Good video. That first seam you paint may have needed to be first wiped down with alcohol to remove any dirt or oils. I've never been able to find mineral spirits, (In California mineral spirits and denatured alcohol has been banned since 2013) So I've just used paint thinner. Paint thinner according to the internet is a less pure stinkier variation of mineral spirits. I've done this dozens of times but now I'm thinking I should find some mineral spirits, your mixing happened a lot faster than the mixing I've been doing. I end up with a soft ball of silicone surrounded by thinner. It still works, the thinner is saturated with silicone leaves a good seal. But you have a much better mix. I used GE 100% silicone caulk I buy in 2.8 oz tubes at Home Depot. Two cups of sealant is, I think, enough for at least ten tents and flies. I also think you are over doing it. After all what leaks? Unless you have a chaffed area, it's only the holes where the threads poke through. That's all that really needs sealing. So on a Y shaped pullout on the upper side of a fly or tent? You can paint all that webbing/grosgrain, work it under the edges... or you can from the inside, simply paint the lines of stitches. Also silicone caulk in a partially used tube or cartridge will quickly dry up. Even immediately sealed back up, in two days there will be a plug blocking the spout. In a few months that entire cartridge will be solid. So whatever you don't use, you won't be able to use. It's why I've always bought the smaller 2.8 oz tubes. (More than enough for a couple of tents and flies.) And I guess you're deep into owning and using that tent. I'm sure like many of us (me too) when you bought it you really wanted the other tent that cost double because it was 8 ounces lighter.. Seam sealing adds weight. Good video though. A contribution to this process. Thank you.
Good post Mr.Patch. But be advised folks, it takes a good 10 days for the silicon odor to go away. You have to have a dry place for the tent to stay pitched and air out. That said this mixture worked much better than any commercial fabric seal I ever used.
I do this to every tarp & tent I buy. If you thin it down even more to the consistencty of milk and put it in a hand spray you can do the whole tent in what is a very effective waterproofing spray.
In waterproofing my own tarps and tents I have found that a ratio of 1 part silicone to 5 parts mineral spirits works well. You don't need a heavy application to make something waterproof.
I mixed up a batch of silicone caulking and naphtha a couple of days ago. Half a peanut butter jar was enough to seal all seams on a 4 person Eureka Timberline tent that had peeling seam tape. I pulled off all the tape and used a 1” brush to apply the mixture. I had set up the tent with the fly inverted. The inner tent also had taped seams around the floor and doors. It only took about half an hour to do the whole thing. I then spread out a Mountain Hardware 14’ rain fly and did those seams. Easy. There was still enough mixture to do another tent if I had wanted to. Two days later and everything is dry enough to fold up.
At the time of this reading, this post is 6 years old. It’s some of the best instructions I’ve seen on TH-cam on how to reseal/waterproof a tent. So easy to follow a 6 year old or 86 year old could understand, without some overbearing personality demanding attention…
Here in the US we call it mineral spirit, it's also known as white spirit, mineral turpentine, turpentine substitute, and petroleum spirits depending where you live at.
A local home store paint dept will have small 1/2"-1" disposable brushes. Otherwise the plumbing dept will have small brushes near the plumbing solder. There's also the crafting departments. The brush used here was way to big.
Omg thank you!! The seam tape was peeling off and the thought of having to replace my Ozark trail 11 person tent with the private room made me so sad because I can’t find another one like it. You’re a lifesaver!! ❤
My brother, 53 years old, without permission, used my Coleman 8 pop up tent. problem is that he left the tent soaked to rot in its bag for months. the tent was used just 4 times, I bought it in 2017. Unfortunately, the tent was molded and all the tapes turned rotten yellow. I want to thank you for your video since the gadgets that were being sold only for a tent that is 14' by 10' would cost an arm and a leg! This concussion that you shared is perfect, I lead to get the ingredients but I still have 3 weeks before my hunting trip. Not sure how long it will take but my guess is 4 hours of work for sure. I guess bro will have to find the time and fix the seams. Thanks for sharing!! this is a $$ saver :-)
You're welcome, Joe. What are your plans for mold then? Walmart has good mold and mildew remover spray bottle that is usually used in showers. I wonder how that would work if you sprayed that on there and let it sit for several minutes before spraying it off with a hose. This would be a good fix before sealing the seams maybe.
