[Ravensfort] Tarps and such

[David Brown]

That all sounds good. I still think the garage tents from Academy would be the 
best bet...and we can take them to other events.
We could always make large Raven's Fort banners and hoist them up yonder poles!

Devin




________________________________
From: "Hoffpauir, David" <ENV_DRH at SHSU.EDU>
To: "ravensfort at lists.ansteorra.org" <ravensfort at lists.ansteorra.org>
Sent: Tue, August 10, 2010 3:43:01 PM
Subject: [Ravensfort] Tarps and such


I’ve been trying to get my head around the engineering on our pavilion project.
 
Currently we could lift a Volkswagen if we were going strait up.  That’s not the 
problem though.  We want to use the existing poles and cabling to go between the 
two uprights with a cover.  That is, rig something between the uprights that can 
be lifted using the current cabling by inserting a third cable between them.  So 
instead of just going up we are introducing tension between the two poles and, 
especially, the two cables.  

 
Anything attached to the third cable, with any weight at all, is going to pull 
the existing cables toward each other.  In my mind we’re going to have a major 
sag in the middle if there is much weight.  We also have to consider wind.  Any 
material that catches wind will eventually rip.  Catch too much wind and there 
goes the whole investment.
 
Options?  Canvas is just plain heavy.  Weatherized material (herculite) would be 
equally heavy for the size we’re suggesting.  Tarps, would work but are butt 
ugly.  Rip stop nylon (parachute material) is very light and strong, just hard 
to come by.  Plastic sheeting, um, forget I mentioned that…  

 
Another consideration is purpose.  Are we trying to shed water or block 
sunlight?  Both would be nice but really what is our most common situation?  
Sunlight, I’d say.
 
So what might work?  Cotton painter’s drop cloths might be a alternative.  They 
come in various sizes, block light and could be decorated, painted, or 
weatherized.  They also can take abuse.  Check Home Depot.  Another alternative 
is just plain old bed sheets.  King size.  They are very light, allow air to 
pass through, could be decorated, come in colors, are easily sewn together, and 
are easily obtainable.  We could get a dozen at Good Sheppard Mission for almost 
nothing, or just hit garage sales.
 
Anyway just a few thoughts.  I’d hate to see us purchase a warehouse of 
expensive fabric that ends up not working.
 
As a suggestion, I’d say let’s do the bed sheet angle first and learn from 
there.  It’s the simplest approach, cheapest by far, and easiest to scrap if the 
engineering doesn’t work out.
 
Regards,
DSD


      
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