DIY Tarp

[Robbo]

Would polyester curtain lining materail be suitable for a DIY tarp/basha?

I'm asking as I can get it for free.

I'm pretty sure that as a synthetic it wont take dye easily and will be vunerable to sparks.

And would painting it in thompsons waterseal waterproof it adequately for use in wet weather?

Thanks

Andy

 

[Nemisis]

As the material is free the best suggestion would to be make a couple up to try in the back garden and experiment a little. Try the material in rain pegged loose over a line to test its basic water resistance or not, then under tension as it would be in use as a tarp then try a double skinned one if the materials not prohibitively heavy then repeat after proofing trying say 1metre squares with various treatments i.e. fabrosil,thompsons or nikwax.
Dave.

 

[KIMBOKO]

Lining material is quite loosely woven and it isn't very strong it tends to fray unless the edges are hemmed, glued or melted, a hem increases the strength. But you ought to make one for the experience and try it out. I have successfully silcone treated unproofed nylon by mixing silicone sealer with meths and brushing/spreading over the fabric a section at a time.
Go for it.

 

[Robbo]

Did the meths have the purple dye through it? Did it dye the nylon any?

Andy

 

[Nemisis]

One thing you will need if the testing/proofing works is some webbing to both give a firm edge and a length down the centre to both add strength to prevent tearing and give you something to attach guy loops too.
Dave.

 

[KIMBOKO]

Did the meths have the purple dye through it? Did it dye the nylon any?

Andy

Yes, purple dye meths, but it was spread so thinly over green nylon I couldn't see any change in colour.

 

[g4ghb]

sorry to press the point further but do you mean you 'disolved' std sink/bath sealant thet comes in the 'squeezy' tubes you need to put in the trigger g*ns?

 

[jdlenton]

humm this is interesting i always thought clear silicon sealers were acetic acid based. going to have to experiment with this might work on skins to siliconise them

James

 

[leon-1]

In theory most materials will be shower proof if they are set up at the correct angle with or without a coating, just don't touch it when it is raining as water will freely be transmitted from the material to whatever touches it.

Also the tighter the weave the better, in driving rain you would want the tightest weave possible and some form of coating (fabsil or the like).

The other problems will be the wind and as the others have mentioned the strength of the material, I would suggest using a good thin webbing for the hem that you could use as a single piece all the way around the outside and integrate the attachment points (loops) into these.