Looking for measurements / dimensions to build portable canvas blinds. Any ideas? $650.00 for 6 halves of a tepee seems steep. Thanks, G.

if you actually come up with a design that works...share the wealth. most of the home-made jobs either can't be folded up or won't stay together when they need to. then the wind comes along and makes a kite of your efforts.

There are likely a multitude of ways to do this, so this is not exactly a patented process.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Here is one that worked for us.

Materials:
(This can all be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes)
Three pieces of metal 1/2" conduit pipe 8' long, each with 5/16" holes drilled through apprx 2" from the top and bottom; (these are to fit the U-bolt at the top and the eyebolts at the bottom)

One 1/4" threaded U-bolt for 1 1/2" pipe with lock nuts (the center pipe is placed in the center of the U-bolt, flanked by the other two)

Three 1/4" by 2 1/2" eyebolts with 1/4" nylon lock nuts; (These will allow a tent spike to be driven through the eyebolts to hold the blind secure to the ground.)

Three tent spikes/nails (4 to a package at Walmart) Or, if you have a welder, weld one each to the bottom of the support pipes. Then you won't need the eyebolts...however, using a hammer on a tent nail is easier that trying to push a welded spike into hard ground.

One package of a painters heavy duty 12X9 canvas drop cloth (Home Depot), in either plain or rubber backing. Plain is cheaper.

Instructions:
Cut the cloth into two equilateral triangles (ie one dimentional "pyramid") with the two sides each 90" long, the base at least 63" wide. (These dimensions include what is needed for hemming; you may have to piece scraps together to form a wide enough base if your drop cloth isn't the size it's supposed to be...)

Fold over 1 1/2" and hem one long side of each triangle to form a 3" pocket for the pipe. (These will be the outside uprights. Check the "pocket" for a snug but workable fit on the pipe before sewing)

Sew the remaining two long sides of the triangles together, overlapping 1 1/2" to form a pocket for the center support.

With the two triangles joined, fold them together longways and cut about 8" off the apex, that is, you're cutting off the top of the "pyramid"; hem the top; also hem the bottom of the cloth.
(These dimensions can be adjusted; a very tall helper will likely need more than 8' uprights with appropriate adjustments to the canvas dimensions)
If you want to get creative, you can also sew a large pocket onto the outside of one triangle to hold a hammer and the tent spikes.

Thread the U-bolt through the holes drilled at the top of the conduit pipes; make sure the center pipe support is in the center of the U-bolt, flanked by the other two. Secure the U-bolt with the lock nuts. (Other folks have used a large metal ring here, but the U-bolt seems to work better for us)

Thread the 3 pipes into the pockets of the finished blind material. If the cloth slips too easily down the pipe you may have to rivet or screw the top of the cloth to the pipe. (Ours was such a tight fit it wasn't an issue)

Place an eyebolt through the hole at the base of each pipe, secured with the nut. (It's great if you can manage to face the eyebolt so it's always inside the open blind; that way a leash doesn't get caught on it when the dog comes around.)

Also, with the blind complete and if you have access to a gromet installer, place a couple of large grometted holes at about eye level on each half of the blind. Handy for the helper to watch the dog coming.

Use a stip of velcro or a small bungie cord to keep a blind rolled up for storage.

A picture would be worth more, but since this forum doesn't allow that, pm me if you want me to send you a photo.

Wow. I wrote that last post in 2003!

Since then I've gotten several requests (PM's) for pictures of the finished product. Posting a photo is not an option on this forum so I've put them off site:
http://www.arborsia.org/Blinds/building_blinds.htm

Please be aware that these home made blinds are strictly for practice and would probably not not hold up for heavy duty use (ie, clubs) or trials.
But for practice at home, it's great for teaching a dog to make the proper run-around...!

I have followed Ann's design and all i need now is someone to sew it for me. Really pretty easy to follow. Thanks Ann.