Burning Man Skills

Step 16 Silvertarp Fleamarket Stall Structure

Now that's some quality shade.
And so of course there are some people relaxing under it.
This is a fleamarket stall mated up to a vanagon camper.
Real silvertarp is getting harder to find. Most tarps are translucent and make a solar oven, even the silver ones. Hold yours up to the sun and see if you can see through it. If you can, keep shopping.

Comments

[rgrimm1]

I've had VERY good luck buying tarps from Northern Tool, just make sure they are the heavy-duty ones, silver both sides.
Thor Tarp is another good company.

[haptotrope]

I'm not sure it I thanked you for the RV tarp suggestion a few years back... It seems to work pretty well... I can see *some light/shadows of the aluminet through it. but its been good to me.... When i go next I should show you the "spandex walled dome" -- Its full of privicy and pretty brilliant.

[ViscidVillette]

Ooh, may I hear about the spandex walled dome?

[haptotrope]

sure.  its had several iterations. Each based on the geometry dome ( http://geometrydome.com/ ) made from 8' struts of PVC.  First one looked like this:http://haptotrope.com/BurningMan2005/BurningMan2005.html  (middle of the page and a few on page 2))  and the fabric (make sure it stretches /is wide enough/4way stretch)  was held on by pennies/monkeyfists. (time consuming! but adaptable.)  There were several pieces which were overlapped.  Later iterations serged/overlocked all seperate pieces together (good idea) and overlocked on spandex tabs 1-2" wide and 8-10" long that tied in an "easy to release" bow knot - placed at every 2-3 feet.  This was a vast improvement since it was less adjustable,  but way less cumbersome.

If you make a "vajayjaydoor" (as shown) you will need a "chipclip" to keep it closed.  but it is nice to not have to mess with anything like a zipper to get in and out.

the spandex breathes, if you spray it with a plant sprayer it becomes a swamp cooler, I had an extra layer of alluminet  covering the whole thing, and room darkening tarps on top.  it does an ok job of filtering out the dust. (or slowing it down and dropping it between net layer and double fabric layer.)  It was also easy to take down and toss in a bin.

I also did this with a standard buckydome, HUGE piece, overlocked together, with tabs on it... sometimes you have to make adjustments... since its stretchy and the dome changes slightly each time you put it up...  but if you hang the ridiculously patterned fabric from the inside, and get some color changing LEDs -- it can be super fun. ahem.

Anyway, let me know if you have questions!

[deth2all]

Vanagon baby.. yea. thats how i roll