Ray Way Tarp and making carbon fiber tarp poles & Updates

10/7/2013:  I found a 3' long stainless steel rods at a local metal shop for only $5--regular steel at a big box store is $4.50.  Shop local.  I made connectors to join 16" pieces for a 48" pole--I ground two connectors just enough for a friction fit, a third connector I epoxied into a carbon shaft.   I set up the tarp for another test.  I attached the ridge line at 40".

10/6/2013:  the little S-hooks that Ray provides for attachment of the net tent to the tarp don't stay attached to the loops on the tarp in windy conditions.  I replaced them with 1.75" hardwood dowels with a 7/64" hole drilled to accept the net tent cord.

10/4/2013  Tarp leak
During a rain shower water dripped from the center net tent attachment loop of the tarp.  I applied more silicone caulk mixed with paint thinner to the ridge seam.

Flash update 9/30/2013:  I set up the tarp yesterday with the ridge line almost at the top of the 48" carbon pole.  A storm blew in with 40-50 mph winds, one aluminum rod bent, splintering the ends of the tubes.  Stainless steel will weigh more but I probably have no choice unless I can find titanium on the cheap.

Instructions for making an ultra light tarp pole.

Rationale:   To support their tarps ultralight hikers either use trekking poles or sticks picked up while hiking.  My trekking poles weigh 9 oz each.  My last two trips, I didn't use them while hiking.  When hiking above treeline, one might not find a suitable stick.  I made two 48" poles that weigh under 40 gm each (1.4 oz).  Six Moon Designs makes these for $30 each--a deal if you have no tools.  If you have tools, you should get busy and make your own.  These are instructions for making tarp poles that break down into three sections about 16-17 inches long, not bungee corded together (that just makes a simple thing complex).  

Materials:

• Three Carbon fiber arrow shafts from maybe Walmart, cabela's, etc.  32" long, about .30" outer diameter, .24" inside diameter  I bought a dozen from www.Cheaperthandirt.com  About $5 each.  Maybe you can buy three at a time.  You might also find broken arrows at an archery range, if you're really lucky.  These shafts are designed to be very straight--they flex just a little and don't seem usable as tent poles for a free standing tent.  
• 1/4" aluminum rod, from home depot, etc.  $5 max for a 36" rod.  If each arrow shaft comes with an insert for the front end, you can opt to adapt those by grinding down the flange and gluing half the length into the shaft--see step 4 below.
• rubber washers that fit tightly on the arrow shaft, or just strips of inner tube.

Tools:

• Dremel with cut off wheel
• hack saw
• drill
• flat file, coarse

Directions:

1. Cut 2 arrow shafts in half using the Dremel with a cut off wheel.  use the Dremel to tidy up the cut.
2. Cut two 2-2.5" lengths of aluminum rod with the hack saw
3. The aluminum rod won't fit into the arrow shafts.  You will have to file their diameter down.  Mount one piece of rod (cut in step above) into the chuck of the drill.
4. turn on the drill and use the flat file to pare down the diameter of the rod so that an arrow shaft fits easily but not loosely on the rod
5. remove the rod from the drill chuck and re-insert the other end into the drill chuck.  Pare down just enough of the rod so that an arrow shaft fits tightly on it.
6. Repeat 3,4 & 5 for the other end of this arrow shaft.
7. press one or two rubber washers onto one section of the arrow shaft at positions where you'll want the tarp lines to anchor.  Or tie thin strips of inner tube to a section that will be designated the top section.
8. You're done with your ultra light tarp pole.  Make another one for the other end of your tarp.

For a finished look and to keep dirt out of the ends of the poles, look for end caps at a hardware store. Otherwise, find a piece of bark or a flat stone to go under the pole.