Walmart $1 ripstop - DWR vs silnylon - how can you tell the difference?

**TNhunter** · 01-08-2007, 18:12

I just bought 1 bolt of 60" olive drab, 1 bolt of 60" gray, and 1 bolt of 48" gray. All 3 of these appear to be treated with something - I assume for waterproofing. They are all 3 very slick and kind of shiny on both sides - there isn't a perceptible difference in the look of either side when comparing to the other. I've read about doing a blow through test to see if it is silnylon. How can I tell what these are?

**The Breeze** · 01-08-2007, 18:39

take the corner and cup it over a glass rubber band it then push it in the glass some add water if it holds all night its sily

**hangnout** · 01-08-2007, 18:47

I saw some of the same ones you described at a Walmart in Middle Tennessee. They were all DWR no silnylon. Which Walmart did you get yours?

**Coffee** · 01-08-2007, 18:47

Someone correct me if I am wrong. But sil looks coated and will not frey on the ends. The treatment is all the way through the fabric. You are not supposed to be able to blow through sil

DWR is coated and freys on the ends. You should just be able to blow through DWR.

Uncoated will frey and you can easily blow through. You can look at the fabric and see a pattern of holes in the ripstop.

**TNhunter** · 01-08-2007, 20:31

I bought it at the Walmart at the intersection of Bell Rd and Nolensville Rd. I'll do the glass test.

**hangnout** · 01-08-2007, 20:39

Let me know so I can raid your Walmart!

I saw similar material in Murfreesboro and Cookeville but it was DWR. Middle TN starting to make a good turnout on this forum.

**Just Jeff** · 01-08-2007, 21:09

That OD is my favorite, but I can't find any silnylon in that color. Have several yards (ok, a few bolts) of the DWR, though.

Hammock engineer is right about how to tell the difference...I just use the blow test and check for fraying.

**TNhunter** · 01-08-2007, 22:19

I have been watching the $1 section in the 2 Murfreesboro Walmart stores and have not found anything waterproof. That Walmart today had 3 or 4 more bolts of some type waterproof nylon that was NOT ripstop - all them were white. BTW - my water test is showing no signs of leaking so far. I'll let you know what it looks like tomorrow morning. As far as fraying - there is none on the edges. The ends where it had been cut were indeed frayed somewhat on all 3 I bought.

**TNhunter** · 01-09-2007, 09:07

Checked the nylon water test this morning - no water leaked through into the glass. One of the 3 was a little damp to the touch on the back side - but within about 3 minutes of dumping the water off it was completely dry. The other 2 were completely dry on the back side. Now I need to decide what kind of tarp I'm going to make out of one of these. I'll probably use the 48" stuff for making a pair of snake skins.

**The Breeze** · 01-09-2007, 09:17

If it holds water all night it must be water proof. I have bought tents that wouldn't hold water all night before treating.sounds like you hit it good. is it all ripstop or is some of it just coated cloth ?