Posted: 7/1/2010 9:05:52 AM EDT
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A buddy needed to work on his truck the other day, and it was so hot that it was unsafe for him to lay on the pavement to do the work. We set up some shade by placing a tarp between his truck and ours, then let the pavement cool. Fix done.
While we had the shade up I had JR1 change the oil in the axle. |
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Hell yeah, shade can be hugely important.
The house we bought in Arizona has no awnings, that'll be one of the first things installed. In fact we're going to put a porch roof that will overhang most of the house to shade the walls and windows. We're also going to plant shade trees in strategic locations. They'll take a few years to grow, but they'll pay off soon enough. Layered shade is even more effective. For example, if you're in a car broke down in the desert, you'll want not just one layer of sun shade, but actually two layers a few inches apart. Not only does that limit even more sun from coming through but it also creates an insulated pocket that traps the hottest air away from where you are. A couple of blue tarps strung from the roof to the ground at slightly different angles can create this, leaving a relatively cooler area under the tarps. I've found while working with tools outside it's a good idea to have a bucket of water and a rag around as well. You can throw the rag over tool handles you aren't using right away to keep them shaded, and you can dunk tools you forgot to shade and got too hot. Some of the steel tools can get way too hot to hold if left in the sun for as little as 15 minutes out there. |
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Back in the 90s I was in the USMC, stationed in 29 Palms, CA. When we were in the field, we frequently laid up during the day and moved around at night. We'd often rig little hooches in the scrub with a double roof of poncho and poncho liner about 8 or ten inches apart. Somehow the double layer and shade made it cooler than just a single layer and shade. I think maybe the air between the layers absorbed a lot of radiant heat from the first layer.
Cammie nets were also nice, because they gave us plenty of shade but also let the breeze through. |
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Quoted:
Hell yeah, shade can be hugely important. The house we bought in Arizona has no awnings, that'll be one of the first things installed. In fact we're going to put a porch roof that will overhang most of the house to shade the walls and windows. We're also going to plant shade trees in strategic locations. They'll take a few years to grow, but they'll pay off soon enough. Layered shade is even more effective. For example, if you're in a car broke down in the desert, you'll want not just one layer of sun shade, but actually two layers a few inches apart. Not only does that limit even more sun from coming through but it also creates an insulated pocket that traps the hottest air away from where you are. A couple of blue tarps strung from the roof to the ground at slightly different angles can create this, leaving a relatively cooler area under the tarps. I've found while working with tools outside it's a good idea to have a bucket of water and a rag around as well. You can throw the rag over tool handles you aren't using right away to keep them shaded, and you can dunk tools you forgot to shade and got too hot. Some of the steel tools can get way too hot to hold if left in the sun for as little as 15 minutes out there. or if the shade moves with the sun... leaving the handle of your crowbar sitting in the sun over lunch, when you pick it up your hand melts off.. 
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although slightly off topic, this does cover "shade"
The afghans use an interesting form of natural "AC" that is surprisingly effective. Using a frame of tree branches they weave thorny weed plants. These plants dont have much foliage to speak of, just the thorny spikes. They wall in all but of of the short rectangular sides with enough plants to provide shade equivalent to about 2 layered cammo nets. One of the chai boy's will then splash water on the sides of the structure, and when a slight breeze blows through the air is surprisingly very cool and refreshing. Just thought i would share! |
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I like the silver tarps for reflecting sun and heat. Not for anything stealthy, but neither are the blue tarps.
the silver ones can outlast the blue ones x10. We have a 12'x12' EZ Up canopy, that thing rocks too. I have used it shading 2 saw horses and a chopsaw while building decks and sheds numerous times. Makes a huge difference. The 8x8s and 10x10s are little more portable and lightweight, ChinaFreight had the 12x12 on clearance when I grabbed it years ago. Nowadays the EZ Ups (and other brands) have options like sides, sides with doors, and even a full floor. Would make a heck of an enclosed "HQ" at a campsite or get together. |
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Quoted:
I like the silver tarps for reflecting sun and heat. Not for anything stealthy, but neither are the blue tarps. the silver ones can outlast the blue ones x10. We have a 12'x12' EZ Up canopy, that thing rocks too. I have used it shading 2 saw horses and a chopsaw while building decks and sheds numerous times. Makes a huge difference. The 8x8s and 10x10s are little more portable and lightweight, ChinaFreight had the 12x12 on clearance when I grabbed it years ago. Nowadays the EZ Ups (and other brands) have options like sides, sides with doors, and even a full floor. Would make a heck of an enclosed "HQ" at a campsite or get together. Yes they do. We used ours that way on a big family camping trip last year. Worked perfectly. |