Starshade: Lag bolts or stakes

[Hyperbole]

Hello Burners!

We'd like to bring new shade to playa and are interested in Startwin. We wont have time to build our own this year and want to bring something that's a bit more interesting than flattop for the front of camp.

Did some searching and see limited commentary on this type of tent:
https://kdkanopy.com/product/startwin-685/

Any experience/feedback on this?

Primarily looking for feedback on how it did in the wind and how it was attached to the playa. The "package" comes with 30" x 3/4" stakes but not sure if those will work well on playa.

Thinking of using an 8" section of flat bar with 3 holes: (2) 1/2" x 24" lags thru the side holes and fasten the tent to a 3rd bolt mounted in reverse in the middle hole.

Keen to hear

-Hype

[Popeye]

There has been something like that at Fly for a few years. Probably a different manufacturer but it uses 3'+ stakes. When it was taken down we needed a Bobcat to pull the stakes. If you do get this you might want to talk to some of the Sextant folks about lags. I think there is a thread on here too.

[Elorrum]

Pretty sure the shade design is playa tested, tensegrity style. There are levered stake pullers, and tall jack accessories for pulling long stakes like concrete form stakes, t posts, and rebar. If you go to lags you’ll likely need electricity as well of some sort to charge batteries or power a hammer drill or impact driver. Lags pose the least hazard to people walking near. I think all approaches will work.

[Hyperbole]

Thanks all for the help, getting closer and further down the rabbit hole at the same time.

Input was much appreciated and any comments on specific experiences with a Starshade would be greatly appreciated

[Token]

Pretty sure the shade design is playa tested, tensegrity style. There are levered stake pullers, and tall jack accessories for pulling long stakes like concrete form stakes, t posts, and rebar. If you go to lags you’ll likely need electricity as well of some sort to charge batteries or power a hammer drill or impact driver. Lags pose the least hazard to people walking near. I think all approaches will work.

Technically, it is a tensile structure. Tensegrity shares some concepts but generally takes them to the next level, where you can build things vertically.

But now I’m being pedantic …

[M F Bonz]

If you can afford it buy it.
I’ve been taking a KDshade out sense 2006. Last time was Renegade Burn 2021. Playa Tested and it works.
Get white it lights up well from the inside. I projected a movie on the inside and it showed up great on the outside of the tent. Lighting pops on this tent. The stake has a special top on it so the Aluminum shoe from the tent can fit over it. Don’t change out the stakes on this tent. The tent is a tension tent so after you stake it down and attach all the shoes to the stakes. You stick the pole in then lengthen the pole with a crank and that tightens the tent up. You may need to tighten it up during the week after it stretches out a little bit. No big deal. At home Set it up clean it with a pressure washer let it dry before you put it away. It will last for years. Sledgehammer is all you need. Big as you can swing …seems like it’s a 30 inch stake. Pullers, stakes and the bags for everything are all included with the tent. 16 foot tall and I can put my single pole up and pull it down all by myself. Including the stakes.
And I (have) done it all by myself.
With mine Everything fits in the trunk of a standard car.
Best playa shade ever. Blocks UV light also. You can really tell the difference underneath the shade.
I have had this shade up in hard winds when others failed at the burn. Lastly…with my tent it leans into the wind instead of catching the wind.


You won’t be sorry.

[Hyperbole]

Did you use the stakes that came with the tent or other?

How hard was it to drive 30" stakes (if you used these)

Just want to get a sense of whether this needs to be modified for playa use in some way

Thanks!

[M F Bonz]

Playa tested.

Yes I use the stakes that come with it.

Stakes are Not hard …just use a large sledgehammer.

No Modifications at all the shade…. it works as is. Don’t attach things to the tent so you don’t compromise the strength of the tent

This is a commercial shade I used with my dance floor business.

The Stakes pull just fine and you will probably have people trying to borrow The puller so they can pull their Rebar out. (Have some vice grips so you can pull other types of stakes with it.)

Get whatever color you want ….but the white excepts lighting very well.

While people were trying to hold down their garage shade structures from Costco I danced in the streets with out worry.

This is a very expensive tent if you haven’t figured that out already.

But it was well worth the money for me. Because I used it in my rental business also.

Going to use it this weekend as a matter of fact.

Enjoy your burn.
Mozy Fucking Bonz~

[Hyperbole]

THANKS Mozy F'n Bonz!

[M F Bonz]

Stilt walker’s will love you.
It gives them a place to rest in the shade.
Think about a couple of simple tall seats also.

(Don’t put anything like a second shade or other structures against the shade so they rub in the wind. Give space between anything you setup in the arches area. Not much space is needed. Just don’t let them touch.)


Burn Bright Burn Often
Mozy Smiles ~

[M F Bonz]

Full disclosure.

I did have problems pulling 5 of the 6 spikes this last time.

The tent was set up in a friend’s backyard. About 18 inches down was a dense green hardpan. Above that was a soft loamy dirt with grass. When I tried to pull the spikes, the puller would sink into the ground. It even pushed the 4x4 wood blocks 12” down into the ground.

I ended up using a 2”x4”x4’ steel box beam I had.

The soil was soft and this allowed me to spread out the load.

It worked great, but then I started breaking the chain. It snapped the old chain 3 times. 17 years of use stretched out and weakened the chain.

So I put a new 750 pound tensile strength chain. (Same size chain). I was able to pull up four more of the six spikes, but I ended up snapping the new chain on the last spike.

That’s right… the puller exerted more than 750 pounds of pulling strength and snapped a brand new chain. I have never had the stakes refuse to come out of the ground like this before.

Using a large pipe wrench I twisted the spike loose. I also used the pipe wrench as a cheater with the pipe wrench handle inside the puller handle.
Extending the leverage of the puller. I also replaced the chain with a high tensile strength tow chain I had at the house.

With this chain, I was able to pull up the remaining spike. But I was unprepared for the problems I had. And I needed to go back three times to local hardware stores/home. Not an option in the desert.

So to be prepared, I recommend some tools that are useful to have when using this shade.

1. Large vice grips. For pulling other types of stakes. (Your camp mates and neighbors will love you)

2. A 1000 pound tensile strength replacement chain for the puller. Six feet long. I would just go ahead and replace the chain and be done with it.

3. 4 or 5 1000 pound tensile strength reusable chain links. Pliers and crescent wrench to attach the link.

4. 2”x4”x4’ steel box beam for a base to place the puller on. This works so well I will always have it with me on future pulls.

5. Multiple sledgehammers (I have three) in case you break one. Or if you have multiple people that can be swinging them at the same time (spreads out the work). A small size sledge to start the spikes during layout.

6. Extra sledge handles. For broken ones.

7. A large 24” steel pipe wrench. Also used as a cheater bar for the puller.

I still love this shade. But it kicked my ass this last time.
Or maybe I’m just getting old.
I’m probably just getting old.
Yep I’m getting old.

Burn Bight~
Mozy Bonz~

[giordanowolf]

LAGS LAGS LAGS all the way. I am not using a similar shade but I have built structures a couple years now and 1/2" or 5/8'" x 12" lags are super easy if you drive them with an impact driver and pull them out the same way. We're solar and have plenty power for the wrench. The lags hold super strong (I built a 10' x 12' deck and the lags on the posts didn't budge). If you have power and an impact driver (power socket driver or "impact wrench") its super easy.