I wouldn't put any fabric conditioner in, it changes the way the fibres absorb water and stop them from swelling in the damp. That's the same reason that you don't use fabric conditioner on towels, it makes them less absorbent.
Ventile Woes
- Thread starter Macaroon
- Start date
-
Come along to the amazing Summer Moot (21st July - 2nd August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
I wouldn't put any fabric conditioner in, it changes the way the fibres absorb water and stop them from swelling in the damp. That's the same reason that you don't use fabric conditioner on towels, it makes them less absorbent.
If it's any help Ive always proofed mine with Grangers wash in stuff. Always worked for me and as far is can tell hasn't affected the swelling ability of the ventile.
Well I've washed the smock @ 60*, zipped up and turned inside out as recommended and it's now drying; I shall wear it as often as possible as long as the weather allows a jacket and see if the Fabsil will wear off; perhaps then it might come back to work as it should. I used good quality pure liquid soap and double rinse, plus an extra rinse.I was too quick off the mark in using the Fabsil, but having looked at the tin it states that it's a "silicone based" proofer suitable for all types of cotton, so shouldn't have done any lasting harm - time will tell!
Thank you all for the feedback, I won't be so quick to do things like this without proper research in future, I assure you!
I don't think you'll have done it any harm, and fabsil really is good for cotton….tentage stuff that is 
It's the fit and flex of garments that causes grief for a lot of these things though.
I suspect that the spray on factor doesn't help, because it really is an effective application method, while a tiny amount as a washed in final rinse isn't nearly so overwhelming.
Interested to hear how it does now….and did it shrink any at that Hot wash ?
atb,
M
It's the fit and flex of garments that causes grief for a lot of these things though.
I suspect that the spray on factor doesn't help, because it really is an effective application method, while a tiny amount as a washed in final rinse isn't nearly so overwhelming.
Interested to hear how it does now….and did it shrink any at that Hot wash ?
atb,
M
Macaroon, there is good info here:-
http://www.ventile.co.uk/specification.php There is even a ventile telephone number on the Contact tab, where you might get info/help.
Incidentally, you're right: the cuffs do become abraded a lot more when wet. When ventile was used for pilot immersion suits in WWII, I'm not convinced it had any water repellent finish: not much point when the wearer is immersed in water. It must have worked though because cold water survival time increased from a couple of minutes to 20 minutes and as a result very many more pilots survived. I once had a Whymper mountain tent with a Titan cloth flysheet. Titan was a later competitor to Ventile. Each thread had an incompressible synthetic core wrapped around with long staple cotton. When woven and rained on, the cotton swelled, pushed against the synthetic and closed the gaps very well indeed. Too expensive to produce, it eventually fell and left Ventile the victor.
Good luck sorting your problem. It'll be worth the effort.
http://www.ventile.co.uk/specification.php There is even a ventile telephone number on the Contact tab, where you might get info/help.
Incidentally, you're right: the cuffs do become abraded a lot more when wet. When ventile was used for pilot immersion suits in WWII, I'm not convinced it had any water repellent finish: not much point when the wearer is immersed in water. It must have worked though because cold water survival time increased from a couple of minutes to 20 minutes and as a result very many more pilots survived. I once had a Whymper mountain tent with a Titan cloth flysheet. Titan was a later competitor to Ventile. Each thread had an incompressible synthetic core wrapped around with long staple cotton. When woven and rained on, the cotton swelled, pushed against the synthetic and closed the gaps very well indeed. Too expensive to produce, it eventually fell and left Ventile the victor.
Good luck sorting your problem. It'll be worth the effort.
ive just put my double ventile through some abusive dye stripping .....it should be interesting to see how it behaves .....
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Just a thought - I'm sure it will come to nothing but...... In the photos of your jacket within the thread you linked to, there are no pictures of the jackets label. I assume that there is a label that clearly states the smock is ventile, and it isn't simply a standard windproof smock?!
i was just thinking the same. it looks like a standard artic windproof smock...possibly garbadine and they were are notorious for fraying at the edges like cuffs and drawcord areas as they age. the fabric inside looks more of a yellow than my old smocks.
if it is ventile....label or not....it will just about stand up on its own once soaked .
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
if you look at the date and context of this thread ...
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122507
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122507
is it just my tired mind ?
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122507
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122507
is it just my tired mind ?
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
The smock I have is a "Ventile-esque" one made by SASS some years ago; the material is Ventile in all but name according to my reading the history of these, having followed up on some info. kindly provided by British Red who had one of the few real ones. During my Googling I found a good few images of this smock, and all of them show the label having been cut out of the garment; I have a feeling that this was because of the use of the word Ventile, which would obviously have had expensive consequences had these been sold under that name.
My smock is very definitely as high grade and close woven a cotton as other Ventile garments I've owned, I also have a couple of different windproof smocks of poly-cotton and of cotton gaberdine and this one is very much like the Ventile and not at all like the others.
Coincidentally, I put this and a few other waterproofs I use into a drier at the local launderette yesterday, forty minutes at medium high, and it seems to have restored the waterproofness of it very well, although it still doesn't stiffen up anything like other Ventile I've used, but it kept me dry all day today in quite heavy rain so I'm a reasonably happy bunny
My smock is very definitely as high grade and close woven a cotton as other Ventile garments I've owned, I also have a couple of different windproof smocks of poly-cotton and of cotton gaberdine and this one is very much like the Ventile and not at all like the others.
Coincidentally, I put this and a few other waterproofs I use into a drier at the local launderette yesterday, forty minutes at medium high, and it seems to have restored the waterproofness of it very well, although it still doesn't stiffen up anything like other Ventile I've used, but it kept me dry all day today in quite heavy rain so I'm a reasonably happy bunny
like i said ....i may....no i am tired. just how i read it ....i may be misinterpreting the sale and why it was for sale. time for bed .....aslong as your happy ....we can be happy.@ Chiseller;
The lad that started the post you linked to must have found the SASS one he was looking for there, cos that's who I bought this one from
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
he was looking for a sas one ....not a sass one.......oh i definitely am of to bed ...sleep well and wake strong.....tomorrow is always a day thats demanding and long.
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
