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  1. #1
    Senior Member gargoyle's Avatar
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    Glow In The Dark Thread

    I was in the fabric store the other day and saw glow-in-the-dark thread, and thought it would be a interesting touch to add to a tarp. Wondered if any one has tried this before or if it really works. It was a little pricey, so I didn't get it. Thought it would be cool to do a final hem/seam around tarp, and watch it glow at night.
    http://www.beaconfabric.com/vindex.html?cat253.htm
    Ambulo tua ambulo.

  2. #2
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
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    A tarp can get used in so many different conditions that it seems there might come a time when you don't want it to glow? I wonder if using that thread for a banner or flag might not be interesting, though.
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  3. #3
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    I have seen it but I have not used it at all. My concern, outside of stealthy, would be the treatment given to the thread would make the thread less strong . Since I have no experience with it and no technical data on it I am only pondering the possibilities. Absorption of UV rays is generally not a good thing for synthetic fibers. But... it could be rather kinky if not used for mission critical applications.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

    "Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
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  4. #4
    Senior Member LostCause's Avatar
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    I picked some up a while ago, but haven't used it yet. It's a little thin, but I don't see why it wouldn't hold.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    on looking a little closer at the product offerings It seems to be marketed for embroidery application. That would make it less robust than normal thread and significantly less robust than the outdoor UV buffered threads. Which means what exactly? With out fancy testing equipment I have no clue. In all probablity two situations would coincide..
    1) the practical use of the thread for sewing a seam would not be sufficient area for the glow-in-the-dark to be noticeable.
    2) In mission critical seams you would using a less robust thread which could result in tension problems with the machine (no big deal... adjust it) and/or seams that could fail more easily under load.

    For area embroidery it could probably be a cool effect but that does not usually bear any mission critical stress.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

    "Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
    Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn

    We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series

    Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies

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  6. #6
    Senior Member LostCause's Avatar
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    Rev,
    I totally agree with your first point, and that is why I haven't used it for anything as of yet. I just thought it would be cool to add to a ridgeline pocket opening so I wouldn't have to use my light as much to find stuff.

    I never thought of using that thread for any critical seams, other than maybe an extra reinforcement stitch, but rather for decorative areas (attaching flags, pocket openings, etc). When I get home in a week or so I can see how well it holds up to strain, but I think the use of using high quality, synthetic UV resistant thread is better practice.

  7. #7
    Senior Member LostCause's Avatar
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    Oh yeah! Thanks for the tip on the tension, Rev. I think you saved me at least an hour of frustration!

  8. #8
    Senior Member ricegravy's Avatar
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    ridgeline pocket opening

    Quote Originally Posted by LostCause View Post
    I just thought it would be cool to add to a ridgeline pocket opening so I wouldn't have to use my light as much to find stuff.

    Nice, I like that idea. Someone give it a try! Report back.
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  9. #9
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LostCause View Post
    Rev,
    I totally agree with your first point, and that is why I haven't used it for anything as of yet. I just thought it would be cool to add to a ridgeline pocket opening so I wouldn't have to use my light as much to find stuff.
    They make some glow-in-the-dark trim tape and fabrics. But I am wondering about something. Since the fabric and thread requires direct exposure to a light source to charge up... how practical would it be for something like a ridgeline pocket which is in shadow a lot of the time. Just thinking out loud here. I think it is a neat idea.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

    "Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
    Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn

    We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series

    Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies

    Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint

  10. #10
    Senior Member gargoyle's Avatar
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    I would also do some testing first before trusting it. But my original thought was to use as just an extra few small rows of stitches by areas you would want to find at night. I wouldn't trust it for major stuff, but man it would look sweet when the little reinforcement corners of my tarp or ridgeline bag were GLOWING. As long as the space aliens didn't think I was the mother ship.
    Ambulo tua ambulo.

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