Is Tulle Too Fragile for Baffles ?

**hodad** · 07-03-2013, 17:55

Is Tulle too fragile for the baffles? I thought this was now being used widely with the DIYers? The reason I asked is that I just spent a beer and a couple of hours last night cutting Tulle for a TQ and UQ, but if it's too fragile maybe I should use no-seeum netting?
I was planning to use the sil/mineral spirits to pre-glue to the outershell first to keep the needle holes down (using 850 fill). Any advise would be helpful. Thx, Al

**JohnSawyer** · 07-03-2013, 18:49

In my limited experience, the typical tulle is really fragile. Noseeum is much much stronger.

That said, there is a version of tulle that's polyester, which is wicked strong. . .

Ikea sells it as curtain panels (or at least they did...) let me pull out my google-fu...

John

**JohnSawyer** · 07-03-2013, 18:55

Found it:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90111980/

I have used this for integrated bugnet, I used noseeum in my UQ

WV · 07-03-2013, 18:58

Can't answer your question, but will expand it and urge others (that's you, Dutch; also you, Adam) to answer it. I figure people used noseeum netting for baffles at first because it was lighter and cheaper than their shell material. Nowadays it's not necessarily lighter. I've used .33 oz cuben for baffles, but I wonder if the lack of stretch is a liability. Theoretically it shouldn't be if the shape of the quilt is engineered to use the appropriate differential cuts in both directions and at the appropriate places (which I am attempting to do, but nobody in their right mind would go to that much trouble). So my question is:
What's the best lightweight, stretchable, inexpensive baffle material? Why no seeum mesh? Wouldn't mosquito netting be just as good? By the way, I mean something that stretches on the bias. When making a quilt out of M50 or some other very light fabric, wouldn't the same fabric make the best baffles, as long as it weren't too costly? What about the lightweight scrims that come with some synthetic insulation, like Primaloft? Inquiring minds want to know. Maybe tulle is the answer.

WV · 07-03-2013, 18:59

Took a long time typing, John, so I missed your posts. Isn't that polyester heavy?

**hodad** · 07-03-2013, 19:11

David and John, Thank you for your time and input.
I did some pulling on the Tulla on-hand and it is strong unless torn from an edge. I believe the folding along the bias and a small zigsag stitch will beef it up.
It is very light, I have three varieties of no-seeum netting on-hand and it is at least 75% less weight, maybe more.

**JohnSawyer** · 07-03-2013, 22:24

Originally Posted by WV

Took a long time typing, John, so I missed your posts. Isn't that polyester heavy?

It isn't bad. I'll have to see if I have some scraps...

**cpverne** · 07-04-2013, 10:32

I was under the impression that the mesh baffles were used so that the down would interlock with the mesh and that would keep it all from shifting to the center of the quilt.

**Ramblinrev** · 07-04-2013, 10:40

Mesh baffles also serve to allow free movement of air while keeping the down in place. The baffle is not subject to a trendous amount of stress assuming the quilt is made properly. It basically provides the edges of a box. But you want the air to move freely so the quilt dries quicker should it get wet.

**revbknox** · 07-04-2013, 11:24

Along with what John said, Walmart also sells those polyester curtain panels. They are seen here, with the link:
http://walmart.com/m/phoenix;jsessio...Panel/16439789

Although they are listed at nearly $10, my Walmart sells them for $5. Now I have never made baffles out of them, but have made several removable bugnets with great success, thanks to cryptic crickets YouTube video. But this forum member recently used them for baffles and seems to have had succes:
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=75435

While he didn't use down, I do believe it would work. If you do try it out and it works let us know, as I would love to try using this same model for diying a down uq.