View Full Version : how to tell the weight of a fabric?
titanium_hiker
11-14-2006, 20:46
What is the standard measurement for the weight of a fabric? I keep seeing references to X.Xoz ripstop etc... does that mean that's how much a square foot weighs, or something?
Thanks!
titanium_hiker
headchange4u
11-14-2006, 20:51
It means per square yard. You have to be careful because the weight refers to the fabric before any coating, like waterproofing. I think 1.1 oz silnylon really weighs something like 1.3oz per square yard.
It would be pretty hard to tell the weight just by looking at it. You would have to be very familiar with the fabric to do that
Just Jeff
11-14-2006, 20:52
1.1 oz weighs 1.1 oz per square yard before treatment - it's pretty thin. 1.1 oz silnylon actually weighs ~1.3 oz after treatment.
Same with 1.9 oz - that's the pre-treatment weight.
The easiest way to figure out what you have is to convert to inches.
- Length x width = XXX square inches.
- Divide that by 1296 to get your square yardage.
- Weigh the fabric.
- Divide that weight by the square yardage and there's your answer - it'll probably be close to one of the weights above if it's one of the common ripstops.
The weight refers to the weight of 1 square yard. I think I read on Ed Speer's site or somewhere else, that there is no standard for nylon weights. The only way that I can tell is that I have ordered 1.1 and 1.9. The 1.9 is noticably thicker and harder to see through than the 1.1. I would probibly get it wrong in a blind taste test though.
Man I need to type faster on this site.
headchange4u
11-14-2006, 20:55
I beat JJ!:eek:
titanium_hiker
11-14-2006, 21:19
man it's funny when I'm online in the middle of the day- you guys are all online and posting like crazy! And when I post in the evenings, no one wants to come and play... :)
thanks, all! that's handy to know.
titanium_hiker
You just have to get onto our time. The plus side of that is that no one will think your strange from being online during the day. Only the strange people are online all night.
Just Jeff
11-14-2006, 21:57
What if you're online all day AND night? Do they cancel each other out?
TH - after you see a few different fabrics, it's pretty easy to tell 1.1 and 1.9 apart just from feel. Sometimes I can tell before I touch it, but still have to be in person - prolly not something you could do from a picture.
titanium_hiker
11-14-2006, 22:18
my question was based, a little, on the fact that my very very first hammock was made out of some incredibly thick, strong, fabric. I didn't want to fall out! The thing weighed a tonne and filled my 50 litre pack. Ooops!
So I bought some other fabric- after more research into hammocks, I scoured the market for ripstop. I found some stuff that had squares on it, so I bought it. The resulting hammock is much smaller than the first one, (pack size) but after seeing some more pictures on the web, I'm sure I can go lower. I'm kind of restricted to finding stuff locally though- hopefully Spotlight (http://www.spotlight.com.au/) will have some such useful stuff.
thanks again!
TH
(I'm just online in the middle of the day because I don't have a summer job... :eek: :o :cool: )
and the fact it's completely miserable outside! summer? hrumph. Hello climate change!
TH
Don't worry about the hammock. My first homemade nylon hammock put me on the ground 3 times. One I didn't hem the sides, then I used sub par rope (I should have known better on this one), and then it ripped again when I used too big of knot on the rope and it wore a hole in the nylon.
Lets just say I am going to be pitching a little closer to the ground for a while. I spend the first night in the hammock 6 feet up.
headchange4u
11-14-2006, 22:29
TH
Don't worry about the hammock. My first homemade nylon hammock put me on the ground 3 times. One I didn't hem the sides, then I used sub par rope (I should have known better on this one), and then it ripped again when I used too big of knot on the rope and it wore a hole in the nylon.
Lets just say I am going to be pitching a little closer to the ground for a while. I spend the first night in the hammock 6 feet up.
A wise man is a fool with many scars.
titanium_hiker
11-14-2006, 22:42
now, my hammock packs down to about the size of a loaf of bread- maybe a bit bigger (shorter, but fatter). This is with straps, skins and bug net, but without the tarp.
(I should take some pics, eh?)
titanium_geek
Itactually can be more complicated than that.
Traditionally, fabric weights referred to the weight of a Sailmaker's Yard from the days when weaving looms weren't nearly as wide as today. A Sailmaker's yard of cloth is 36" long but only 28.5" wide. I always assume that given fabric weights (especially from a manufacturer) refer to an uncoated sailmaker's yard unless unless I specifically read "per sq. yd." or some such. Some specialty retailers weigh their fabrics before writing a description or putting up for sale, especially if they're catering to gram weenies. The result can be that the 3/4 oz. ripstop that I order from a kite supply shop is often the same material as the 1.1 oz ripstop that I order from a hiker supply outlet and neither supplier was trying to short me.
1.1 oz weighs 1.1 oz per square yard before treatment - it's pretty thin. 1.1 oz silnylon actually weighs ~1.3 oz after treatment.
Same with 1.9 oz - that's the pre-treatment weight.
The easiest way to figure out what you have is to convert to inches.
- Length x width = XXX square inches.
- Divide that by 1296 to get your square yardage.
- Weigh the fabric.
- Divide that weight by the square yardage and there's your answer - it'll probably be close to one of the weights above if it's one of the common ripstops.
Just Jeff
11-16-2006, 19:00
Definitely wasn't aware of that, seuss...thanks for the info.