Cheap water resistant nylon?

[Thomas Conly]

Hi all,

I have been doing MYOG for years and know of most of the best places to get awesome lightweight fabrics, but I’d like to tackle a project that doesn’t need the best fabrics. I’m planning to make side walls for the following net tent to be used on canoe trips.

https://www.eurekatentscanada.com/products/view/44?s=section_4

It doesn’t need to be crazy light, nor does it need to be completely waterproof. I made one previously by taking apart a $40 set of windwalls for a gazebo from Walmart, but they don’t sell them anymore as far as I can tell. (they now sell them one wall at a time, which is more expensive) Does anyone have any suggestions for a place where I can buy/order some nylon that is even cheaper than 2nds silnylon? I need enough to make four walls that are 8.5 feet in length and 7 feet tall at the peek. Thanks in advance!

[Ken Thompson]

In Canada?

[Jerry Adams]

ripstopbytheroll.com has 1.1 silnylon – $6 per yard 58″ wide, several colors are $4.75 but out of stock

[Thomas Conly]

I am in Canada, so that could be a consideration, but I can order from the US.

Jerry, the only color in stock at $4.75 is deep purple, and although color isn’t too important, I’d rather spend a little more on not-purple. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Ken Thompson]

https://www.questoutfitters.com/Coated_2.htm#SILNYLON%201.1%20OZ%20RIPSTOP

$5.50 yard

[Adam T]

Thomas, in Canada check out Hofman Outdoor Gear Supply. Basically same prices as ripstopbytheroll.com but you don’t have the worry about duties and exchange.

edit: here is the link https://hofmanoutdoorgearsupply.ca/

[Jerry Adams]

or tariffs? : )

[Thomas Conly]

Thanks to everyone for their input! (especially the tariffs comment :)

I had just found out about Hofman Outdoor Gear Supply this past winter from a friend. Looks like, unless I can snag a sale at one of the standard places, that might be the easiest/reasonably priced. Thanks again.

[Aaron]

On the subject of 1.1 oz silnylon from RBTR, is there something strange about it, or is it just me?  I’ve had a stash of some silnylon scraps since about 2004 which I’ve made small projects from over the years.  Not sure where I bought them, but the texture and feel is way different than some material I picked up recently.  The RBTR material is barley recognizable as silnylon to me.  It’s as if the silicone is more absorbed into the fabric and doesn’t create the same overall slick uniform sheen on the outer surface.  At a glance it seems less waterproof and feels a lot more fragile and less abrasion resistant than the old stuff.  I’ve got a couple pieces of silnylon gear from the early 00s, and while the texture varies a bit, none of them resemble the new material either.  I realize there’s probably different manufacturing methods for silnylon, but I’m wondering, what happened to the old style, does it still exist?

[Roger Caffin]

Hi Aaron

There must be hundreds of different silicone coatings available, so differences are inevitable.

If your fabric samples are old and quite shiny, they may have come from Westmark before the EPA closed down their coating plant. That old silnylon was the bee’s knees for HH imho, but it is no longer available.

If you want a high HH, consider going for a silicone/PU coating rather than a straight silicone coating.

Cheers

[Aaron]

Yes, it’s a shiny more slick looking material.  I sewed a tarp tent out of it in 2004 and never had any leaks or misting.  Recently I’ve been impressed with the overall durability.  I used it to make some grocery bags that still seem indestructible after 2 years of hard use.

[Roger Caffin]

Sounds like the original Westmark silnylon. Dates are OK.

I made ponchos for my wife and myself out of that stuff. It sheds the rain, wind and snow. Had to seam seal at the hem around the neck. It did not leak much, but feeling one drop of cold water seeping in onto the back of my neck when the rest of me is warm inside the poncho is uncouth.

Cheers

[Author]

Posts