Failed Tyvek Tie outs.

[Davidf61]

First post here, so I hope I can get some help with a Tyvek issue.

I recently bought some Tyvek from the states with the intention of making a tarp for a trip planned in a few days time. It's "Homewrap", the noisy stuff and also came with the little adhesive tie outs with an eyelet. I cut the tarp to size required, made sure the surface was clean and dry, I very gently went over it with some fine sandpaper [very gently!] stuck the tie outs on and then used genuine Tyvek tape to reinforce the area, a straight piece along the edge and 3 pieces radiating outwards towards the middle of the tarp [both sides].

I reefed HARD on this, seemed absolutely solid. I then set the tarp up on the back lawn in a basic A-frame configuration, pegged at 4 corners and my trek poles, with small bungy straps to the centre line tie outs at each end. Not too tight or too loose.

It was late went to bed, got up this morning after a night of very little wind and slight rain and it's all in a heap on the ground. One of the centre line tabs just slid off the Tyvek as well as one of the corners. Did I miss a step here? The little adhesive tie outs supplied have been give good reviews at all websites I checked on, Tyvek tape was applied and I really leaned on it, yet it's come apart. Should I sew as well ? It's only a cheapish experiment and I've got plenty of other gear but I would love to know what went wrong because I can really see potential in this stuff.

Answers anybody? Thanks in advance.

[andrewa]

How long did you leave it all to bond? Ivenot played with tyvek, but the double sided sail tapes I have used on outdoor gear require some time to bond properly....... Not sure how long "some time" is....

Andrew A

[Franco]

Short version.. I would not use Tyvek (Homewrap or otherwise) for a tarp

First thing, whatever you do , do not sew it, for the same reason you should not sew paper (it will rip)

To bond it I use PVA and that takes a couple of days to fully cure so maybe Tyvek tape works like that.
The reason I would not use it as a tarp is because it is only almost waterproof when new, once you start to scrunch it up you progressively destroy the integrity of the material .
remember it is meant to be used to wrap houses, not used as a sail... (tarps are a bit like sails...)
Keep in mind that a lot of DIY stuff you see on the Net only works in the backyard for a time or two.

[Strider]

You're not painting a very pretty picture for the TT Sublite, Franco. And it becomes even more baffling why the Sublite Sil was removed from the lineup...

http://www.tarptent.com/sublite.html

[Franco]

The Sublite is made from soft ,1443R,Tyvek, nothing at all like HomeWrap...
Not that I would reccomend 1443R Tyvek for a tarp anyway.
There can be a lot more stress on a tarp corner than the typical tension distribuited around the shelter as it is witth the Sublite.
However it is meant as a shelter for very hot and or humid areas (works very well for that) not for expoed areas where high winds and or heavy rain is likely to happen.

The Sublite Sil was (functionaly) totally different but was replaced by the Notch, a better design for most.
(can be opened on both sides and has two usable vestibules) Much easier to set up too.

[Strider]

The Sublite is made from soft ,1443R,Tyvek, nothing at all like HomeWrap...
Not that I would reccomend 1443R Tyvek for a tarp anyway.
There can be a lot more stress on a tarp corner than the typical tension distribuited around the shelter as it is witth the Sublite.
However it is meant as a shelter for very hot and or humid areas (works very well for that) not for expoed areas where high winds and or heavy rain is likely to happen.

Still doesn't overcome this part

The reason I would not use it as a tarp is because it is only almost waterproof when new, once you start to scrunch it up you progressively destroy the integrity of the material .

[Franco]

As stated the Sublite (Tyvek) is not designed for heavy rain.
Like most specialised type gear it does very well what it was designed for but not that well what it wasn't...
Same reason why not long ago I posted that Arctic tents work very well in the Arctic, the inferance was 'not so well in a rain forest' or really most non Arctic grounds...

[andrewbish]

I made a bivy using Tyvek Homewrap (bottom) bonded to Tyvek 1443R (top), using a glue I got from Bunnings.

