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YOU CAN TURN AN OLD BEDSHEET INTO A WATERPROOF TARP

Turn an old bedsheet into a waterproof tarp with a tube of silicone, solvent and a garbage bag.

by NightHawkInLight

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

HomeWorkshop

difficulty
●●○○○
time
an afternoon plus a day of drying
license
license not specified
repo
repo 0 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a single-video technique for recycling old bed sheets into waterproof tarps using 100% silicone dissolved in naphtha (others have used mineral spirits). You measure the sheet's volume in a bucket, use about three quarters of that volume in solvent at a five to one ratio of solvent to silicone, and knead the sheet in the mix inside a garbage bag to contain the vapors, for at least five minutes. Then you hang it outside to dry. The result is similar to modern tent or jacket fabric coated in silicone; after 24 hours outside in snow it was perfectly dry and ready to use. He also shows how to attach a rope without grommets: press a pebble or acorn in from the back and tie around it with a slip knot. The biggest trap is the solvent: he says the vapors in an open container could reach explosive or hazardous levels, so work with a lot of ventilation, ideally outdoors, and test that the solvent does not melt your garbage bag first. If you have old sheets, a tube of silicone, solvent and a day to wait, this is an easy project. If you need a written BOM or a repo to fork, this is not that project.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —This is a video-only method, not a repository project.
  • —The entire process is demonstrated in a single YouTube video by NightHawkInLight.
  • —No written instructions or BOM beyond the video narration.
  • —The ratio is five parts solvent to one part silicone, and you need about three quarters of the fabric's volume in solvent.
  • —No licence is stated.

Parts to buy

5 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

  • Tube of 100% siliconeFind
  • Naphtha or mineral spiritsFind
  • Garbage bagsFind
  • Chemically resistant glovesFind
  • Old bed sheetFind

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Can I build this?

Printnothing required
Buya tube of 100% silicone, naphtha or mineral spirits, garbage bags, chemically resistant gloves, an old bed sheet
Toolsa bucket for measuring, a larger plastic bin, gloves, a rope or clothesline outdoors
Skillsworking safely with flammable solvents, basic volume estimation
Timeat least five minutes of kneading plus about 24 hours drying
Cost$; the video gives no prices
SafetyNaphtha and mineral spirits are flammable. Use them only with a lot of ventilation, ideally outdoors; vapors from an open container could reach explosive or hazardous levels. Wear chemically resistant gloves. Keep away from ignition sources.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Recycled Bedsheets Make The Best Waterproof Tarps8:56

The entire method is in this video: amounts, process, safety notes, results and a rope attachment trick.

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Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Watch the NightHawkInLight video (Everything you need is narrated in the video.)
  2. 2.Gather materials(Old bed sheet, a tube of 100% silicone, naphtha or mineral spirits, garbage bags, chemically resistant gloves, a bucket.)
  3. 3.Measure the fabric and the solvent(Push the sheet into a bucket to estimate its volume. Use about three quarters of that volume in solvent, five parts solvent to one part silicone.)
  4. 4.Knead in a sealed garbage bag(This contains the vapors. Test the bag with a little solvent first, and knead for at least five minutes.)
  5. 5.Hang to dry for 24 hours(He hung it outside; after 24 hours in snow it was perfectly dry and ready to use.)

KNOWN ISSUES

  • Working without ventilation: naphtha and mineral spirits should only be used with a lot of ventilation, ideally outdoors. Vapors from an open container could reach explosive or hazardous levels.
  • Not testing the garbage bag: put a little solvent on a corner first. If it melts the plastic, the method fails.
  • Guessing the solvent amount: use about three quarters of the fabric's volume in solvent and a five to one ratio of solvent to silicone.
  • Not kneading long enough: knead for at least five minutes, then press wet parts against dry spots.
  • Not wearing gloves: he uses chemically resistant gloves.
  • Letting the sheet touch the ground or branches while it cures: hang it on a long enough line.

Can I use mineral spirits instead of naphtha?

He says he has seen others use mineral spirits with some success, but naphtha seems to be the ideal solvent for silicone. Either way, use it only with a lot of ventilation, ideally outdoors.

Will this work on any sheet?

He says even the cheapest bed sheet fabric gives a result stronger than a common tarp. The video does not test different fibre types.

Is it machine washable after treatment?

The video does not test washing.

How long does the waterproofing last?

The video shows the sheet perfectly dry and ready to use after 24 hours outside in snow, still water-repellent. Long-term durability is not tested.

What silicone do I need?

He uses a tube of cheap, generic 100% silicone from a local hardware store. He tried more expensive varieties that claim better flexibility and the result seemed identical.

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

He says even the cheapest bed sheet makes a tarp stronger than a common plastic one. What would you waterproof first: a tarp for camping, a cover, or something else?

CompareeTEAM1d ago

Practical notes from our verification: this is a video-only method with no repo, no written instructions and no BOM beyond what is narrated in the video. The amounts are given verbally (five to one solvent to silicone, about three quarters of the fabric's volume in solvent). The single biggest safety point is the solvent: he says vapors in an open container could reach explosive or hazardous levels, so work with plenty of ventilation, ideally outdoors, test that your garbage bag survives the solvent, and do not skip the bag step. For backpacks or clothing he suggests brushing on a thicker 50/50 mix instead of soaking.

NightHawkInLight

NightHawkInLight (Ben) is a YouTube channel of practical science and DIY projects. In this video he recycles old bed sheets into waterproof tarps with common hardware store materials.

Star the project on GitHub

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