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  1. #1
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    silicone based seam sealer on a PU-coated tarp

    I'm making (well, sourcing, since I just purchased the material and had a friend sew it) a tarp for a friend. Pretty simple design, two 5 x 8 pieces of polyurethane coated ripstop (70D I believe). I used my homemade seam sealer (silicone caulk + mineral spirits) down the seam yesterday, but today it's still tacky. I haven't put one of these together since summer, and my apartment is much cooler (not to mention it's been raining nonstop), last couple times it seemed to dry within a few hours. Also wanted to make sure it would still work on this fabric, and if not, what I should use instead.

  2. #2
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    I'd like to make sure that silicone works on non silicone treated fabric too. How old is the silicone. Old stuff will not dry. I only use new silicone for any project

  3. #3
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    mixed it up a month or two ago... maybe that's why?

  4. #4
    Senior Member Bubba's Avatar
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    Sometimes Silnet and other silicone sealants remain tacky even after it has cured. Some Talcum powder on it will alleviate the tackiness.

    McNett seam sealer should works well as an alternative.



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  5. #5
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    Sounds good, will give the talc a go. it seems to have worked into the fibers nicely, i probably just used more than I did this time than last. Awesome about the post count, this was my first! although ive been lurking a while...

  6. #6
    SilvrSurfr's Avatar
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    Is there anything wrong with the toluene-based seam sealer they sell at camping stores? I've got a Funky Forest tarp, which is PU-coated waterproof ripstop polyester. The tarp has factory-taped seams and since toluene is a solvent, it makes me paranoid that it might "dissolve" the tape.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Jsaults's Avatar
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    Silicone caulk curing

    During the hottest days of summer, with low humidity, I seam-sealed my new WB SuperFly with Permatex windshield sealant (this stuff). 36 hours later it was still soft. A Google search revealed that silicone caulk cures in teh presence of water, so I used a mister bottle on the seams. Next day it was cured (hard) but as noted by others, it still felt "tacky" as it was squeaky clean. Talc took care of that.

    Jim

  8. #8
    Senior Member sclittlefield's Avatar
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    As a warning - I have had sil sealers come loose from PU coated materials - on multiple occasions, with multiple tarps. Sil sealer is best used with silnylon, or other silicone coated/saturated fabrics and can cause trouble with PU coated fabrics. Yours might be ok, but I thought it best to share my results.
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  9. #9
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    Thanks. If there's any issues, we'll seal it with something else. Would really love to weld the seam together with heat, but not sure I could do that without destroying the thing

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by sclittlefield View Post
    As a warning - I have had sil sealers come loose from PU coated materials - on multiple occasions, with multiple tarps. Sil sealer is best used with silnylon, or other silicone coated/saturated fabrics and can cause trouble with PU coated fabrics. Yours might be ok, but I thought it best to share my results.
    Have you considered using agro sealant? It's industrial grade and will most likely last longer.

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