Thumbcrusher
27-01-2011, 05:25 PM
If you have one of these you'll know just how fiddly the buttons are on the door so here's a mod i did on mine which i thought i'd share. Hope it's of use to someone!
I fastened all the buttons apart from about 1 metre down one side. I then removed all the buttons from that metre and sewed up the button holes on the outer piece of fabric. I then put some iron on seam tape over the sewed button holes.
Next i got lengths of paracord just long enough to form a loop that would reach about 3.5cm from a point just below the first "permanently" fastened button on the open side to just below the next button hole in the inner piece of fabric. These loops were sewn onto the inside of the outer fabric (Still with me?).
The door is closed by threading the first loop through the inner fabric button hole and the next loop through that untill all the loops go through a hole and then the next loop. the last one is just peegged to the ground. hope the picture makes it more clear but its basically the way tents used to be fastened and i think most marquees still are. It's called dutch lacing.
Outside flap showing button hole covered with iron on seam tape. Stitching shows position of paracord loop on other side of flap.
http://i52.tinypic.com/5d2jiw.jpg
Inside of “outside” flap showing more seam tape over button hole and paracord loop glued with contact adhesive then sewn. Contact adhesive stops it moving around when you sew it.
http://i53.tinypic.com/vsgdwh.jpg
Five loops were buttons used to be – this gives an opening about a metre long.
http://i51.tinypic.com/2iadfk5.jpg
Outside when door is fastened.
http://i56.tinypic.com/33vyx6p.jpg
Close up detail of loops on inside when door is fastened.(Viewed from inside the tent).
http://i54.tinypic.com/34yvdkh.jpg
Full row of loops with door fastened.(Viewed from inside the tent).
http://i54.tinypic.com/b9d0w.jpg
Inner flap which still has its buttons on both sides acts as a wind baffle when door is fastened shut.
http://i52.tinypic.com/fux8wm.jpg
Inner flap lifted up slightly to show how the buttons on it can be trapped between the loops of paracord as they come through from the outer flap.
http://i56.tinypic.com/33w1vra.jpg
Arm holes glued shut with contact adhesive on outside.
http://i54.tinypic.com/1zmicep.jpg
And inside.
http://i54.tinypic.com/690w0n.jpg
How rainfast – totally so far!
I fastened all the buttons apart from about 1 metre down one side. I then removed all the buttons from that metre and sewed up the button holes on the outer piece of fabric. I then put some iron on seam tape over the sewed button holes.
Next i got lengths of paracord just long enough to form a loop that would reach about 3.5cm from a point just below the first "permanently" fastened button on the open side to just below the next button hole in the inner piece of fabric. These loops were sewn onto the inside of the outer fabric (Still with me?).
The door is closed by threading the first loop through the inner fabric button hole and the next loop through that untill all the loops go through a hole and then the next loop. the last one is just peegged to the ground. hope the picture makes it more clear but its basically the way tents used to be fastened and i think most marquees still are. It's called dutch lacing.
Outside flap showing button hole covered with iron on seam tape. Stitching shows position of paracord loop on other side of flap.
http://i52.tinypic.com/5d2jiw.jpg
Inside of “outside” flap showing more seam tape over button hole and paracord loop glued with contact adhesive then sewn. Contact adhesive stops it moving around when you sew it.
http://i53.tinypic.com/vsgdwh.jpg
Five loops were buttons used to be – this gives an opening about a metre long.
http://i51.tinypic.com/2iadfk5.jpg
Outside when door is fastened.
http://i56.tinypic.com/33vyx6p.jpg
Close up detail of loops on inside when door is fastened.(Viewed from inside the tent).
http://i54.tinypic.com/34yvdkh.jpg
Full row of loops with door fastened.(Viewed from inside the tent).
http://i54.tinypic.com/b9d0w.jpg
Inner flap which still has its buttons on both sides acts as a wind baffle when door is fastened shut.
http://i52.tinypic.com/fux8wm.jpg
Inner flap lifted up slightly to show how the buttons on it can be trapped between the loops of paracord as they come through from the outer flap.
http://i56.tinypic.com/33w1vra.jpg
Arm holes glued shut with contact adhesive on outside.
http://i54.tinypic.com/1zmicep.jpg
And inside.
http://i54.tinypic.com/690w0n.jpg
How rainfast – totally so far!