I have a talent for mistaken first impressions, and questioning those first impressions is the single most useful thing I've learned on the journey to lighter backpacking. I use the following standard two-word response to those times my own (not so) good sense tells me that a technique can't work for me: Prove it! Tarps, quilts, frameless packs, low-cut lightweight footwear and leaving most spare clothing at home were all initially rejected out of hand, but are now mainstays of my gear list and planning. This article is the outcome of questioning another of those faulty first impressions.
Several years ago, someone in a forum somewhere asked about attaching guyline loops to the center of large panels on silnylon shelters. One answer was Sew the loop to a scrap of silnylon and glue that assembly to the panel using GE Silicone II. My reaction? Nah, that can't be strong enough. When I decided to add additional guyout loops to a shelter, it was time to prove it.
I completed that shelter modification just in time to test it in a storm that delivered six inches of wet snow. The glue held under a load that exceeded the holding power of Kelty TripTease line threaded through ITW Nexus LineLoc 3 adjusters, which are widely used on shelters found in the gear lists of many BPL members.
Since that time, I've used the same procedure to attach guyouts to two other shelters, to attach reinforcing patches for guyout loops at the edge of tarps, to attach stake loops to a bivy floor (avoiding ground level stitching), to make two-layer laminates for use where a stronger, stiffer, or more abrasion resistant material is wanted, and I'm currently trying it in seam allowances and high stress areas in a pack I'm making. Recent discussions on Backpacking Light's forums have revealed other members enjoying success with glue laminated guyout reinforcement patches.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Introduction
- Tools and Materials
- Laminating Procedure
- Examples of Use in Gear Construction
- Tarp Guyouts
- Heavy Duty Silnylon
- Reinforcing Seam Allowances
- Summary
# WORDS: 1790
# PHOTOS: 20
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Discussion
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Companion forum thread to:
Adventures in Laminating Silicone-Impregnated Fabrics
"Does anybody see any reason to not attempt an entirely bonded silnylon (spinnaker?) tarp or tent?"
I had thought about this because of my fear of sewing:-)
I suspect it would require more overlapping of seams and the combination of the extra material and silicone bonding material would add ounces to the shelter, compared to stitch and bonded construction.
I'm still considering experimenting though.
Does anybody see any reason to not attempt an entirely bonded silnylon (spinnaker?) tarp or tent?
I missed that question the first time, sorry. Bonded cuben tarps recently available and a not as recent forum posting about a bonded cuben mid do make one wonder about the possibility of bonded siliconized fabrics. However, I have not tested that sort of thing.
I had thought about this because of my fear of sewing:-)
Weeeeeell … facing down one's fears is great way to grow, isn't that a lot like what we do as lightening our packs?
Jim
Nice post
Did you align the fabric weave of the patch or bias at 45?
Tz.
Tz wins the Miracle Max award for reviving a mostly dead (as opposed to completely dead) thread:-)
I have not paid attention to the orientation of the weave at all. It might make a difference but in some simple tests the joint was always stronger than the adjacent fabric so I’m not worrying about it.
Also, since that article I have made a silnylon tarp adapted from http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/make_your_own_gear_5_yards_to_sul_part_3.htmlJay Ham’s plans. All seams were bonded and even the guyout loops were made with laminated silnylon and glued on. The only stitching used was for installing a zipper on the beak and some small hang loops on the underside. It’s worked well for 2 years.
Jim
Thanks. I hope you did not get flack from your composite material consultant.
I will see how it works out this weekend
If it all fails the 8 by ten will be a 7 by 9.
Hi Jim,
Great article–glad the thread was revived, as apparently I missed it when first published.
I've made a bunch of rubber molds using silicone caulking, and sometimes use water to accelerate the curing process ((silicone caulk like GS Silicone II is moisture-curing). I wonder if something similar would work with your laminations.
I've never noticed that an accelerated cure weakened the material, but then the thickness and application was quite different than yours.
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