This article was originally posted inInstructables and is reposted with permission from Brent Garcia.
This travel mosquito-net tent is made from a couple of fiberglass rods, rope and aluminum tubing. I bought 4 yards of mosquito mesh at Hancock Fabrics for about $20. It’s an easy project and very simple to set up. No sewing required!
Step 1: Fiberglass Rod Protective Covering
Fiberglass rod is strong and flexible, which is a must for this mosquito net tent. The problem is that you get invisible splinters from handling it. To fix this, I gutted 3/8-inch rope and used the sheath to cover the rod. Next, I sealed them in by crimping and melting the ends. What’s even better, they now fit snuggly into the tubes they’ll go in.
Step 2: Tent Pole Connectors
I got the aluminum tubing at Home Depot. I cut four 4-inch sections with a pipe cutter. Next, I removed the burrs with a file and drilled a hole 10 millimeters from the bottom edge.
Step 3: Form Eyelets in the Stakes
I placed the hooked end of a stake in a vise and closed it along with a socket. This created the needed loop for the connectors. After slipping the tube on, I closed the hook the rest of the way. The tube should be able to fold freely for storage.
Step 4: Rope Rings
The ends of the shelter will be gathered together and threaded through the rope rings. To make the rings, I cut two 6-inch sections of the rope and fused the ends together with a torch. Make sure the rope is threaded through the looped end of the stake before you fuse together the ends.
Step 5: Cut the Mosquito Mesh to Length
I figured out the length by rounding my height up to the nearest foot, and then doubling it. My net is 12 feet long. About 3 feet of that hangs over the supports on each side. There’s nothing fancy about cutting the net — just use a pair of scissors.
Step 6: Set Up the Mosquito Net
Hammer in the stakes as far apart as you are tall. Make sure they’re close enough to form an arch using the fiberglass rods. Gather the ends of the mosquito net together and thread them through the rope rings. Anchor the ring stakes into the ground. Drape the mosquito mesh over and pull it tight. I used a constrictor knot and a fish bone to get the tension right.
You can see more images of this mosquito-net tent on my original Instructables post.
