Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Tricot Baffles?

  1. #1
    Senior Member headchange4u's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Kentucky
    Hammock
    Dual Layer WB Blackbird
    Tarp
    OES Cuben
    Insulation
    SnugFit
    Posts
    6,249
    Images
    35

    Question Tricot Baffles?

    I scored big time on Craig's List last night. I got a 15* North Face down sleeping bag for $25.00 (and a Fat Eddy fleece liner) in near perfect contition. The bag has been stored correctly, in a cotton storage bag but it smells musty because it was in a storage unit.

    I have been reading up on washing down bags because it's been a while since I've had to wash one and I ran across two references to Tricot mesh used as baffles in a sleeping bag instead of NoSeeUm:

    From Thru-Hiker article:
    Down bags that use a tricot mesh for baffling material can be safely washed in a front-loading washing machine. I don't recommend washing a bag with no-see-um netting baffles in an machine, though, as the netting is a lot more delicate than the tricot. If you're not sure if you have tricot mesh or no-see-um netting, hand wash your bag.
    and Feathered Friends article:
    Feathered Friends sleeping bags are tougher than you might expect. The tricot baffling we use is nearly as strong as the nylon shell;.....
    I had never heard of Tricot baffles but if it's gonna make a tougher quilt, that's probably the route I want to go. I Googled Tricot mesh and it came back with a few sellers but I didn't see fabric weights or anything like that.

    Anyone had any experience with this Tricot mesh?
    “Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it." -Terry Pratchett



    Premium Quality, Fresh Roasted Coffee
    www.meancatcoffee.com

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Belleville, ON
    Posts
    658
    Images
    26
    Tricot is a common term for a knitted fabric. Usually fairly tough because its stretchy as a result of the knit pattern used to weave it.

    If its a NorthFace bag I'd not worry about it being tough enough to wash. I'd never heard of noseeum dividers until I got into DIY sites... Commercial bags I've had have always been washed in large commercial washing machines and tumbled dry in commercial dryers... (Think large front loaders like at the local laundromat.) Take a very clean shoe or similar dryer ball to fluff the down as it dries...

  3. #3
    Senior Member headchange4u's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Kentucky
    Hammock
    Dual Layer WB Blackbird
    Tarp
    OES Cuben
    Insulation
    SnugFit
    Posts
    6,249
    Images
    35
    Quote Originally Posted by Rapt View Post
    Tricot is a common term for a knitted fabric. Usually fairly tough because its stretchy as a result of the knit pattern used to weave it.

    If its a NorthFace bag I'd not worry about it being tough enough to wash. I'd never heard of noseeum dividers until I got into DIY sites... Commercial bags I've had have always been washed in large commercial washing machines and tumbled dry in commercial dryers... (Think large front loaders like at the local laundromat.) Take a very clean shoe or similar dryer ball to fluff the down as it dries...
    I've washed down bags before with no trouble. I don't know what the NF bag uses as baffles, but I will assume that it's NoSeeUm and treat it gently.

    I am more interested in the use of Tricot mesh fabric as baffles when making my quilt.


    BTW,

    Here's an example of Tricot fabric.
    “Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it." -Terry Pratchett



    Premium Quality, Fresh Roasted Coffee
    www.meancatcoffee.com

  4. #4
    Senior Member Redtail's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Middletown, MD
    Hammock
    HH Expedition
    Tarp
    JRB 11x10
    Insulation
    DIY Climashield UQ
    Suspension
    Cinch buckles
    Posts
    334
    Images
    6
    From the photo it looks like athletic mesh (like a football jersey).

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Belleville, ON
    Posts
    658
    Images
    26
    Yep... Thats pretty much how it is. Like most fabrics it comes in different weights.

    Think like the mesh liner in men's swim shorts...

    My local fabric store has it in several colours, weights, mesh sizes and materials.

    See here for some similar options...

    Also look at similar "mesh lining" fabrics at a fabric store. You'll be surprised at what's out there.

  6. #6
    New Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Rogers, MN (Outside MPLS)
    Posts
    14
    Quote Originally Posted by Rapt View Post
    Take a very clean shoe or similar dryer ball to fluff the down as it dries...
    My wife and I have a tube of tennis balls that are only used in the dryer for when we wash our home quilts and such. They seem to work GREAT, but I've never tried it on my down bag yet.

  7. #7
    Peter_pan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    virginia
    Hammock
    JRB BMBH
    Tarp
    JRB 11x10 Cat Tarp
    Insulation
    JRB UQ of season
    Posts
    2,850
    Images
    7
    No seeum netting baffles are plenty strong... when the edges are double before sewing they are even stronger.... we have washed our JRB quilts with no seeum numerous times without any damage.... no reports from customers about this kind of failure either....Modern front loaders are the way to go gentile tumbling vs wringer aggitation and a really good spin dry cycle...Virtualy all water is removed and one is left to deal wwith a dap bag/quilt rather than a wet bag or quilt... IMHO these modern front loaders are preferred over hand washing, if for no other reason, than this great spin cycle.... it minimizes the press out the water( don't wring out) issues of the stationary tub or bath tug wash followed by the lift and carry to the dryer. Note, in my experiance, quilts done this way dry in two normal cycles, on low without the use of tennis balls or sneakers.

    The real issue on any baffle damage is how the wet the bag is and how the bag is handles from the washer to the dryer.... lifted form the bottom no weight is put on the baffles by wet down, simply pulled out from the front or top is less desirable technique.

    Remember I may be considered biased on this subject.

    Pan
    Ounces to Grams.

    www.jacksrbetter.com ... Largest supplier of camping quilts and under quilts...Home of the Original Nest Under Quilt, and Bear Mountain Bridge Hammock. 800 595 0413

  8. #8
    Senior Member stoikurt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Panama City, FL
    Hammock
    Custom 1.7/1.1 WB Blackbird
    Tarp
    DIY SWT
    Insulation
    JRB Nest & DIY RMS
    Suspension
    Whoopee Slings
    Posts
    1,006
    Images
    97
    Hey Pan,
    It may be part of your signature line, but I don't see any bias on the subject when you are just talking about cleaning down items. That's not pushing your product. IMO
    Stoikurt
    "Work to Live...Don't Live to Work!"

  • + New Posts
  • Similar Threads

    1. DIY UQ? Baffles
      By Armor Like Fire in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 07-25-2013, 21:07
    2. how do you sew in baffles
      By wilder setx in forum Under Quilts
      Replies: 14
      Last Post: 09-20-2012, 21:40
    3. No-see-un for down baffles
      By Bradley in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 06-16-2011, 10:16
    4. Any need to hem baffles?
      By Lando in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 10-21-2010, 07:46
    5. Baffles FAQ
      By ryan112ryan in forum Under Quilts
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 01-01-2010, 11:13

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •