View Full Version : ever build a ghillie suit ?
LAgunman2K-3
05-18-2000, 01:02 PM
so have ya ? got pics? how did it turn out and what camo stuff did you use ?
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and on the 8th day GOD made the AK-47 and saw that this was good
talk is cheap, but bullets are even Cheaper!!!
GI JOE1
05-19-2000, 01:37 AM
My brother was a Marine Corp Scout Sniper,he made a few of them,would you like me to ask him any specific questions? Joe out.
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GI JOE
Polyak
05-19-2000, 02:38 AM
Haven't done it myself, yet. But here are some pretty good instructions from www.snipercountry.com (http://www.snipercountry.com) .
How to manufacture:
http://www.snipercountry.com/Ghillie.htm
Accessory kit:
http://www.snipercountry.com/GSAK.html
WETSU
05-19-2000, 12:42 PM
Yes, I made my ghillie suit. It's actually a ghillie cape with a headpiece.It's perfect for all seasons, and very, very hard to spot. My team has tried scout/observer drills using it, and it was nearly impossible to find the guy stalking us. He got really close, and got off four shots and moved four times before we spotted him.
It's heavy and it's hot. I used a BDU shirt with hammock netting stiched to it, covering the back, shoulders, sides and arms.I used thick poly thread, or waxed nylon thread used in holster making. Then, I attached strips of OD, brown, tan, and camo burlap to the netting. You can buy rolls of OD burlap at surplus stores, or gunshows. Other colors at fabric stores or camo during hunting season at Walmart. I also attached pieces of frayed manilla rope. I touched it up with OD spray paint to knock down any "bright" areas. The headpiece is a basic, AF type baseball cap, OD with more netting attached, and covered w/ strips. It covers my neck and shoulders and blends together with the cape. The strips are about six inches long, and 1 to 2 inches wide, unravelled, or run through the dryer. Some I wadded up and stuffed in a coffee can for a month to scrunch then up. The down side is that it took a long time to build, I spent the winter months working on it a couple years ago. It holds up well, and I've never lost a tell-tale piece of burlap behind. It rolls up into itself, with the headpiece inside, and ties closed for transport on the back of my ALICE.
greentimber
06-04-2000, 11:39 PM
I am in the process of making one now. I have started a web page (URL Below)on my project that currently includes information on finding the right dye mixes etc. I plan on posting more photos as I go.
The body of my suit is made from OD Green mosquito netting fabric reinforced with 1000 denier nylon. It will have 1000D nylon crawl pads on chest, arms, and legs. Though this is more work, it will be significantly cooler than bdus and will fit over my LBE/fanny pack. I also plan on making a cover for a full-size ruck.
Tie your material to a voleyball net from wal-mart. For $14.99 you can get enough net to do two suits. Jute twine or burlap for coverage.
I am intersted in talking with others about methods & techniques so feel free to email me at: greentimber@worldspy.net
Kyle
http://www.geocities.com/kylelynch/ghillie/INDEX.HTML
Ironhandjohn
06-06-2000, 06:37 PM
I started making ghillie suits 3 years ago while out on disability for a back injury(doing something is very important for keeping your sanity during an extended recuperation). After 2 or 3 I finally got it down to a method, at least for me. I buy beige or natural burlap at the local fabric store. I then dyed the burlap different colors to match my environment. Rit dye can be found in the laundry section of the grocery or discount store. I used net from an old camo net I picked up cheap due to some holes in the net. Cut off the little rings. I then found over-sized BDU's for the base garment. This was the most expensive part of the suit. I tried Shoe-Goo to hold the net to the back, but sewed the net on for better strength. Besides, I had nothing but time on my hands at that point. I also glued crawl pads from an old shelter half I had been using as a tarp onto the elbows, knees, and front. I hand-shredded all the burlap after looking at all the little cross-pieces I was throwing away from cutting strips. It takes a little longer, but makes a better, less wasteful suit, IMHO. For tying the burlap onto the net, I recommend a LONG movie in the VCR(Apocalypse Now, Braveheart, Rough Riders, Debbie Does....oh wait, never mind). In time, the suit will start to fill out, and you can modify the color scheme as you go, provided you haven't tied the knots too tightly.
For the hat, I cut the top out and replaced it with net, both for ventilation and for attaching the burlap. A cape of net from the rear brim hanging a little past your shoulders is plenty. I also used a fine net, dyed the appropriate drab shade, over the front of the brim to lessen the glint from my glasses.
Some people can get quite fancy with their suits, with built-in hydration systems, holsters, and other things, but I kept my suit simple. Keep in mind, that there is no BEST way to build a ghillie suit. Try different things, some you will use, some you won't. A video that I do NOT recommend is "The Art of Camouflage", I did not like the presentation or the presenters at all. If you are going to make a how-to video, at least have a lesson plan first!! Off the top of your head is a BAD way to present good info, and rigidity is a turn-off to those of us who never went to Ranger school. I like simple, but I have been called that too, so take this info for what it's worth.
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It's really simple,just follow steering and flow with it. You see, Ironhand's my thing!
Lisl Auman
06-06-2000, 08:06 PM
1. Take a LARGE, non insulated, work coveralls, aka monkey suit.
2. Paintcan various stripes into it, matching the colors of AO. (doesn't have to be a lot)
3. Cut a bicycle innertube into about 6 inch strips
4. Sew one end into your monkey suit at STAGGERED places. Dental floss works wonderful, is strong and waterproof.
5. Cut slits into these.
6. Now, hang your cammo from these. You can also add local foilage to these.
You can also get a monkey suit w/a hood. I'd get a detachable one for flexibilty.
Now, you can put a combat pack over the suit, cinching up the waist. You can also loop the tube sections around your duece gear and hang stuff from it.
You may also want to put some buttons and button holed straps sewn into the calf down area so you can tighten up the suit there. It aids in quiet moving (feeling placement) when not prone. Ditto for the forearms.
For your face, get standard hunting masks for bow hunting or turkey hunting.
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55gr...It's the little things that kill...
Ironhandjohn
06-09-2000, 11:03 PM
If anyone is interested my personal ghillie suit is for sale. 3X BDU tops and bottoms- canvas on front, knees, and elbows- hand-tied&dyed burlap on back. Ranger cap ghillied up, too. $150 shipped. E-mail if interested.
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It's really simple,just follow steering and flow with it. You see, Ironhand's my thing!
ktulu223
12-23-2000, 06:11 PM
just buy some real tree out doors camo stuff you would be surprise at how much better "hunter" camo is then "military" camo is but when you have a guy dressed up like a bush its not fair
Agree with Ktulu about hunter stuff. When you see, you're focused on near or far objects. Some of this hunter stuff has definite contrast and fuzzied blur. Your mind only sees parts of what your looking at. Dominant browns or greens per season. Solid black seems to stand out and catch attention. Go to local craft shop, decorate your house shop, whatever, and find the artificial plants. Some of this stuff is great! No gloss, small leaf, large leaf, grasses. Natural is best but this stuff looks good. Might be what ya need.
wkinma
01-14-2001, 02:59 AM
The idea is to break up your outline as much as it is to blend with the surroundings.
It seems like a lot of work to make when commercial suits are available, but if you are looking for a project, this will keep you busy for a while.
If you are hunting something such as coyote, a good suit will break up your human figure.
They have great eyesight.
The previously mentioned sites have good info for making a suit.
I'll add a couple more I found for anyone who is interested.
One is :
http://www.wyomingmall.net/sabco/Default.asp
The other is :
http://www.SnipersParadise.com/Vendors/BushRag/Bushrag.html
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