Thread: What covering did you use for a vortex tunnel?

Tweet

Well, we have the bones of the tunnel done as well as the walkway. We got bike wheels and my dad is scrounging for dryer motors this weekend. We're planning on doing the first big assemble over Labor Day weekend.

I am curious as to what others have used for the covering of the tunnel. It's something we definitely need to be able to remove and store, as we have a shed to put the thing in (everything is able to disassemble into sections). We were initially thinking thick black plastic (my dad thinks we can track some down at a mobile home manufacturer and combine the sheets with black duct tape). My main concern on that is using fluorescent spray paint - I know paint will flake on plastic. Or does anyone have a source for paint to use on plastic? I was wondering if the new Krylon or Rustoleum for plastics would work, or maybe flexible fabric paint?

Fabric would be another option, but my big concern there would be storage. The shed where we store is pretty open and we get a TON of critters in there. I can imagine something nesting in there easily and causing damage. I already have to fix 5 LED circuits in open skulls that were broken due to huge mud dauber nests! I can only imagine what they'd do to a roll of fabric.

Thoughts? Ideas? What's worked for you, and where did you find it?

Stacy

Plastic storage tubs keeps water and most of the critters out....Cloth would be an option as long as you stored it in one of those....ZR

How about landscape fabric? It is made to last outside anyways.

The tub idea is a good one. I've heard about using landscape fabric.....I was hoping to get feedback from someone who has built a tunnel and found something that's easy to work with and holds up. You know, trial and error on someone else's dime and time.

Stacy

Not many people make these.

If it were me I would just use 4 mil plastic sheeting. This one is 10 x 100



If you get a plastic welder you can weld them together going around the sides.

I am pretty excited to see the framework.

Really? From watching youtube, you'd think these were a haunt staple.

I've had sheeting on the walls of my haunt for a number of years now, including one year we did a dot room. By the following year, most of the paint had flaked off - and the only movement those walls got was normal air flow. I think the black plastic is the best medium for the shell, but paint on plastic might hold up for a night at most. I don't want to be repainting this thing on a yearly basis. Another thought was decals, but I also know stickers don't care for the heat much either. I'm talking major heat - it's 110F air temp right now. It's usually at least 20-30F hotter in the barn where we keep stuff.

I will post pics this weekend. Cost so far is under $300.