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Good guy Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 11 Feb 2013 Posts: 2593 Location: Donegal
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:06 pm Post subject: Building cloches |
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I'm making cloches for two of my raised beds and I have bought Biotex to cover them with. I have made frames from 2 x 2 softwood and intend to use 3/4 inch water pipe hoops to support the fabric. The frames are 1.2 metres wide so the hoops will be the same height.
My questions are:
-Do I simply drill 3/4 inch holes in the frame to take the ends of the hoops?
-Will the end hoops be stiff enough to withstand lateral forces (wind and the weight of the fabric), or will they need bracing?
-Does anyone have a smart way of fixing the Biotex to the frames? I'm considering using an office stapler (all I've got!) through strips of stout polythene.
Any other comments or suggestions welcome. |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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Two things.... I don't know what Biotex is but that don't matter and we don't know how long your raised bed is.
Anyway, personally I would cut off say 300mm of electrical conduit or copper piping and insert that into the piping and then screw through that to the inside face of the timber with Tex screws. Also, run two lengths of said electrical conduit or copper piping longitudinally under the hoops to provide lateral restraint. No wind will shift that.
PS. the hoop height will be half the width not the same, i.e. 600mm. _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 3129 Location: Kildare
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Good guy Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 11 Feb 2013 Posts: 2593 Location: Donegal
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Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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Thank, lads, for the info. Obviously I'm getting my radii and diameters confused - maths never was my strong suit! Biotex is a woven form of horticultural fleece, porous to water and air and should last a lot longer than polythene or fleece, say the suppliers.
I'm going to see if I can find more detailed pics like the GIY one. |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 11:01 am Post subject: |
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Another mirabile dictu moment good guy? _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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Good guy Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 11 Feb 2013 Posts: 2593 Location: Donegal
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Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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Exactly, Tagwex.
And thanks for the link, Greengage, it led me to loads of good ideas. Now I'm waiting for the shops to open on Tuesday. |
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Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 3129 Location: Kildare
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Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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were here to help let us know how you get on and post some photos as we are a curious bunch here. |
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