Anyone compared this to Mcnett's urethane seam sealer (which is very good stuff, but not cheap, and once a tube is opened you have to use it in a few months, even if kept in the freezer).
@@TheDcrocks1 The fabric on tents is normally waterproof from new to different levels depending on the tent & budget but where it's joined & sewn they can leak a little. Even the expensive ones. The seam sealer stops this. I seam seal all new tents & tarps just to be sure. Better that than find a leak.
On your video you remove the old seam seals. Why not just stick the old seals back down again. I appreciate the strength is in the stitching, but would the combination with the old seam seal make a tougher repair.
Yes, I would say that if you figure out a good method of using the old tape again that, yes, it would be even better. Using the technique that I am, it would be a sloppy mess and not improve it at all. Those seams were taped in a factory. Just pushing the tape back into the sealer is not really practical considering the floppiness of everything. Do you have an idea of what process one could use to apply that tape again?
@@maxpatch67 There is no need to do that. The tape was originally applied using a heat press (or roller) and its thermal glue has already been used and will not stick very well if re-used. Furthermore, it is not necessary if you apply enough of your silicone mixture to get into all of the seem holes. I would apply it to both sides. ALSO (and this is something that I have done), if you add just a thimble-full of water to your mixture it will speed the curing time. SIlicone thermally reacts with water, but use only a little.
My experience sealing over old tape is the tape has already started to deteriorate and should be removed. The sealant will saturate the seams and waterproof them quite well. In the places I tried to leave the tape in place it often shrunk and flaked up in the sealant. I ended up just pulling it all off and had a much better finished product.
It's hard to say, Russel. There are som many variables. You might try it out and see how you like it before you do all that you are thinking of. I think its long lasting like regular seamsealer.
When this dries up after a few hours, the surface remains a little tacky feeling forever, so you would not like it covering the entire fabric surface. It would work, but you would hate it. Great question and thanks for asking.
No i tried a no odour first it doesn't work you need to use the real mineral spirts ( turps ) i did mine yesterday the smell when very fast as it evaporated. I used anti mould translucent silicone it doesn't smell of vinegar.
No, I would not use this on a jacket. This mixture is too thick to create a good surface over large areas of clothing. You could certainly do your seams if you wanted, though. Just use a smaller brush. You could even mix it with more water to make the sealer less thick on the seams.
The seams are still very flexible, but you can see that the seam has sealer on it. Its clear, but has slightly different appearance. Basically, the mineral spirits thin out the silicone very thin so its brushable, so what you see on the seams area thin, flexible waterproof layer.
I used this tutorial to rehab an old tent and it worked really well. But I do have to add, even though it only took about 5 hrs for the solution to dry, it took about 10 days for the silicon odor to go away where the tent was really back to new. Not a problem with a covered area but maybe a problem in an apartment where you can’t spread it out.
hm...why wouldn't you leave the tape in place and simply augment it with your solution, for double protection? Is the tape incompatible with the silicone? Thanks
The tape is very loose and leaving it there creates more of a problem because if I left it there, the tape would allow moisture in along the seam and then trap it under the tape, creating problems. A better choice is to remove the tape and expose the seam so the solution can keep the water completely out.
@@ChildOfYAHUAH777 only on seams. If you make your tarp out of still nylon it should be waterproof already. If you're making it on a ripstop nylon untreated then you will want to spray it with Scotchgard or war other similar product.
They are a medium to thin out the silicone so it's not o thick. The mineral spirits quickly dry up/evaporate and you are left with a thin coating of silicone that does the sealing.
@@richcombs4805 Do you know if you can use silicone this way to not seal a tent but attach tent tarp or tent nylon sheets together to make a bigger size tarp? I cant stich or sew.. just curious
i know this video is a year old but hopefully i get a reply back. im getting a new tent but want to put seam sealer on it just in case. would i go and peel off the seam tape or just apply this sealant over it. and is this method good for the materials of the tent which its made out of Polyester Polyethene?
Leave that tape on there from the factory and put your seam sealer over it, making sure it goes over the edges of the tape where it would begin leaking. If the tent were a few years old, I'd suggest pulling off the tape since it will likely be loosening and falling off by itself anyway and then you could for sure get a good seal on the exposed seams. Yes, this sealer works perfect on your fabric type.
