THIRTEEN POINTS OF EXCELLENCE

---

The 13 Points of excellence are all standard features on a Reese Tipi. No other tipi has all of these features. Very few tipis have more than 4 or 5 of these features. Look for these points of excellence before you choose your tipi.

1. Top quality mineral treated (dry finish water-repellent) pre-shrunk, mildew-resistant army duck (request sample). Hold the sample up to the sun or bright light. Note the fine, high thread-count weave. Openings between threads are almost impossible to see. The weave is smooth and tight. Examine single fill duck sample. Note coarse threads and large openings between threads.

Single fill (ounce) ducks are made with coarse single ply yarns. There are 2 warp yarns for each fill yarn. The warp yarns are woven in pairs, side by side, are sized and are predominant over the filling yarns. Untreated single fill duck can shrink as much as 7%. This much shrinkage has the same effect as cutting 12 inches from the bottom of an 18 foot tipi. In other words, your 18 foot tipi may end up a 17 foot tipi if you don't choose the right fabric. Also, single fill fabrics when wet have a tendency to leak if touched. (This is due to the looseness of the weave and of the yarns.)
Occasionally number duck is offered as a tipi fabric. Number duck is seldom, if ever, treated and therefore shrinks almost as much as single fill duck. The weave of number duck is the same as army duck except that fewer, coarser yarns are used and the texture is rougher and more pronounced to provide greater resistance to abrasion.
REQUEST A SAMPLE

Army duck has a higher thread count and is smoother and stronger than number duck. Also, because of its relative bulk and lack of treatment, number duck does not dry as quickly as army duck and is more susceptible to mildew and mold. It is also less resistant to the effects of the ultra violet rays in sunlight. Number duck is cheaper than army duck. For example, 36" 10.38 oz. mineral treated army duck costs 1.5 times as much as 36" #12 (11.45 oz.) number duck. However, the greater life expectancy of a tipi made with mineral treated army duck more than compensates for the higher initial investment.

The marine (mineral) treated army duck used in Reese Tipis is a firm, high thread count, plain-woven fabric made with plied (twisted) yarns in both warp and filling. There are at least two yarns in each strand. Yarns are not sized (sizing washes out) and the weave is even and consistent in strength and will not leak when touched. Even pre-shrunk marine treated army duck shrinks slightly down the length of the fabric and stretches slightly across the width. We adjust for this when we make the tipi to give you the proper dimensions after your tipi is seasoned. Because of our design, the net effect on the capacity of the tipi is negligible. Very few people are aware of this phenomenon and most tipi patterns do not allow for it.
REQUEST A SAMPLE

2. Three inch triple-thickness lacing pin strip with vinyl coated nylon insert. The insert is completely concealed inside the canvas strip where it prevents enlargement of the lacing pin holes and eliminates the problem of ripping or tearing. Because of this, our tipis never leak or drip along the lacing pin strip.

3. Triple braided door opening to eliminate fraying and add strength around the perimeter of the opening. We have done this since 1974 and have not yet had even one report of a torn door opening.

4. Heavy two layer number duck smoke pole pockets that can be formed to an open position to make it easy to insert the tip of the smoke pole. The pockets are sewn securely to double-patched web-reinforced smoke flap corners.

5. Sewing done on heavy duty industrial machines capable of penetrating the many thicknesses of web and fabric needed in the reinforced areas (up to five thickness in certain areas).

6. Seams stitched on a special double needle machine with extra strong thread that has a polyester center and a cotton outer cover. The polyester provides strength and the cotton cover prevents cutting and enlarging of the needle holes. The cotton cover also swells when wet to prevent needle hole drip. The thread is treated to resist mildew and rot.

7. The edge of each strip of fabric is marked at 18" intervals from center and is carefully aligned as the strips are seamed together. This prevents gathering and eliminates baggy areas in the cover.

8. Double thickness corner patches with a heavy web loop sewn on the bottom corner of each smoke flap to prevent the tie rope from pulling out when the wind blows.

9. Triple thickness lift pole patch that extends down far enough into the cover to provide strength and absorb wear caused by wind.

10. Twin three-ply webbing lift pole ties securely anchored by multiple stitching as they extend down into the triple thickness of the lift pole patch. This area is reinforced with webbing along the entire top of the smoke flaps and up both sides of the tie tip.

11. Double thickness gores to increase strength where the smoke flaps are sewn in and to help resist abrasion where the smoke flaps wrap around the poles at top center.

12. Extra web reinforcing where bottom of smoke flaps attach to top of lacing pin strip to strengthen this area and prevent tearing. There are also inside and outside ties at this point to prevent a gap above the final lacing pin. The special Reese design at this point keeps the lacing pin strip flat where the smoke flaps begin. This eliminates the small opening normally present and eliminates leaking at this point when the smoke flaps are closed during heavy rain storms.

13. Bottom circumference of tipi cover is hemmed to eliminate raw and ragged edges. Raw edges tear easily and also pick up moisture and draw it into the fabric, causing the potential for mildew (untreated fabrics are especially susceptible to mildew).