Seam sealer or diy silicon? I'm about to start so....

**grok** · 02-07-2011, 18:30

Does it matter? I bought a little thing of coleman's seam sealer. I've never used it. The last tarp I had was two sil nylon ponchos sewed together. The fabric leaked when saturated pffft! I used some waterproof spray from JoAnnes and seam sealed with silicone from the paint department at lowes disolved in denatured alchohol. This seamed to work.

Any pro advice on the subject would be appreciated. Or as allways I'll jump in the deep end and try to swim

_________________
If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.

**Shug** · 02-07-2011, 18:33

I use the silicone thinned down. Never had a seam leak yet ...and it stays.
Shug

**grok** · 02-07-2011, 19:01

Originally Posted by Shug

I use the silicone thinned down. Never had a seam leak yet ...and it stays.
Shug

Thanks! I needed some new fuel anyway

$2 seam sealer in the hoarder box.

**KMACK** · 02-07-2011, 19:04

http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...***_Sealer.htm

This works great.

**JohnSawyer** · 02-07-2011, 19:06

The Coleman stuff seemed to be some sort of polyurothane or latex based product. Doesn't work on Silnylon.

The best stuff I've found is at the Auto parts store: Self-levelling silicone. It's really thin, and mixes easily with mineral spirits.

(I put them in a plastic jar with a few clean 1/4-20 nuts and shake. Allow the bubbles to dissipate prior to application.

I've been runninng an experiment where I've left it mixed 4:1 for several weeks... Covered a scrap of cloth this weekend, and it sealed well.

John

**mountain_man_mike** · 02-07-2011, 19:33

Originally Posted by JohnSawyer

The Coleman stuff seemed to be some sort of polyurothane or latex based product. Doesn't work on Silnylon.

The best stuff I've found is at the Auto parts store: Self-levelling silicone. It's really thin, and mixes easily with mineral spirits.

(I put them in a plastic jar with a few clean 1/4-20 nuts and shake. Allow the bubbles to dissipate prior to application.

I've been runninng an experiment where I've left it mixed 4:1 for several weeks... Covered a scrap of cloth this weekend, and it sealed well.

John

+1 to the use of mineral spirits. I used it with clear silicone from Lowes/ Home Depot it it has always sealed. I haven't used denatured alcohol as a thinner but I like the multiple use aspect.

**bigbamaguy** · 02-07-2011, 23:55

Originally Posted by KMACK

http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...***_Sealer.htm

This works great.

+1 on this stuff, very easy to use. 1 tube will cover up to two tarps.

**JohnSawyer** · 02-08-2011, 00:48

Originally Posted by KMACK

http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...***_Sealer.htm

This works great.

That's the stuff!

**Mike_O** · 02-08-2011, 06:49

Glass jar, mix mineral spirits and 100% clear silicone four to one. Paint on the seam with a foam paint brush. The liquid penetrates the threads and holes better. No mess to clean up.