I can't see replies to comments! 😭 I wanted to see if I could apply this to the underside of my outside 10 by 10 canopy. It was a bitch to put on and it would be easier to paint the underside at this point, but would that do the truck? Do I need to find a ladder and do the outside of the canopy?
The consistency is better for seams. Its kind of thick to have it over a large area....it would work, but it wouldn't be nice with this thicker coating over it all...maybe thinning it more would work? I just don't know.
@@maxpatch67 they are saying for larger polyester canvases like this use a ratio of 5:1, mineral spirits to silicone... So it is thinner, I just need an opinion on whether or not I can do this while the canopy is on the frame and do the underside. That's what I'm trying to determine, if I can paint the underside of the canopy and still get waterproofing effects
For waterproof sealing, it is always more effective to seal on the outside, if not both outside and in (cuz sunlight would also impact integrity of the sealer in the long run)
Dang - Odorless? no wonder my tent stinks so bad. haha. I wish I knew you could get odorless mineral spirits. Mine says "Low Odor" hmm..."Odorless Mineral Spirits has the same basic properties as paint thinner. ... Low Odor Paint Thinner contains approximately 6% aromatics, while Odorless Paint Thinner contains less than . 05%. " WOW - I'm totally using ODORLESS next time. My tent stanks. I hope it evaporates. haha. I have another tent on order. Still better than the PVC smell that the tent originally had.
This will probably sound stupid... But can you use builder's water repellent solution (that you use on bricks etc) on the exterior of the tent? Not too sure if it would just slide off when spraying... But I have a tonne of that stuff! Cheers :)
Wow, Mario, I think that is a great question, but I just don't know the answer!! It would be nice to have a cheap tent to experiment with that on!! If you happen to try it and figure it out let me know ok? Have a good day!!
Yes but dilute it 50/50 denatured alcohol mix. Strait it makes the tent more fire hazardous. Diluted the alcohol dissipates! I used to apply it with a spray bottle before the first usage of the season every year!
Ya, you're right, I should have follow up on it. Yes, it works perfectly. Its flexible, long lasting, and water proof. You won't regret making this product.
Instead of brushing would it also work if i were to do a 2 to 1 mix of mineral spirits to silicone to make it thinner and put it in a paint sprayer and just hit the whole tent possibly doing multiple coats to compensate for the thinner mix
You know I have been asked that before and just don't know the answer!! Maybe you should be the one to try it and settle this!! I really have no idea.....but some have also suggested just using a spray bottle, but I really don't know...
My guess is, this will probably kill the breathability of the fabric and create a major condensation problem and make it super hot in warmer weather. It will probably also add a bit of weight to your tent. Proper fabric waterproofing treatments don't seal between the strands of material like the silicon will. This is a great solution for treating seams, but i really think this would be a terrible idea for treating the entire tent or fly.
I'd to a test area and pay close attention to the extreme odor of paint thinner. Maybe see if the odor goes away?? You could try it, but I don't recommend using it myself.
I just did this to my beloved tent (in the UK if people want advice about UK equivalent products). Any feedback on how well it works and how long it lasts?
Thanks, good to hear and thanks for the info I really appreciate it. Saved me quite a bit of money and my tent will be a lot more flexible than if I used the pre made stuff.
White spirit (UK & Ireland) or mineral spirits (US, Canada), also known as mineral turpentine (AU/NZ), turpentine substitute, and petroleum spirits, is a petroleum-derived clear liquid used as a common organic solvent in painting. There are also terms for specific kinds of mineral spirits, including Stoddard solvent and solvent naphtha (petroleum). Mineral spirits are often used as a paint thinner, or as a component thereof, though paint thinner is a broader category of solvent
not really...you don't want to be that sloppy while working on your tent that you are trying to take care of and improve....do neat work and don't use gloves for this
I would think there would be a better method, though, I don't know of which one, but using this method, you'd have kind of a shiny, strange look and feel across all the canvas....this in not bad on seems because it is serving an important function for you, but it wouldn't seem nice across a big surface.
Why not use a syringe and apply it also on the outside seam, soaking into the seam for extra protection? Best to keep the rain repelling on the outside and not going into the seam to find a weak point?
@maxpatch67 Thank you for sharing this! It’s good to know that there are alternative and effective ways like this that is easy and affordable. I just have one question tho, whats a great alternative for mineral spirits? I live in the philippines and every hardware shop I went they dont have mineral spirits.
