Seam sealing

[actad]

Taking advantage of a nice day to seam seal some tents. Using Coghlans Water Based Seam Sealer solely because it was the only one on the shelf at the store. It is a nicer experience than the Coleman version I used last time due to the better sponge tip type of applicator. The Coleman version had a teeny brush like when painting fingernails. Going to have a hard rain tomorrow so will see how it holds up. What do all of you use?

[actad]

Re: Seam sealing

My supervisor made sure I got all the seams.

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Seam sealing

Hehehe....on the supervisor.

As I live in an urban highrise it's difficult for me to find a space to do regular maintenance on my tent so of late I just do it when I get to the camp ground either at the start or end of a trip depending on the weather.

I think I use a McNett product but can't say fer sure until I pull out my tent maintenance bag. Which is prolly located at the bottom of my storage cage. Which is definitely smaller than the one Morgan made on 'The Walking Dead' but I digress....

[actad]

Re: Seam sealing

I feel fortunate that I have a really big yard, since my house is certainly not clear enough to set up a tent.

My son wants to borrow a tent to go to Seneca Rocks. I think the 4person instant tent will do well for a novice camper and his gear. I will probably have him take the one person insect protectant tent too in case it is really buggy. The little tent was fine as it was stored in the house, but the bigger tent was stored in an outbuilding. The wind took care of the somewhat funky smell from being stored out there all winter. I wiped down the interior and got the seams all set.

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Seam sealing

I feel fortunate that I have a really big yard, since my house is certainly not clear enough to set up a tent.

My son wants to borrow a tent to go to Seneca Rocks. I think the 4person instant tent will do well for a novice camper and his gear. I will probably have him take the one person insect protectant tent too in case it is really buggy. The little tent was fine as it was stored in the house, but the bigger tent was stored in an outbuilding. The wind took care of the somewhat funky smell from being stored out there all winter. I wiped down the interior and got the seams all set.

The first time I checked the tent was in an vacant apartment. Thank goodness for the high ceilings in this building:he:

Can't see why a 4 person tent wouldn't do well for 1 person plus gear; he should be fine.

[tplife]

Re: Seam sealing

I never use the attached applicators. A small foam or regular paintbrush is inexpensive and works great.

[Mike]

Re: Seam sealing

The newer Coleman seam seal has a similar sponge type applicator.

[Mike]

Re: Seam sealing

You can make your own seam sealer with clear silicon caulk. Just mix clear silicon caulk with mineral spirits (paint thinner) until you get a viscosity you like. Then paint it on your tent seams with a disposable brush.

I like this DIY method better than the seam seal bottles because I almost always have some silicon caulk around the house, but rarely have seam sealer.

Also, it is a lot easier working with a right sized brush and sealer in an old mason jar than it is to work with one of those hand held bottles.

Of course, another advantage is that the silicon caulking is infinitely cheaper than the seam seal bottles

[actad]

Re: Seam sealing

You can make your own seam sealer with clear silicon caulk. Just mix clear silicon caulk with mineral spirits (paint thinner) until you get a viscosity you like. Then paint it on your tent seams with a disposable brush.

I like this DIY method better than the seam seal bottles because I almost always have some silicon caulk around the house, but rarely have seam sealer.

Also, it is a lot easier working with a right sized brush and sealer in an old mason jar than it is to work with one of those hand held bottles.

Of course, another advantage is that the silicon caulking is infinitely cheaper than the seam seal bottles

Seems like a handy formula when sealing multiple tents - thanks!

[wecamp04]

Re: Seam sealing

You can make your own seam sealer with clear silicon caulk. Just mix clear silicon caulk with mineral spirits (paint thinner) until you get a viscosity you like. Then paint it on your tent seams with a disposable brush.

I like this DIY method better than the seam seal bottles because I almost always have some silicon caulk around the house, but rarely have seam sealer.

Also, it is a lot easier working with a right sized brush and sealer in an old mason jar than it is to work with one of those hand held bottles.

Of course, another advantage is that the silicon caulking is infinitely cheaper than the seam seal bottles

Mike I can see how this would work ,but was wondering does it make your tent smell .Silicon and mineral spirits are both strong smelling

[Shortpants]

Re: Seam sealing

I gotta say Mike, your formula piqued my interest since all three of our tents need seam sealing this season, but wondered the same as wecamp. I really abhor the "sponge tip applicator" ones and have been looking for another options. Those dinky little bottles with the sponge tip make seam sealing 349 total square feet of tents take FOR-EV-ER!! I'd love to find a better way!

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Seam sealing

I gotta say Mike, your formula piqued my interest since all three of our tents need seam sealing this season, but wondered the same as wecamp. I really abhor the "sponge tip applicator" ones and have been looking for another options. Those dinky little bottles with the sponge tip make seam sealing 349 total square feet of tents take FOR-EV-ER!! I'd love to find a better way!

You can also use these type of brushes:

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/04Z...-48-piece.aspx

I bought a pack of them at a hardware store some years back and find them a lil more durable than the sponge variety which sometime dissolve depending on the chemicals being used. Also great for cleaning tiny spaces like computer fans and vents.

[Irate Mormon]

Re: Seam sealing

Mike has the right of it. Also, you can paint stripes of sealer on your tent floor if it is too slippery.

[Mike]

Re: Seam sealing

Mike I can see how this would work ,but was wondering does it make your tent smell .Silicon and mineral spirits are both strong smelling

You know, 4 men in a tent stinks pretty bad too. Eventually, the smell goes away. Unless, of course, one of those men is my friend Bob who smoke cigars and farts in the tent. Bob has to sleep in his own tent. Not invited into the tent of others.

[JoeN]

Re: Seam sealing

All the seam sealer I have used smelled like airplane cement and had a very strong smell that dissipated once it dried. I have never tried the silicone sealer and thinner recipe but I have used lots of silicone sealer at work. Once the silicone dries the smell goes away so I would assume it should be the same for the silicone/thinner mix. Whatever you use should be thin enough that it can be absorbed into the stitches to seal the seams. The small seam sealer bottles are not designed to seal anything but the seams. There are other products for applying to tent walls and floors. Has anyone tried the silicone/thinner mixed in bulk to apply to walls or floors? It sounds like it might work on walls if it will adhere to the material and not just peel off.