Seam-sealing question...

[hikerman2000]

8x8 tarp isn't sealed, thus I just purchased the SilNet and completely covered all stitching and seams with a nice coating. My question to you folks is whether it's necessary to do the same thing on the inside as well. Seems (pun intended) like overkill. Unless cumulonimbus clouds form under my tarp AND gravity reverses itself to allow rain to fall up, I think I should be well water-proofed.

Yes?

Thx!

[hikerman2000]

Btw, this is that tarp that many people on these forums purchased from some annual sale site where they advertised it as "12x12", but is really 8x8. They used the diagonals not the edges. AND, they claimed it was sealed and taped. Neither

Regardless, I kept it bc it is nice, light, and only costed 30 bucks

[Rain Man]

My question to you folks is whether it's necessary to do the same thing on the inside as well.

The underside/"inside" is the only place to seam-seal it anyway.

But here's a question for everyone: Once seam-sealed, do you ever have to re-apply? Is seam-sealing permanent or does it have a "life-span" and need to be re-done?

Rain Man

.

[hikerman2000]

Oops. I did the outside:screwy:

[Hiknhanger]

I bought one of those tarps. Sealed the inside but it hasn't been in the rain yet dang it!

[hikerman2000]

I just read that many people do either, sometimes both. I'll continue to do the outside and then do the inside for just the ridgeline

[Rolloff]

Yes, but rarely. My first Silnet sealing job was on a Trailwise Full Length pack,(Colin Fletcher Special)and it took nearly 10 years before it started to peel or flake. With all the abrasion of packing and unpacking gear, I'd think tarp seams might hold up even better.

It's a bugger of a job to remove all the rest of the old sealant to prepare the material for resealing, so a good job when it's new and clean, is time well spent.

As a rule of thumb, I always just seal the inside or underside of the seam. And for that matter on Tarps, just the seam along the ridge line, and possibly the D ring attachment points where it hooks to the CRL.

That's usually all the further a tube will take me.

[JaxHiker]

The underside/"inside" is the only place to seam-seal it anyway.

That's what I would say. And that's how I looked at it when I put my JRB 11x10 up. Then I noticed a tie-out above me and the seams were backwards. So they sealed the outside. My MacCat is sealed inside.

But here's a question for everyone: Once seam-sealed, do you ever have to re-apply? Is seam-sealing permanent or does it have a "life-span" and need to be re-done?

Silicone does have a life expectancy but it's probably considerably longer than the lifespan of most of our gear. Not that the gear won't necessarily last but rather that we'll upgrade.

[Walking Dead]

Do you ever dust the seal after it dries to counter the tackiness of the silicone? Like baby powder or corn starch?

[Jazilla]

Sealing on the inside will expose it less to UV rays. UV rays are harmful to seam sealer over time. Really to anything over time if you think about it..