Topic

0.7 oz/yd sil/pu. Which side down for bathtub ground sheet?


Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Home Forums Gear Forums Make Your Own Gear 0.7 oz/yd sil/pu. Which side down for bathtub ground sheet?

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #3411031
    Don Burton
    Spectator

    @surfcam310

    Locale: City of Angels

    I want to make a bathtub groundsheet for my SMD Deschutes CF tarp using this 0.7 oz sil/pu fabric from Rockywood.  Similar in design to what zpacks has for the Hexamid.

    I’m wondering which side should be facing the ground. The sil or pu side? Does it make a difference? I read you can tape the pu side which is what I’d like to do to waterproof the seams instead of silicone seam sealer.

    #3411032
    Thomas Conly
    BPL Member

    @conly

    Locale: Lots of canoeing and snow

    I would put the PU side up and the Sil side on the ground. My impression of the fabric is that the PU is what makes the fabric waterfroof and the Sil is more for water repellency. You want the waterproof side on the inside where it won’t get as much abuse. The PU side won’t be as slippery either. The silicon sealer might not stick perfectly if the silicon coating isn’t pure. You can also use liquid seam sealer on the PU side. I used a bottle from an old Eureka tent and it worked very well.

    #3411033
    Hoosier T
    BPL Member

    @jturner140

    Locale: Midwest

    I would say you’ll want the PU side as the side you lay on as it will be way less slick than the Sil side.

    #3411042
    Jordo _99
    BPL Member

    @jordo_99

    Locale: Nebraska

    Another vote for PU side up:

    Silicone impregnates the fibers*** (it becomes one with the fabric instead just coating it)…so the idea I have here is that if you put the sil side down, you’ll have better durability against rubbing/abrasion, which could cause the PU coating to flake off.

    ***This is the case in silnylon. I expect that this is the case here as well. I’m making assumptions, but I’d imagine that they took sil-impregnated polyester and then put a PU coating to one side for added strength/durability

    NOTE: This is 100% speculation but I think the other two reasons that others (Thomas and Hoosier) have given would be enough to put the sil side down regardless.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Loading...