[pct-l] seam sealing a taped-seam sil-nylon tarp/fly?

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning, Linda,



Sealing SilNylon shelters or garments isn’t a very precise business.  I’ve
had great success just painting the sealer liberally on all seams, inside
and out.  If the tape seems any bit loose I do what I can to open the cracks
to better slop in the sealer.



Little bottles of devoted sealer can be purchased, but I find a better
option is a tube of regular GE automotive silicone caulk which is then
thinned with mineral spirits, i.e. paint thinner, before being
applied.  I squeeze
a strip of caulk into a small, flat container and gradually mix in the
thinner.  It requires a bit of stirring to get a uniform mix.  For the first
pass over the seams I use a fairly thin mix so it will better wick into the
cracks and soak into the threads and their holes.  The next coat – if I
choose to double coat – can be thicker to bridge cracks and holes.



On the trail I’ve been guilty of stopping a pesky leak with a swipe of
ChapStick.



Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT -- 1965

 http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

 http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 9:07 AM, linda.hungerford <
linda.hungerford at comcast.net> wrote:

> I have a four year old sil-nylon fly that has the seam sealing tape over
> the
> inside seams.  As I found out in a 6 hour thunderstorm on Mt. Adams this
> week, that tape has separated in a several spots from the fly, and has
> little bubbles where it is about to separate some more.  Does anyone have
> any advice about whether it would be best to apply seam seal on the outside
> seams of the tarp, or go along and try to glue the seam seal tape down on
> the inside on both sides using seam seal?  I'm hoping to use this shelter
> up
> in the Alpine Lakes next week, so if anyone has some expertise keeping old
> tents going, could you please respond?  Thank you!
>
> linda
>
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