Duct Tape Pup Tent

 for the duct tape tough contest i was thinking what i could do, not another clothing item, nor a duct tape rose. what about some sort of camp facility, for my dog? it seemed plausible, had lots of pros, and wouldn't cost a fortune.

in this instructable I will show you how to make a duct tape dog house. this is water proof and holds heat well so there is no worry of your dog getting wet in the middle of the night and, as mentioned before, wont empty your piggy bank to do. this was made for my 21 inch high dog, i used his bed to get the lengths so make sure the measurements are correct before you use this much duct tape.

1. duct tape
2. a flat, smooth and hard space to work with
3. a tape measure
4. a utility knife
5. scissors
6. time

so how much duct tape? well, the design is 3 2x3 sheets  and  2x2. sheets. but if you don't care about algebra, i needed 4 rolls

sides and bottom: LxW (6^2 feet)x3=18^2 feet

front and back: LxW (4^2 feet )=4^2 feet

now we ad those together and get 22^2 feet. then we cross multiply to get,

1/144=22/x
 
x=3168^2 inches of duct tape now we double that because the duct tape sheets are double sided so we get 6336^2 inches of duct tape needed for the tent. now to get the amount of rolls needed. the rolls i use are 60 yd x 1.88 inches

60x3 ( to get feet)=180

180x12 (to get inches)=2160 inchesx1.5(accounting for the approximate overlap of 1/3 of an inch)=3240^2 inches.

now we divide the total needed by the amount per role and we get,
6336/3240=2 rolls plus adjustments and tailoring about 3-4 rolls

before we go on we need to make the frame. this keeps the sheets as uniform as possible. after making the 2x3 sheets cut a foot off the 3 foot strip for the 2x2 sheet.

now start laying the strips of duct tape in one direction and overlap them about 1/3 of an inch. after they are laid to fit the frame carefully pull up at the end you started at.pull diagonally and  with the grain, not against the strips. lay it down and be careful not to stick anything together, and start laying strips down that are perpendicular to the first with about 1/2 an inch hanging off the end. after you're done cut off the extra tape as close to the first sheet as possible. do this for the 2x3 and be patient!! don't rush or you will make mistakes!! then repeat for the 2x2 sheet.

now that we've got all of are sheets done we need to connect them, lay the 2x3 side by side and on the center one, the 2x2 sheet is placed. with about 1/4 of an inch between the sheets tape them together. take the two outside 2x3 sheets and bring them together at the center tape them with about 1/4 of an inch between them.

now that we have our 2 2x3 taped at the middle we stand the whole thing up on the 2x2. after that take a sharpie or such and make a mark at the top of the triangle. use a straight edge to draw a line from the mark to the bottom corners of the 2x2 sheet. cut off the excess so you have a triangle and set aside the cut off, we'll use those later.

tape the triangle to the body by laying the strips on the walls and flattening the strips on the triangle, do this on both sides and inside the tent by pressing strips of tape into the corner and flattening them to the wall. make sure there are no seems and that they are water proof.

now take the excess from the back panel, and tape it to the front, these will make the door. i am planing on attaching a zipper some time soon.
now , if you aren't planing on using small two foot poles to support the tent i suggest making rope loop's. and then tying the rope to a tree or some thing sturdy.

now you can use it for a canine bivouac or just for fun. please comment on things i could do to improve this instructable.