What do you guys use to seal the seams on you tarps? :confused: Do you use the commercial stuff or is there a better way ..... Thanks! Jason:D
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What do you guys use to seal the seams on you tarps? :confused: Do you use the commercial stuff or is there a better way ..... Thanks! Jason:D
Most use Silnet. www.rei.com/product/705425
Yeah, SilNet works well.
- JT
I've used GE silicone and mineral spirits with good success. There are many places on the web that explain how to do it. Check out http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/support/seam.asp for a good start.
I also use 100% silicone caulk thinned down with mineral spirits and applied with a foam brush.
Thanks guys!!!...I knew ya all would know!
Ditto on what HC4U and Schneiderlein said.
After moving, my parents found my old air brush. I am wondering if silicone caulk could be thinned down enough to be sprayed by the air brush. It would certainly make getting the sealer into the nooks and crannies a little bit easier and make application a lot faster.
maybe, but i don't know if spraying would work as well as the back & forth motion of a disposable foam paint brush for forcing the seam sealer into each & every needle hole.Quote:
Originally Posted by headchange4u
same thought on "blending" the new silicon w/ the original as the spirits soften the silicon that came on the tarp, blending the new & the old???
I've always just hand-smeared silicone straight out of a caulk gun.......Bought tubes from a hardware store, made sure I was outside (after the first time) and just shot a bead straight across the seam. Smeared in by hand, making sure to cover ALL the thread and then some.
first to be sure everyone reading this understands, we are talking about sealing tarps, etc made of silnylon.Quote:
Originally Posted by mixinmaster
coated tarps usually need a different product.
that may very well work mixinmaster but from what i've read & seen in action, there are at least a couple real advantages to mixing the silicon w/ a thinner like mineral spirits or clean, white gas (stove fuel).
1)...when the thinning agent thins, the silicon more easily is worked into every available space.
2)... the thinning agent also thins/softens the silicon that is already there in the silnylon fabric, causing the new & the original silicon to permanently mix & bond.
of course Pan recommends using Silnet (by McNet) just as it comes, & of course that's the way that company intended it to be used.
maybe the silicon has enough bonding ability it's self??? i'd be interested to know more.
i've been doing the same for a while, except that i noticed that with high use stuff items, like sacks and seams, the silicone sealant would eventually flake off like dead skin. This has happened with 4 different DIY projects.
Anyone have the same thing happen?
Any fixes for it?
ps i followed the suggested ratios recommended somewhere on this site or WB, i think it was 1 part sealer, 3 parts thinner, by weight, not by volume.
could be wrong though, i am not looking at the stuff right now.
I personally had flaking when using over-the-counter stuff...... I will say again that I have had success, good success, when using silicone on silnylon seams. It adhered and remained as such for long periods of time. While it adds more weight than thinning it down I'm sure, I believe it to provide more than adequate protection. It has held up on some what abused stuff sacks, and even a food sack that was exposed to multiple downpours in the trees for the better part of 500 miles. Never noticed a leak.
yep,thats what i use:cool: neoQuote:
Originally Posted by FanaticFringer
What should I use to seal seams in Waterproof Nylon Tafetta (210T)? Will SilNet work OK for that too? Thanks.
I used Silnett on my new JRB tarp right out of the tube. It seemed thick but worked really well over the weekend at the MAHHA Hang. It rained a lot and not a drop of water came through. I also sprinkled fragrance free talc on top of the seam seal after it dried for a couple of days. I was told that it would keep things from "sticking together". BTW, I was able to get the fragrance free talc at a scuba shop.
SilNet or silicone or silicone adhesive is only for silnylon products. You probably need something for urethane and can find several products on this page from REI http://www.rei.com/Search.do?cat=450...=cat%2C4500661Quote:
Originally Posted by hacktorious
The flowable silicon stuff from Advanced Auto seems to have worked real well ( for sil-nylon only).
Something like this?Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngblood
http://www.rei.com/product/694051?vcat=REI_SEARCH
It has been a long time since I have seamed sealed anything besides silnylon. I recall using something that came in a small tube, like model glue comes in, and also a small bottle with a felt applicator. The felt applicator was easier to use and it was the REI brand http://www.rei.com/product/603042 .
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyBob58
I'm using the flowable silicone too.
Permatex Flowable 100% Silicone Windshield Sealant from just about any auto store will work, too, and is cheaper. I've done my packs and tarp with this (the underside) and it works fine. See here young grasshopper:
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...light=permatex