I also sewed a zip into the Homewrap. No separation issues yet, but obviously has less stresses than for a tarp

[Franco]

"I made a bivy using Tyvek Homewrap (bottom) bonded to Tyvek 1443R (top), using a glue I got from Bunnings."

me too..I may or may not test it out this coming winter...
takes my Exped mat and a thick sleeping bag. I have not finished the hood as yet.
The only problem is that mice/rats/marsupials are still around in winter and I don't want to make it a fully enclosed bivvy more like an sb cover that hold my mat too.

[Davidf61]

Well, an update on the Tyvek issue.

Perhaps Andrewa was right, time may have been a concern regards the tie outs because after a few days the remaining
ones seem to have set a whole lot better than the ones that pulled out. I reset it in the backyard again, a bit patched up
but it survived the night of reasonable wind and rain without dramas and it seems quite solid.

It was 10 foot square, [too big really ] I will trim it down to 9 x 9 and redo it all, this time a local sailmaker has said he can give
me a few scraps of some type of sailcloth to use as reinforcement triangles, he seems to think either sew/tape or sew/glue
the Tyvek [he gave me a needle no and stitchs per inch guidelines] Mum will sort that out!

As for use as a tarp, the web is chocka with examples of this material in all sorts of uses, with great success [the Terra Rosa tarp a mate's got
gave the idea to build my own], so I will persevere. I have enough left over to make a single bathtub floor and a bivi bag/cover so I'll give that a crack next. Plus it's $48 I can't just throw away!!

Thank you for all replies...

[Franco]

The Terra Rosa tarps are made with 1443r Tyvek not Homewrap...

[Davidf61]

The Terra Rosa tarps are made with 1443r Tyvek not Homewrap...

Yep, I know that, and I'm aware of a few failings with this stuff in general, it's just having a crack at making a few things
and not having to burst into tears if [when] it all goes pear shaped. It's cheap.

Mind you, a Tarptent is on the horizon,just can't really work out which one to get!

[andrewbish]

"I made a bivy using Tyvek Homewrap (bottom) bonded to Tyvek 1443R (top), using a glue I got from Bunnings."
me too..I may or may not test it out this coming winter...
takes my Exped mat and a thick sleeping bag. I have not finished the hood as yet.
The only problem is that mice/rats/marsupials are still around in winter and I don't want to make it a fully enclosed bivvy more like an sb cover that hold my mat too.

Nice one, Franco.

Here's a pic of mine. I made a hood by extending the Homewrap base.

[andrewa]

Franco, I've somehow missed the issue with mice rats and marsupials, and tyvek tie outs. Obviously such creatures can chew tie outs, but I wasn't aware of any glue issues with them. Have previously used pearl glue (horse) for wood work, but not found "rodent/marsupial pearl glue".....

I wouldn't mind playing with some tyvek. Can you buy it in Bunnies or Masters? From what I've read about it, I would try not to sew it, in the same way that I will try not o sew my Cuban fiber when I get around to doing something with it.

Andrew A

[Davidf61]

It's a bit of a read but the Dupont Product Handbook will give you a pretty thorough idea on can and cannot do with Tyvek. Sewing doesn't seem to be a problem at all, though I am going to sew and glue or tape.

The sewing bit is right towards the end of the file but me mum thinks it's nothing too tricky and me mum is always right!

[Franco]

Sorry for the bivvy bit but I also did the same as Andrew by using Homewrap for the hood.
My dilemma with that bivvy is that it is a bit lighter than the TT Notch inner but will not keep them critters out, not about them chewing on Tyvek.
No problem over treeline (that I have encountered) but it can be next to a refuge.
I was thinking of using the bivvy instead of the inner.

So those comments had really nothing to do with the tread except for pointing out what I think Tyvek can be used for or not.

David
Yes Tyvek is cheap enough to play with.
I have often suggested just painter's drop sheets for that because it behaves a bit more like nylon or silnylon (having some "give") but Homewrap is more like Cuben it needs to be cut a different way .
In the US some also use window film, the stuff you stick on glass to make it sort of double glazed.
Not my cup of tea but good enough for fun.