im not sure if this is the right place to ask but i couldn't find any other topics about it. i just got a 16 by 16 diamond fly from panther primitives and im not sure what the best way to set it up is. i just want something that i can close off at night and be protected from the wind. do you guys have any suggestions?

for a diamond fly to completely block the wind, you'd have to roll up in it!!

IF, if you want enclosure and wind proof you picked the wrong tent. Sell your diamond and
buy a pyramid tent. A 16X16 set up low will provide a lot of protection.
Set up the back of the diamond pointed at the prevailling wind. Wind will skip over and not inside. In a hard swirling rain storm the front third of your diamond inside will get wet.

The foul taste of poor quality lingers far longer than the sweetness of cheap price.

Selling it isn't an option because it was a gift. i dont mind that it won't completely block the wind. i just wondered if anybody had a different way of setting it up.

There is a way to set up a diamond fly where you have 'doors' for privacy and to keep wind/weather out. If by wild chance you have the June 2002 Muzzle Blasts issue, there's an article in there on 3 ways to set up a diamond.

Stretch the diamond out. Stake the midpoint of one side down (call that point 'B'). Raise the midpoint of the opposite side (call that point 'A') up with an 8' pole. The corners adjacent to point A go to the base of the pole to form the doors. The corners adjacent to point B are folded under to form the floor. A couple of more stakes for the sides and you're done. I'll try to add a scan of the MB diagram as an attachment.

I believe this is the basis for RedHawk Trading's Queens Bluff 'tent.' At any rate, the gentleman at RedHawk said the QB tent is basically a square tarp, and the 16X16 foot version is pictured on their website (http://www.redhawk-trading.com/Queen.htm ), so you can go to their website and see what one would look like set up.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SCLoyalist,

DiamondFly.jpg (88 KB, 120 downloads) Diamond Fly/enclosed

just a thought on weatherproofing the diamond fly: i use a rectangular piece of oilcloth as my shelter, rain or shine.its about 8ft long by 60 in wide.i stake on long edge down and tie the other side to the cross piece.when it starts getting ugly out, i simple lower the front edge. the middle is supported by a springy stick, so this keeps the canvas off my body. the same principle would work with a diamond fly. just lower the front sides and the very tip. it should work in everything except the most horizontal rain.it also helps to pile up some brush/bark (or whatever comes to hand) to close up the opening. hope this helps a little bit.
YMHS

Thanks that was exactly what i was looking for

quote:

Originally posted by Oracle:
IF, if you want enclosure and wind proof you picked the wrong tent. Sell your diamond and
buy a pyramid tent. A 16X16 set up low will provide a lot of protection.
Set up the back of the diamond pointed at the prevailling wind. Wind will skip over and not inside. In a hard swirling rain storm the front third of your diamond inside will get wet.

The foul taste of poor quality lingers far longer than the sweetness of cheap price.

depending on his time frame of interest, the pyramid tent may be a bad idea--they are not accepted at many pre-1840 events. The simple wedge tent and the wall tent are safe almost timeless tents that we can use throughout the pre-1840 periods most of us "do". The diamond fly is acceptable because it represents the simple tarp/sailcloth/etc shelter often mentioned and used "in a pinch". In reality, unless one has a wagon, boat or pack animal a tent would not be used.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike R:

quote:

Originally posted by Oracle:
IF, if you want enclosure and wind proof you picked the wrong tent. Sell your diamond and
buy a pyramid tent. A 16X16 set up low will provide a lot of protection.
Set up the back of the diamond pointed at the prevailling wind. Wind will skip over and not inside. In a hard swirling rain storm the front third of your diamond inside will get wet.

The foul taste of poor quality lingers far longer than the sweetness of cheap price.

depending on his time frame of interest, the pyramid tent may be a bad idea--they are not accepted at many pre-1840 events. The simple wedge tent and the wall tent are safe almost timeless tents that we can use throughout the pre-1840 periods most of us "do". The diamond fly is acceptable because it represents the simple tarp/sailcloth/etc shelter often mentioned and used "in a pinch". In reality, unless one has a wagon, boat or pack animal a tent would not be used.

Mike
Can you name some events the Pyrmiad is not accepted at? I believe the folks at Panther Primitives, and others, have documented use of near identical tents pre-1840. No one has ever said a word to me about mine, except asking if they could buy it.
Frank

Most western style rondys are pretty loose on tentage, but most eastern primitive gatherings are more restrictive. I have been told by eastern reenactors that pyramid tents are not acceptable at events they attend, but offhand I cannot remember the specific ones--it is best to check each event beforehand. There are of course many arguments over this--usually by folks who already own one. Most tent makers will tell you that the wedge, wall and marquis tents are the only types definitely in our period "extended 18th cent"[ 1700-1830s]. Many eastern events likewise do not allow plains teepees because they were not used there, but crudely similar shelters were used in the east by natives [ie, sapling frames with stretched hides or canvas]. I bought a wedge tent over the pyramid because of warnings against the "pre-1840" aspects and because I wanted to "do" primarily mid 1700s when the pyramid was clearly absent. I thought that the first documented use of pyramid tents was the gold rush era [1850s]. Be happy to be proven wrong on that. I like pyramids....

Tentsmiths has a good website and in it's online catalog tells which era a tent is from and the documentation thereof. The pyramid tent included:
http://www.tentsmiths.com/period-tents-pyramid-tents.html

Sparks

quote:

Originally posted by sparks:
Tentsmiths has a good website and in it's online catalog tells which era a tent is from and the documentation thereof. The pyramid tent included:
http://www.tentsmiths.com/period-tents-pyramid-tents.html

Sparks

Of course tent sellers are trying to sell tents. Tentsmiths makes a fine tent [as does Panther] and their description allows as how the early history of the pyramid [pre-1840] is questionable. That is why it is not a good choice for 18th cent folks--for rondys, many folks just look the other way.