sounds like a "once and done" solution.
And nice score on the Kodiak!

I was trying to make covers from some nylon I got at JoAnn Fabrics. Cutting the covers to fit was near impossible on the small screens and the bigger ones are going to be tougher. I got some Beacon 577 glue because I was told it would be the strongest glue and would work on the rain treated tent fabric. It didn't stick hardly at all and the edges of the nylon frayed and it looked like it was going to be moopy at best. Hot glue might have worked here in the cool of a Minnesota April but in the Nevada desert in August? Probably going to be a big mess.

This was an experiment going rapidly downhill

Realizing this was going to take a lot of hours to work out, I turned to Craigslist and found a guy selling a brand new 10x10 Kodiak for less than half the retail price. I pick it up tonight.

[ZigZag]

Yea, but now I have a few yards of green nylon fabric and don't know what to do with it! Have to make it into an outfit or something.

The tent was an awesome deal, it had never even been taken out of the case, it still had the factory seals on it. Then they guy told me he had a nice OzTent Stretcher Cot, brand new, he would throw in for half price. I made out like a bandit.

Now I am waiting for it to quit raining here (Minnesota) and warm up so I can set it all up!

[Lonesomebri]

New Socks

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[BoyScoutGirl]

More juggling supplies, to replace the set of juggling balls I left behind at the airport

Lots more planning on the little girl's off-rail industrial handcar.

[Savannah]

Got my volunteer shifts nailed down this morning at ass-early A.M. Yay!


Nice socks, Bri!

[Molotov]

Got my volunteer shifts nailed down this morning at ass-early A.M. Yay!

Me too, after negotiating the ESD Shiftboard minefield at 0800 local time. Got 4 fire shifts confirmed and wait listed for two more, including a couple in pre-burn week. I get those and I'm good to go for two weeks in the scenic Black Rock Desert.

Can't wait!

[Savannah]

Got my volunteer shifts nailed down this morning at ass-early A.M. Yay!

Me too, after negotiating the ESD Shiftboard minefield at 0800 local time. Got 4 fire shifts confirmed and wait listed for two more, including a couple in pre-burn week. I get those and I'm good to go for two weeks in the scenic Black Rock Desert.

Can't wait!

Yaaaaaaaaaaaas. Good luck on the 2 additional shifts!

[trilobyte]

Congrats on the shift signups! Not a whole lot of progress in the last few days - after sending back the ill-fitting boots last week, I did some reading and checking of reviews, and ordered a different pair of boots today.

[Skuzzy61]

I found an old pair of leather boots in the closet. Adding some sock liners and that should be good to go. I forgot how comfy there were. Hard to fit my feet (12 AA with really high arches) and I was not looking forward to finding good shoes to wear at BRC. Problem solved! WOOT!

[TT120]

Started going barefoot this weekend to get my feet toughened up for the Playa. Dropped a glass out of the cupboard onto the kitchen floor where it exploded and then promptly stepped on a piece of glass. Guess the shoes will be staying on another week.

[EGAZ]

My Amazon list is pretty large.

Trimmed down the Google Doc packing list to meet my needs. Starting to gather items. Much of it on the Amazon list....

Got my EMT roof mounts for the 'Rollin' Man Cave' cut & shaped yesterday. Should be drilled and taped by end of the day.
I'll post pics when they are done. The RMC being a converted car hauler, I have the luxury of being able to mount them anywhere on the roof.


Sorry to hear about your foot TT120!!!

[Leap]

A solid red 100% cotton shemagh from India. While I need to wash it, it's already soft. This is much better than the cheap one I got before but not quite as nice as the one from Palestine, albeit cheaper. I'm trying to find that Goldielocks fabric and then figure out how to paint or screen-print something cool on it for gifts.

[BoyScoutGirl]

My Amazon list is pretty large.
Trimmed down the Google Doc packing list to meet my needs. Starting to gather items. Much of it on the Amazon list....

Careful... Amazon keeps track of what you've looked at and is eerily good with suggestions for related items. I can't search for anything on Amazon these days without a suggestion to look at electrolyte tablets, pee funnels, or cheap strings of LEDs.

[ZigZag]

Started butt training: Out on the bicycle for a few hours. Ouch.
Got the cargo van reserved.
Ordered more stuff from Amazon. Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

BM obsession rages on.

[EGAZ]

Careful... Amazon keeps track of what you've looked at and is eerily good with suggestions for related items. I can't search for anything on Amazon these days without a suggestion to look at electrolyte tablets, pee funnels, or cheap strings of LEDs.

True, I have so many lists, with very, very different items, I keep their algorithms working hard.

[EGAZ]

Well, I got two items today. The first was a bike for $40. Pretty much ready to ride but I'll go through it as Elliot has advised in his posts and emails.

IMAG1648-a.jpg

IMAG1650-a.jpg

It's an Electric bike. A Currie, E-Cruiser. The thumb throttle needs repair and I need to check out the motor, then replace the batts, if the prior two are good to go. If not, I pull the electrics & start peddling.

Rides nice and everything works under peddle power.

Did I mention it was 40 Dolla no Holla?!?!
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But the big one was a Golden Ticket to BM!!! Through the kindness of a fellow eplaya member, I was offered the ticket at face price/fees/tax. Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!! You know who you are........

[Roundabout]

Congrats Eldergeekaz!!!

[Skuzzy61]

Congratulations Eldergeekaz!

[illy dilly]

Congrats on the Ticket and the Bike!

You're having a pretty lucky day! You should buy a lottery ticket!