Here in UK we call the stuff "White Spirit." It is used for thinning oil paint and brush cleaning. In this way it is used as a substitute for much more expensive "turpentine" .... and has the alternative name "turps substitute." Perhaps this extra information will help people find sources of the same thing. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_spirit?wprov=sfla1
@@maxpatch67 i did this yesterday morning im in the uk last night it rained and it didnt leak at all thanks so much it works 👍 smell went within a day
No more than a day or two. I've used paint thinner (which I'm no longer recommending) it's a stinkier lower grade of mineral spirits. It quickly evaporates. Set it in the sun.
Yes. Because it will need to come off and be re-sealed in a few years. Better to use a tent waterproofing spray for that large of a surface area-- something like this can be found at W-Mart, or any camping supply or sporting goods store. www.amazon.com/s?k=Atsko+Silicone+Water-Guard&ref=nb_sb_noss
Hi there, so glad I came across your video. I had just emailed the customer service re my 2 Clam quickset units & waterproofing seams & the covers. I own more then 6 canopy/screen house units & this will hopefully save me $$. Can I use this to waterproof the entire outside cover or only good on seams? I was looking at Atsko silicone spray, thanks
Hi I have been trying this but can't get the silicone to thin out, it just stays in lumps. I'm using clear silicone and odourless paint thinner. Please can someone help
When you first start stirring, did you use the brush to push down on the silicone to start the mixing process? Once you do this it seems like it starts breaking up and mixing together easily, but it does take several minutes....that's why I fast forwarded the video through that process. It definitely helps to smash out the lumps of silicone on the side of the mixing container. Do you think this tip will work for you?
maxpatch67 thank you for replying. I manged to get it to thin out it just takes a bit of time and lots of mixing. It's not all out but it's almost there. I had another question? I painted it onto black fabric material and it's worked but it left the material with white stains all a over. Is there a way of not getting these stains as I'd like to use it on a black hoodie. Thank you.
In my experience the solution created always applies clear and dries clear with no spots or stains....so I'm not sure how to address your question unfortunately. I don't know how that could have happened. It should work great on the inside of your black waterproof hoodie, though. Let me know if you get it figured out.
maxpatch67 do you think it's the silicone? I'm not using 100% silicone, its just some random clear silicone I found at the hardware store. That's a plan I could use it on the inside. I'm gonna try it and see what happens.
Well, that must be it then. It definitely needs to be Clear 100% Silicone. I'm glad you thought of that. There is no way this silicone that stain your fabric. You should have a great jacket afterwards!
I've tried this. The Silicone does not dissolve in mineral spirits. The result changes the silicone into a sticky compound which doesn't dry well. Naptha dissolves the silicone perfectly, leaving you with a thinned out version which can be applied easily. The Naptha then evaporates without changing the chemical makeup of the silicone. Naptha is also "White Gas" or Coleman fuel.
Bruce Stouter Bruce Stouter Interesting...I winder why it didn’t work for you like it was supposed to. Since I wasn’t there I’d say that you just needed to use more mineral spirits, but anyway thanks for suggesting the naphtha.
Just tried this method. Definitely dissolves well. But I can't compare it to mineral spirits as I never tried it. Some buddies rented a tent from an outfitter once and I noticed that the seams were re-sealed likely in the same fashion. Outfitters have a lot of heavy-duty repairs to make. There's no way those little expense tubes you buy at camping stores are any good for anything other than spot treatment. Big thanks to both of you!
Good video. That first seam you paint may have needed to be first wiped down with alcohol to remove any dirt or oils. I've never been able to find mineral spirits, (In California mineral spirits and denatured alcohol has been banned since 2013) So I've just used paint thinner. Paint thinner according to the internet is a less pure stinkier variation of mineral spirits. I've done this dozens of times but now I'm thinking I should find some mineral spirits, your mixing happened a lot faster than the mixing I've been doing. I end up with a soft ball of silicone surrounded by thinner. It still works, the thinner is saturated with silicone leaves a good seal. But you have a much better mix. I used GE 100% silicone caulk I buy in 2.8 oz tubes at Home Depot. Two cups of sealant is, I think, enough for at least ten tents and flies. I also think you are over doing it. After all what leaks? Unless you have a chaffed area, it's only the holes where the threads poke through. That's all that really needs sealing. So on a Y shaped pullout on the upper side of a fly or tent? You can paint all that webbing/grosgrain, work it under the edges... or you can from the inside, simply paint the lines of stitches. Also silicone caulk in a partially used tube or cartridge will quickly dry up. Even immediately sealed back up, in two days there will be a plug blocking the spout. In a few months that entire cartridge will be solid. So whatever you don't use, you won't be able to use. It's why I've always bought the smaller 2.8 oz tubes. (More than enough for a couple of tents and flies.)
