Will this work or not?

[dr jones]

I was chatting about parachutes with a mate the other day and he came up with the idea of water proofing a chute using the waterproofing agent you put in cement . Either dilute and spray on or dilute in a water butt and give the chute a good dunking then spread out to dry. If this is feasable or not coz if it is it would much cheeper than using more conventional tent reproofer type of stuff . Your opinions please!!!

 

[slammer187]

Could this cause it to go stiff and brittle?

 

[alecf]

Try it on some scrap nylon?

 

[gowersponger]

i would of thought maybe a boot/coat water proof dubin might work

 

[featherstick]

Some Nikwax cotton/nylon proofing, I would have thought - wash it in down your local laundrette.

 

[bushwacker bob]

Liquid silicon ie Thompsons waterseal or a similar generic one. Not cement waterproofer.

 

[Hugo]

Shame to ruin a good shute.
Go the Nikiwax way as featherstick mentioned, as it will work.

 

[TREETOP]

Liquid silicon ie Thompsons waterseal or a similar generic one. Not cement waterproofer.

i'll second bob thompsons will do the job

 

[Teepee]

I thought most chutes these days were made of zero porosity nylon, effectively silnylon?

White spirit would weaken the fabric and make the chute deadly.

 

[steve a]

I was chatting about parachutes with a mate the other day and he came up with the idea of water proofing a chute using the waterproofing agent you put in cement . Either dilute and spray on or dilute in a water butt and give the chute a good dunking then spread out to dry. If this is feasable or not coz if it is it would much cheeper than using more conventional tent reproofer type of stuff . Your opinions please!!!

No it will not work, the waterproofer you are talking about works on two fronts, a chemical reaction with the cement and by bonding onto the cement particals to block the microscopic pores left by bleed water.
Better to use a fabric waterproofer.

 

[nuggets]

I thought most chutes these days were made of zero porosity nylon, effectively silnylon?

White spirit would weaken the fabric and make the chute deadly.

even when its used for just a shelter/canopy

 

[nomadcelt]

I had to use A LOT of nikwax for my cargo chute....didn't really work either. I'm not sure I really see the point, to be honest. Unless you are pressed up against it the water runs down the nylon and you still don't get wet. I think it would be a relatively good idea with a small chute but really, just pull it tight.

 

[dasy2k1]

i would be more tempted to try fabsil over nickwax but either should work to some degree

 

[timboggle]

I was chatting about parachutes with a mate the other day and he came up with the idea of water proofing a chute using the waterproofing agent you put in cement . Either dilute and spray on or dilute in a water butt and give the chute a good dunking then spread out to dry. If this is feasable or not coz if it is it would much cheeper than using more conventional tent reproofer type of stuff . Your opinions please!!!

I've got a bit of experience with parachutes and my answer is no, this will, as someone has already said make it brittle.

It also depends on what kind of 'chute it is and how you erect it, cargo 'chutes are difficult to work with as a waterproof group shelter, however, the old personal straight panel 'chutes are easier and if you keep the panels pulled tight, you'll find it's waterproof enough without any treatment, the problem in a downpour then will be drainage!!