Anyone make their own camo???
 

With all this talk about all these crazy-expensive camo patterns that are out there, I started wondering if I could make my own camo, and it be somewhat as effective as some of the "Major" brands....

Seems it would be pretty easy to make a copycat ASAT suit out of some $15 khaki's and a $30 cheapo jacket.....

Ideal would be a khaki/tan colored windsuit I imagine. Then some of that old spray on waterproofer.

hmmm.....

While everyone else here is thinking "how much can I spend on hunting this year"I'm thinking "How little can I spend on hunting"

RE: Anyone make their own camo???
 

If you've found a comfortable set of clothes I don't see why you couldn't make your own camo patterns. May I recommend using an airbrush and textile dye instead of a spraycan though. The dye will absorb into the fabric whereas the paint will only cling to it.

I've made 2 really nice ghillie suits that I still use for turkey hunting - I'm all about saving a buck as well!

RE: Anyone make their own camo???
 

Cool, can we see some pics?

RE: Anyone make their own camo???
 

I remember looking at a post a few months back where this guy made his own camo shirts and pants by using tie dye withearth tone colors.
I was quite surprized how well it looked ,he did a great job.

RE: Anyone make their own camo???
 

My main concern with an airbrush and dye, is would I be able to get the rich dark colors as with a paint? Just have to experiment I suppose.

RE: Anyone make their own camo???
 

I've thought about it but never tried.

How hard could it really be?? Find solid color clothing with a good 'base' color(khaki, brown, forrest green,etc), wipe down with concentrated dyes and/orbleach on the darker base colorsin what ever stick/limb/grass/leaf pattern you want.

Could make several sets for different conditions for the price of 1 designer set.

RE: Anyone make their own camo???
 

Here's the price difference between them

cost of 5 shirts and 5 pants

Enigma -- $750
Predator -- $490
ASAT -- $550

Home Made -- +/- $200 depending on your materials. That's ALOT of money saved...

I Compared to those because of all the buzz around "open patterns"... and they'd be the easiest to simulate, especially ASAT.

RE: Anyone make their own camo???
 

But don't forget, the Engima is in Wolfskin, you can't duplicate that. ASAT doesn't come in Wolfskin and I can promise you that price of Predator sure isn't Wolfskin, compare that to Enigma and Enigma is cheaper.

Enigma 3D is due out January, you won't duplicate that either. ;)

I'd be curious to see pic Davoh when completed. :)

RE: Anyone make their own camo???
 

ah but rob, the purpose of this little experiment is not to create a commercial grade product, but to scrimp monies.

Never will i say something I create is better quality than enigma, just that my money is better spent elsewhere... like on rent... I can't afford to spend $150 on one set of clothes for anything, let alone hunting. If i can spend that on a complete wardrobe of sorts, that's what I'm after.

I like enigma... otherwise I wouldnt try to imitate it.... imitation is the highest form of flattery afterall... :D

RE: Anyone make their own camo???
 

Sure here are a couple of pictures. The first one I made took many months. I used a camo burlap - I destrung all the burlap strings by hand then grouped them in 25 thread clusters, tied a big loop in one end, then used Spider Wire to hand sew them on to a set of BDUs I had. Over 3000 loops of 25strand.
The picture below is only of the hat and jacket as I hadn't finished the pants at the time of the picture. (only picture I could find of it.)

The main problem with version 1 is that no matter how many times I washed it, it always smelled like burlap - but in the weeds you are nearly invisible!

Here is "Gorilla Suit" Version 1


Version 2 I went a different route. I bought some camo fabric from walmart and cut it into long strips. I folded the strips widthwise and ironed a strong crease in it, then folded them in half lengthwise- then I sewed it on the BDUs. Eventually I got sick of sewing and used fabric glue, which has held up very well!

and "Gorilla Suit" Version 2