Stu was sourcing me some...not sure where he's got to with that?
I have it, that's where Ben got this ^ from. Many apologies for being shoddy and forgetting to let you know I now have the worlds biggest supply of Tyvek in various types.
What types are you currently holding then, Stuart?
Tyvek - Paper - like feel but very tough. Sold as waterproof and breathable but I consider it very water resistant as heavy direct pressure from a knee or elbow can push water through if it's on saturated ground. Cuts easily with scissors and doesn't fray. Bit crinkly at first bit softens up with use, non-slippery. 140cm wide and 90g per meter.
Permavent - Feels more like material. 100% waterproof and breathable. Cuts easily with scissors, sew's okay and doesn't fray. non-slippery. 100cm wide and 92g per meter.
What types are you currently holding then, Stuart?
Tyvek - Paper - like feel but very tough. Sold as waterproof and breathable but I consider it very water resistant as heavy direct pressure from a knee or elbow can push water through if it's on saturated ground. Cuts easily with scissors and doesn't fray. Bit crinkly at first bit softens up with use, non-slippery. 150cm wide and 90g per meter.
Permavent - Feels more like material. 100% waterproof and breathable. Cuts easily with scissors, sew's okay and doesn't fray. non-slippery. 100cm wide and 92g per meter.
How water resistant is the Tyvek? Good enough for an emergency cover?
Plenty good enough Bob. It's only something like kneeling hard on it that can push water through and then only if the ground is soaking. Rain just runs off.
Given how light and cheap tyvek can be, is there any reason why its not used more for cheap tarps/shelters?
I see loads of ultralight groundsheets but only a few bivis or tarps...
I mean its not the only fabric (paper??) that can't be sewn?
Given how light and cheap tyvek can be, is there any reason why its not used more for cheap tarps/shelters?
No reason at all really. I wonder whether it's the look of the stuff that puts people off?
I made a bivi bag out of it once and it worked fine until I went to get out of it one morning and a small tear quickly turned into a very big tear. If I had made a better job of hemming it then the original tear may not have appeared at all.
I use this as a groundsheet also. Even kneeling on it, ive not really felt the water come through. I find it also helps to give it all a good crumple/squash as it makes it less crinkly/noisy.
If theres any building sites near you putting up kit houses (wooden frames), it might be worth asking a joiner if they have any. Its used as a barrier between the kit and brickwork, and on roofs too i think.
(Mod, Feel free to delete this part )
How easy is Tyvek to sew/attach tie-out points? I'm not looking at hammock strength but just enough to attach guy lines at each corner.
Permavent sews easily Bob, as long as you double up on material / create a hem, it should offer enough strength for tie-outs. The Tyvek won't sew as well ... it will, just not as well
How easy is Tyvek to sew/attach tie-out points? I'm not looking at hammock strength but just enough to attach guy lines at each corner.
Permavent sews easily Bob, as long as you double up on material / create a hem, it should offer enough strength for tie-outs. The Tyvek won't sew as well ... it will, just not as well
A bit of searching (I've been on prepper sites ) and it seems that tying a line to the corner with a Sheet Bend works. That might be enough. There are also adhesive grommet/tie-outs which might be an option. Will need to get some ordered once I'm back from the Braunton 150 and have a play
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
I've made a Tyvek footprint to protect the groundsheet on my Lunar Solo
after reading up on it I used pva glue to hem it all the way round the edge.
You end up with 3 thicknesses at the corners
I then just hole punched it to add my "guys" made from kite string
surprisingly the pva is holding well with use.
Mark;
I've used a similar method when hemming fabric for kite tieouts.
To avoid the fabric pulling through I capture some thin line inside the hem before folding to spread the load over more than just the hole.
Then punch or sew just inside the captured line so the guy pulls the line and not the fabric.