I have acquired some ripstop nylon from a family member. Total surprise that was free, so I decided I would try and make a simple tarp out of it. However, I am completely new to making my own gear. I have sewn before but have no idea what to use as the silicon coating for the tarp. So I am asking for suggestions on what to use.

Thanks and any help is appreciated.

If you're really keen on coating the material yourself, I'll direct you to the DIY section of the hammockforum(google it). As people there are persistent enough to try and make their own silnylon out of uncoated ripstop.

Personally, I recommend you bite the $3 bullet(per yard), and order some fully functional 1.1oz silnylon ripstop from noahlamport.

If you do go the coat it yourself (CIY?) route; Good luck man!

Thanks for the input. I will probably order some silnylon in the future, but since I got this ripstop for free, then I may as well make a few stuff sacks and try to coat some. Will probably lead to me becoming insanely frustrated but we will see how it goes.

thanks again!

If it works out for you, please share your experiences here. I'd love to hear about it.

I have watched Patrick of Kifaru show how to treat silnylon on the seams and this is also how guys treat regular ripstop from what my research shows. He takes silicone, puts it in a container, and adds mineral spirits. He stirs it up until it turns into a "slurry" as he refers to it. Just a real liquid like substance, but not real runny. He then paints it on with a paint brush. Do this while the fabric is taunt and let dry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zd5mwn0NgU

Don't know how well this would work, because my suggestion is based solely own my own judgement but I have silicone spray lubricant somewhere is my basement. Couldn't you simply use pure silicone in spray form (similar to WD40) to coat your ripstop more evenly than a brushed application?

> Couldn't you simply use pure silicone in spray form (similar to WD40) to coat your ripstop more evenly than a brushed application?

Well, the problem with that is that they are two entirely different silicone polymers.

The lubricant is in liquid form, and remains that way, so is likely to leave a silicone oil stain on anything it touches.

The silicone sealant is a different silicone polymer, probably a much longer, or chained molecule, that forms a 'dry' gel when it's set.

Silicon has a similar chemistry to carbon, so forms many complex hydro-silicon (aka silicone) molecules, rather like the hydrocarbon 'organic' chemistry. It's nowhere near as diverse in its range of chemistry as carbon, though.

Edited by captain_paranoia on 07/02/2010 10:08:25 MDT.

The suggested silicone spray is this type :


"ideal" (according to the label) for nylon,polyester cotton and leather.
(not a lubricant...)
Franco

Silicon spray goes on very easily.
Pity it rubs off just as easily ...

Cheers

If you're really keen on coating the material yourself, I'll direct you to the DIY section of the hammockforum(google it).

--------------
Chen
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Cheers
Roger Caffin
Online community Monitor
Backpacking Light
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Edited by rcaffin on 07/06/2010 17:27:16 MDT.

Tried the silicone/mineral spirit trick. As a repellent it is the cat's meow. Unfortunately the only weight lost is the mineral spirit. Silicone is heavy. Make sure it is spotlessly clean or the sil will peel. Buy some good spray and treat it regularly (IMHO)
BJ

Bravo, Franco! The nano-spray at last!
Sam