Heat sealable fabric - how do you do it?

**streamline** · 05-22-2012, 22:48

I got some Heat Sealable 70 Denier Oxford Nylon Fabric from Rockywoods just to mess around. I am wanting to make a liner for my pack with the stuff but I am really struggling trying to get it to seal up. I have a pretty good iron and have jacked it all the way up but the seem just don't see to want to hold vary well. I used a granite chess board as the base and a metal T-square to get an even seam and give the iron a guide to run down.

One thing I found out in my frustration is that my food vacuum sealer does an awesom job

But I can't do a lont with a 7" long dry bag that has to be rolled at least three times.

Any pointers from anyone?

**PuckerFactor** · 05-22-2012, 23:04

I'm sure if you called them, they could give you some advice. They've been extremely helpful when I've called and been unsure what I needed.
Do you have the steam on? I believe it needs to be off. The other thought that comes to mind is that the granite may be sucking the heat out before the fabric has time to get up to temperature. Have you tried it on a standard ironing board with a scrap?

Hope you can get it to work,
PF

**gmcttr** · 05-23-2012, 05:28

Originally Posted by PuckerFactor

...The other thought that comes to mind is that the granite may be sucking the heat out before the fabric has time to get up to temperature...

That was my first thought as well. Use an ironing board or wood. You want something that holds the heat.

**streamline** · 05-23-2012, 07:05

Hmm, didn't think of the granite robbing me. I do know it was fully saturated by the end. I will get some wood and try that out. I also did keep the steam off. I will figure this out in the end I tell ya

**ZMad2000** · 05-23-2012, 08:06

I made 2 inflatable pillows with heat sealable fabric and had cardboard under. One thing i noticed is that u will have too hold the iron there quite a while.

**Pag** · 05-23-2012, 09:29

I've never tried with an iron but I did use a hot air seaming machine. It used a hot air gun with two rollers applying about 2k lbf. I doubt you could get that much pressure but maybe get it hot with a heat gun before pressing?

**ZMad2000** · 05-23-2012, 13:39

The "technique" i used was set the iron to medium heat, put the glossy sides facing each other and then slowly run my iron over the part that i wanted to seal. On Backpacking light a member named "Bender" used to make inflatable sleeping pads.

**streamline** · 05-23-2012, 13:52

On medium heat I couldn't even get the adhesive to start to seal. Another issue I have been encountering is in some areas the adhesive peals apart easily even though it seemed to have a good seal.?

I was thinking of making sleeping pads for my kids.

**gmcttr** · 05-23-2012, 16:06

It might be time for PF's suggestion of calling Rockywoods for advice.

**PuckerFactor** · 05-23-2012, 16:07

What part of the iron are you using? I've found that the tip doesn't get nearly as hot as the side (or the center, but that's not really an option).
This is a really curious problem. Hopefully we can all get to the bottom of it.

PF