How to Make a Geodesic Camp Tent

A geodesic dome is a spherical-shaped structure composed of many equal triangles that have vertices on the surface of the sphere. A geodesic dome tent takes a while to assemble, but it is very roomy and sturdy when completed. The spherical design requires less material for a larger tent size and more wind resistance than a traditional tent. Geodesic tents are available for purchase, or buy materials and construct your own from scratch.

Things You'll Need

  • 15 10-foot 1/2-inch pipe
  • 46 1/4-inch bolts
  • 46 1/4 inch nuts
  • 92 washers
  • Measuring tape
  • Marker
  • Saw
  • Hammer
  • Drill
  • File
  • Wrench
  • 8 6-foot long, 15-inch wide cloth pieces
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine
  • Thread
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the metal piping into sections. Cut 30 12 5/8-inch sections, 40 14 5/8-inch sections and 50 14 7/8-inch sections. Keep the same-sized sections in separate piles so you don't mix them up.

    • 2

      Flatten about an inch to 1 1/2-inches on both ends of each pipe with a hammer. The flattened ends of each section should be parallel.

    • 3

      Drill a hole 1/2 inch in on each flattened end of pipe. File any sharp pipe edges.

    • 4

      Bend the flattened edges of each pipe at about a 10-degree angle. Bend each end in the same direction.

    • 5

      Lay out the pieces on the ground in their approximate position. Start in the center and work outward. The center shape will be a 5-pointed star shape made from the shortest pipe. Connect the points with the middle-sized pipe to make a pentagram shape. Each side of the pentagram will form one side of a hexagram. Make a 6-pointed star extending from each pentagram side using the longest pipe. Connect each of the points with the middle-sized pipe to close the shapes. You should have a pentagram surrounded by five connected hexagrams.

    • 6

      Continue laying out the pipe. The inverted "V" shape between two hexagons will form one point of a complete pentagram, using the short pipe for the 5-pointed center and the middle-sized pipe for the sides. Lay out the five pentagram shapes. Use the remaining long pipes to fill in the rest of the dome shape, using four long pipes making half of a hexagram in the five spaces. You should end up with a circular dome shape.

    • 7

      Connect each strut with a nut, a washer, and a bolt. Leave the bolts loose until all the struts are attached. Tighten the bolts after each completed vertex. Raise the dome as you attach each layer to keep it off the ground as you work. Set it on tripods, sawhorses or any available structure until all the pieces are attached.

    • 8

      Cut cloth segments for a dome cover. Each piece of cloth will make two sections. Measure 4 1/2 feet up from the bottom right corner and 4 1/2 feet down from the top left corner and mark it. Cut each segment in a slight curve from the mark on the long edge to the opposite corner of the short side. You are essentially dividing the cloth into two equal triangles. Repeat for each cloth piece until you have 16 sections.

    • 9

      Sew the sections into a cover. Place the sections in pairs with the straight edge on the inside and the curved edge out. Sew the pairs together along the center edge. Sew the eight pairs together along the curved seams to make a dome shape.