Making a Drop Cloth Tipi

This past winter I made a twelve foot tipi fro two 12' x 15' 8 oz canvas painter's drop cloths. Billy Maxwell told me how to do it and I incorporated some ideas from years of camping in tipis and from discussions on Lind Holley's chat group, Tipis-Tepees-Teepees.
I'm pleased with the results. My sewing skills are lacking,; like my welding, the stitching is ugly as hell, but I usually manage to stick two pieces together. Even so, I think it looks pretty good.
I will put written iinstructions up on my blog, adventuresidecar.com
• Setting Up The Dropclo...

[@ntvrthmn]

When I use a tarp, preferably brown or camo, I can crank out a good 15 foot lodge in half a day. Peeling poles takes another day but plastic gets hot and the insides get condensation. So, I made one with a drop cloth inside and a tarp outside...waterproofs well and has a good look if I use camo tarp...20x30 foot tarps are under $50 at Harbor China Freight...plus the cost of a couple drop cloths and some gorilla tape...keeps it down to where I call it a Cheapee.

[@Paul.Douglas]

I like this idea of using canvas drop cloth. I've seen them done on youtube with regular tarps. I'm retiring tomorrow (!) and looking for more projects.

[@ntvrthmn]

I've switched over to those drop cloths myself due to prices. However, being old now I finally dropped a couple grand on a Nomadics 18 footer which I keep up permanently. My drop cloth Tipis are smaller and used for be nomadic/traveling and I have sizes from 10 to 15 feet depending on how many canvases I use. Tarps are faster but break down too fast but both the tarps and drop cloths at Wally World and China Freight are cheap and it's easy to make a good sized lodge for under $100. Lot of work sewing and peeling poles but IMO that's part of the deal and gives lots of satisfaction. I've lost count of how many I've made over the past 4 decades...make that almost 5.

[@nitaihammari6994]

IMHO, you said it right.

[@leaftree49]

I found this while surfing the net and have always wanted to build one, I followed your plans and no i have a great teepee to hunt from, thanks for this video to go with your online plans, I do have to agree at times it was hard to hear you and what you were doing. Maybe throw in some advice on poles.

[@noahriding5780]

I think reinforcement wherever pegs go through slits would also be good. Your idea on reinforcement on the smoke flaps and at the top was good information also. Thanks.

[@noahriding5780]

I am surprised nobody commented on your video. Thank you for this video. I also had the idea of using drop cloth. Drop cloth is much cheaper than normal canvas and this is what made me think of it. I wondered is it durable enough to work? Did it hold up after the initial build well? I'm curious how it holds up over time, and in comparison with the real canvas stuff. But because drop clothes from paint store are so much cheaper I want to see if doing it this way will work. I hope you might have follow up data on this particularly on if the drop cloth will endure over time. Normal canvas has gotten extremely expensive. And I wonder how many other people are getting the same idea. The plastic blue tarps will melt in the sun in 8 to 10 months. I've tested this personally by using them for sheds and agriculture material covers in past years. So I know betting on those won't get anywhere.

[@denisestarr2314]

I built a 15ft tipi out of 3 , 12x15 drop clothes. What a chore . I did use a sewing machine . And painted it with kilz primer , to waterproof it , I have not painted my color design yet.

[@nitaihammari6994]

I have built the same size tipi also from two drop clothes. I neglected to pack it up dry, (which let mold set in),or to have tall enough poles for it. Having lived in other larger tipis, your video is a very good lesson on how to do it right. $50 and some sewing hours, versus $600 for a nicely manufactured one, is a choice going to really easy, as the money all dissapears! Thank you!

[@nitaihammari6994]

I couldn’t hear either, but that was because my wife is watching her own video chats across the table from me. Hahahaha. My volumne is the one goes way down!

[@ntvrthmn]

I forgot to mention on your other video...I learned from you to twist the staking loops. As prices have soared, drop cloths make a less expensive lodge and work quite well. Thanks.

[@davidlisco110]

Whats a good way to waterproof this tee pee?

[@ntvrthmn]

@@davidlisco110 Usually the rain self-seals but don't touch the inside. Silicon and Naptha waterproof ok and there's a YT on it about waterproofing bedsheets but I forgot the link. I don't waterproof my Tipis. Also an inner liner helps keep things dry. Another way to prrof is to paint designs outside with oil paint...latex works I've heard.

[@nitaihammari6994]

Yes, I found the Laubin’s idea of painting with oil paint (Ace Hardware oil enamel) on a wet (water)canvas tipi cover, laid flat, makes the oil paint go on thin and absorb deeply but not thick. When dry, it is still lightweight and does not crack. Inside, the light still penetrates through the paint, but not the rain. Just make some interesting design and they look sweet.

[@hanelyp1]

How well does the tipi handle rain?

[@correyclifford2873]

Make a fire inside to weather proof the cloth and poles the smoke cures it

[@puddin94]

👍😊❤️

[@dennisthurman2070]

How much did it finally cost you and how long did it take you

[@AdventureSidecar]

I traded a tent for the canvas so it really didn't cost me anything, but had I bought the canvas it would have been less than a hundred dollars.

[@waltergigandet6715]

It won’t last 2 years in the sun and weather, it’s too light.

[@lindaholley6919]

The Original Indians cloth was about the same thickness. Not the heavier material used today. It to make another one.

[@tonyphillips878]

SPEAK UP!

[@danielhanson4326]

Boy I'm really gonna sound like a complainer here. But the way you guys are put your wording up there with the red and the black center you can't read it

[@danielhanson4326]

Nobody can hear a word your Saying

[@danielhanson4326]

Sorry but the video has no value to me