a few aluminet questions

octoawesome · Post by **octoawesome** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:28 pm

Last year when I was a virgin I slept very poorly due to the hot morning sun. This time around I am determined to get enough sleep. The last few days I have been doing some research and finally settled on buying some 70% aluminet. Today I bought a nice big 21'x14' piece to make a shade structure to put over my tent. Now I am a little worried that it alone won't be enough to keep me cool. I have a few ideas about how I am going to rig it up and want some feedback from people who might know better than me.

1. My first idea was to make a large structure that will go over over my tent and leaving it at that. (One layer of aluminet)

2. My second idea was to double it over and use that to make a similar, smaller structure. (Two layers of aluminet)

3. My third idea is to put a bedsheet underneath for extra shade and protection from the dust the aluminet will collect. Will a sheet rip too easily? (One or two layers of aluminet with a sheet underneath)

4. My fourth idea was to take another tarp or perhaps a piece of 90% black shade cloth and place that under the aluminet. (One or two layers of aluminet with a tarp underneath)

I don't really like the idea of having dust raining down on me every time I touch my shade cover so I am thinking a sheet might be a good idea, although if they rip too easily to be worth it I want to avoid the hassle. If another tarp or piece of shade cloth will really help I might consider buying it, but optimally I would like to work with what I have already purchased. What are peoples' thoughts on what I've got?

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:02 pm

Try it at home or the beach and see how it works.

octoawesome · Post by **octoawesome** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:09 pm

I had one more question I just thought of as well... what is the difference between 70% aluminet and 90% black shade cloth? Would the 90% shade cloth be just as good as the aluminet or worse because it doesn't block as much of the IR?

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:14 pm

Well of course Aluminet is better, it costs more.

Everything collects dust, you can't get away from it.

Any shade cloth allows ventilation preventing the oven like box effect of closed spaces.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:26 pm

Not sure it matters significantly, everything gets coated with dust, you'd have to use an IR thermometer to test it. Lower percentage fabric would be lighter in weight and wind resistance, so might be better for a lighter setup. Higher percentage would require stronger supports, but would shade the tent and the ground better -- shading the ground with more opaque fabric or whatnot keeps it from radiating heat back at you. But lighter fabric is better if you want to be able to see through it... bla bla bla...

I think the Cafe uses 70% knit shade cloth. Black & green & dust all over.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:49 pm

70% and 80% are not actually 70% and 80% even according to their own figures.
The only benefit I see to mesh aluminet is it's porosity to rain.
I plan on using some off playa because of this.

Will someone in another country please ship in some solid aluminet?

Silvicool seems to be the closest available.
Reflektra made of tyvek doesn't look bad.

A good tarp will have a black or metal layer to block light and heat.
I have some billboard material that blocks light due to thickness and a black side.
Block all the heat, and ventilation is not an issue.

octoawesome · Post by **octoawesome** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:16 pm

I guess what I am debating is whether I should stick with the aluminet or change my order to 90% black shade cloth. I read elsewhere that the shade cloth works just as well or better than the aluminet. I read that here: http://tinyurl.com/5zjeh9

octoawesome · Post by **octoawesome** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:27 pm

Or maybe I should just scrap the whole order and go with something more low-tech like a silvered tarp?

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:16 am

They're cheaper, that's for sure. Leave space between tent and tarp, since they heat up. I've brought a few Architectural Monstrosities that had silvertarp coverings- Being solid it blocks 100% of the wind, for good or ill. They tend to become sails if you don't anchor them properly or use really big ones without "speed holes", but I've never had a serious incident with mine.

octoawesome · Post by **octoawesome** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:07 am

Well... I just called to try to modify the order and it has already been processed and sent off to the warehouse so it looks like I am getting the aluminet. Would it still be a good idea to back it with a sheet or some shade cloth from home depot?

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:31 am

Bedsheets or spreads are cheap enough, poly might be better than cotton so it doesn't hold water from a rain.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:03 am

I wouldn't use a single layer of mesh aluminet myself.

chiefdanfox · Post by **chiefdanfox** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:09 am

I've used a single layer of 70% aluminet (13X 21) for two years on the playa, and I think it works very, very well. It seems to drop the temp at least 10 -15 degrees from direct sun. I don't have data to prove it, so maybe it is less, but I think it makes a huge difference. I suppose two layers would be better, but I wonder how much better. It is also very strong, when tied right. We secured it by simply tying it with a Sheet bend knot, Cub scouts. Zero fly-away in even the worst storms last year.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:26 am

It definitely will drop the temperature.
It just isn't real shade.

I plan on using 80% mesh aluminet over my storage because I can stretch it horizontally and it won't hold rain.
It has real benefit used that way.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:08 pm

Real shade is whatever doesn't blow down.

thirt33n · Post by **thirt33n** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:57 pm

this BELONGS here
[youtube][/youtube]

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:29 pm

I just see an empty white box.

Or is that a shaded space?

Badger

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:43 pm

One of them teevee things people keep finding on the google.

octoawesome · Post by **octoawesome** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:12 pm

I'm thinking about buying a silvered tarp and putting that under the aluminet to provide better shade. It seems that if I do that though it would defeat the purpose of having the aluminet as its unbreathable and make my structure into a sail.