Cutting Silnylon - Fraying?

[creativeKayt]

Fray Check is great. The only problem with it is that it will wash out if you wash your gear.

I usually cut my ripstop or nylon with really sharp scissors and then immediately fuse the edges with flame (if I don't use the serger, instead). A bic lighter works well for this. Fusing it immediately doesn't allow time for the fabric to fray, except only barely, before I'm able to fuse the edges with fire. You have to use a delicate touch with flame, meaning you don't have to actually touch the edge of the fabric you are fusing with the actually flame. Just get close enough to the fabric to start to see it fusing. Practice with some throw away scraps to get the knack.

Hmmm.... this sounds like another perfect candidate for a video, me thinks.

My best to you on this.

[Ramblinrev]

Ther is a product called Fray Check.

Excellent product. If you don't have access to clear nail polish it is worth getting. OTOH if you can scarf some clear nail polish from a makeup kit it does essentially the same thing. It seems to me that clear nail polish may also be cheaper. My wife has both so I have my choice.

I've never had fray check wash out.

[G...Hawk]

I usually cut my ripstop or nylon with really sharp scissors and then immediately fuse the edges with flame ... A bic lighter works well for this. Fusing it immediately doesn't allow time for the fabric to fray, except only barely, before I'm able to fuse the edges with fire. You have to use a delicate touch with flame, meaning you don't have to actually touch the edge of the fabric you are fusing with the actually flame. Just get close enough to the fabric to start to see it fusing. Practice with some throw away scraps to get the knack.

Same method, different fire :

after cutting, run edge near tea light flame ( candle ).

Place tea light in shallow dish, about height of tea light.
Dish edge acts as guide against your fingers .

Only needs very slight singe.
You stand up, hold 12" to 18" stretched between two hands and pass near flame.

Move along cut length of fabric.

[creativeKayt]

Same method, different fire :

after cutting, run edge near tea light flame ( candle ).

Place tea light in shallow dish, about height of tea light.
Dish edge acts as guide against your fingers .

Only needs very slight singe.
You stand up, hold 12" to 18" stretched between two hands and pass near flame.

Move along cut length of fabric.

Oh! That is a great idea! I'm gonna try that next time. Sweet.

[mrsvickers]

Originally Posted by creativeKayt
Fray Check is great. The only problem with it is that it will wash out if you wash your gear.

Fray Check doesn't wash out, it simply softens with the fabric. Been using it for 20+ years.

[Ramblinrev]

When you are searing edges with a flame _practice, practice, practice_ on scraps. It can be a rather touchy process. I've ruined more than one edge.

[creativeKayt]

Hmm... I've totally had Fray Check wash out. Maybe I just got a bad batch, but I haven't completely trusted it since. Weird. Guess I'll have to revisit that.

Thanks for letting me know. I'd rather use it instead of the fire fuse method, if I can trust it. (fist boldly thrust in air) I'll give it another whirl.

[Ramblinrev]

My choice is clear polish. It will not wash out and the brush makes it easier for me to apply. The squirt top of the fray check always gives me big blotches and inconsistent coverage. But then I'm not only a gimp... I'm a major klutz too.

[warbonnetguy]

I'd just cut it as close to the seam as possible and not worry about it. If the stuff sack is also silnylon, it won't fray. If it's just regular ripstop, there will only be a tiny bit of fraying, which will stop at the seam.


Jerry

i agree with jerry, you'll be cutting the stuffsac not the tarp itself, so the tarp won't fray, just the 1/8" of fabric sticking out of the seam, and sil really doesn't fray.

[creativeKayt]

My choice is clear polish. It will not wash out and the brush makes it easier for me to apply. The squirt top of the fray check always gives me big blotches and inconsistent coverage. But then I'm not only a gimp... I'm a major klutz too.

Heh heh heh. I'll try both and record my findings. I'm working on home-made bias tape for the edges of my DIY hammock and me thinks this will be a perfect test for that project. Cool! I'll do one side in Fray Check and the other in clear nail polish. Most excellent! Thanks again for the great input!