Outdoor activities like camping and bushcraft require reliable gear, and a waterproof tarp is a must-have. However, high-quality tarps can be quite expensive, often costing upwards of $250. But what if you could make a 100% waterproof tarp at home using a king-sized bed sheet? In this post, I’ll guide you through the process of creating your own waterproof tarp, inspired by the experiments of Nighthawk in Light.

Materials Needed

To create your own waterproof tarp, you will need:

• A king-sized flat sheet (new or used)
• 1.5 quarts of Naphtha
• 100% clear silicone
• A garbage bag
• Safety gloves

The Process

1. Preparation: Start by placing a garbage bag inside a five-gallon bucket. This will serve as your mixing container.
2. Mixing: Pour 1.5 quarts of Naphtha into the garbage bag. Then, add a tube of 100% clear silicone. Make sure to do this in a well-ventilated area away from any flames.
3. Dissolving: Wearing safety gloves, work the silicone until it completely dissolves in the Naphtha. This will create a liquid solution.
4. Soaking: Bunch up your flat sheet and submerge it in the liquid solution. Work the liquid into all the fibers of the sheet.
5. Absorbing: Allow the sheet to absorb all the liquid. Make sure it’s completely saturated.
6. Drying: Wring out the sheet and hang it up to dry for about 24 hours.

The Result

The result is a silicon-infused fabric that is completely waterproof. Water simply rolls off the surface of the tarp, and it can even hold water without any leakage. This DIY waterproof tarp is perfect for survival situations, bushcraft, or just regular camping.

You can watch the full video of my experience below or click here.

This blog post is based on the video “How to make a 100% waterproof tarp from a bedsheet!” by Speir Outdoors. The video was published on February 15, 2022, and as of the time of writing, it has 21,292 views, 800 likes, and 115 comments.

For more information on the products used in the video, you can check out the Amazon influencer page at www.amazon.com/shop/speiroutdoors.

Please note that the links provided are affiliate links, where a small commission is made if you purchase an item through these links at no extra cost to you.