Delta Shade

Designed by Bogdanov and Bogdanov in 2006.
Puddle forum: Delta Shade

The Delta Shade is a shade structure designed to resist high winds, be cheap to build and easy to assemble.
The first Delta Shades were built and erected by JudgeCal and Seven for the Hut of The GlamTech Warrior at Disorient, Burning Man 2006.

Specs

Dimensions: Length: 25' Height: 8' Width: 10'
Those are suggested dimensions. You are welcome to experiment with other dimensions. Bigger dimensions using available 2x4 studs could be 10' tall and 12' wide.

Building a Delta Shade

How to

Delta Shade assembly steps (.mov 5.4MB)

1. Cut twelve equilateral (12"x12"x12") triangles of 1/2" plywood.
2. Cut eight L-shaped 18"x18" (curved in the center) in 1/2" plywood.
3. Screw three triangles and three 2x4 x8' together to create a 8'x8'x8' triangle. The plywood triangles go beyond the 2x4 stud and create the points of the resulting 8'x8'x8' triangle. Repeat three times to get a total of four 8'x8'x8' triangles.
4. Assemble two 2x4 x10' to two 8'x8'x8' triangles connecting them together using four L-shaped plywood. Make sure the right angles are squared. Repeat one time to get a total of two frames.
5. On each frame, drill one 5/8" holes in the four 12"x12"x12" triangles closest to the L-shapes. The holes should be centered and a 1/2" from the side of the 12"x12"x12" triangle that faces the center of the 8'x8'x8' triangle.
6. Hook one end of the ratchet strap in the hole created in step #5 and hook the other end of the same ratchet strap in the diagonally opposite hole. Repeat for 3 other ratchet straps to triangulate both frames.
7. Lay shade cloth on the ground. Roll one 1x4 x10' four times at one small end of the cloth. Screw a free 1x4 x10' stud to the one wrapped inside the cloth. The goal is to sandwich the cloth tightly between the two 1x4 x10' studs in order to distribute the stress. Repeat at the other end of the shade cloth.

Materials

Materials needed to build a Delta Shade 10 foot wide by 20 foot long.

(12) wood studs 2x4 x8' ($50)
(4) wood studs 2x4 x10' ($20)
(4) wood studs 1x4 x10' ($10)
(1) sheet of 1/2" plywood (cheap kind is fine) ($30)
(2) rolls of (preferably pink/orange) tape ($5)
(4) T-shirts (you can get them back when you disassemble the Delta Shade)
(1) shade cloth (preferably pink/orange) 10'x35' ($80) (4 mil polyethylene sheet works too)
(8) 15' ratchet straps ($40)
(4) 3' metal stakes ($5) (100) 1 5/8' screws ($5) (100) 2 1/2' screws ($5)

Total cost (approx.): $250

You can find everything at Home Depot but we recommend you order the shade cloth here.

Tools you will need

Necessary (Recommended)
Wood Saw (Jigsaw)
Wood Saw (Circular saw)
Philips screwdriver (Screwgun with philips head)
Something hard and heavy to hammer the stakes into the ground (Sledgehammer)

Note: if you cut the plywood pieces in advance (highly recommended) you will not need a saw during the installation.