And I guess you're deep into owning and using that tent. I'm sure like many of us (me too) when you bought it you really wanted the other tent that cost double because it was 8 ounces lighter.. Seam sealing adds weight. Good video though. A contribution to this process. Thank you.
Im from california and I am so happy you added this !!!
Thanks for this insightful comment. I've pinned it to the top of my comments to others can easily find your ideas here. Have a great day, @WillN2Go1.
Good post Mr.Patch. But be advised folks, it takes a good 10 days for the silicon odor to go away. You have to have a dry place for the tent to stay pitched and air out. That said this mixture worked much better than any commercial fabric seal I ever used.
Thanks for the tip!!
I do this to every tarp & tent I buy. If you thin it down even more to the consistencty of milk and put it in a hand spray you can do the whole tent in what is a very effective waterproofing spray.
Fantastic! Thanks for the tip!
What ratio ?
I wish I had see n this years ago. I threw out a favorite rain jacket because the silicone lining was all peeled up and awful. great work man!
About the silicone caulk, is that a silicone sealant?
In waterproofing my own tarps and tents I have found that a ratio of 1 part silicone to 5 parts mineral spirits works well. You don't need a heavy application to make something waterproof.
Cool. Thanks, man!
I am not able to find mineral spirit can I use some other solvent?
@@muskandahiya7667 low odor white spirits. USA called mineral spirits, uk and many other parts of the world call it white spirits :)
There is no mineral Spirit in mi country, any other solvent for doing this? Mi tent is poliurethane
@@gonzarb93 what country?
I love the smell of silicone in the morning, and it works great.
What did the Wife say about using her Measuring cup ???
Ron schreiber hahaha...I bought one at dollar tree for $1
great video too Great job .
@@maxpatch67 probably saved your marriage doing that.
Try in laundrymat. Lol
😂👍
I mixed up a batch of silicone caulking and naphtha a couple of days ago. Half a peanut butter jar was enough to seal all seams on a 4 person Eureka Timberline tent that had peeling seam tape. I pulled off all the tape and used a 1” brush to apply the mixture. I had set up the tent with the fly inverted. The inner tent also had taped seams around the floor and doors. It only took about half an hour to do the whole thing. I then spread out a Mountain Hardware 14’ rain fly and did those seams. Easy. There was still enough mixture to do another tent if I had wanted to. Two days later and everything is dry enough to fold up.
Glad to hear this! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!
Will this work on peoples mouths? There is a very chatty person I know.
Ya probably. :)
No it won't work on a wife... 😉
ps2 fugo duct tape. Full wrap around the head. Make sure to get the hair!
Seam tape is the flaky devil
At the time of this reading, this post is 6 years old. It’s some of the best instructions I’ve seen on TH-cam on how to reseal/waterproof a tent. So easy to follow a 6 year old or 86 year old could understand, without some overbearing personality demanding attention…
Hey, thanks. I'm a middle school teacher also, so that might explain things. :) Thank you for the comment and have a great day, Joseph.
What exactly is the Mineral Spirit thingy? I have never seen it in Europe. What should I use as an alternative?
Here in the US we call it mineral spirit, it's also known as white spirit, mineral turpentine, turpentine substitute, and petroleum spirits depending where you live at.
Turpes turpentine thats why im asking about the smell how long it lasts ?
Was that a silnylon tent or a urethane waterproofed tent?
urethane
A local home store paint dept will have small 1/2"-1" disposable brushes. Otherwise the plumbing dept will have small brushes near the plumbing solder. There's also the crafting departments. The brush used here was way to big.
good ideas! thanks!
Great job thanks I’m doing this, I get lots of stuff via Amazon etc
Omg thank you!! The seam tape was peeling off and the thought of having to replace my Ozark trail 11 person tent with the private room made me so sad because I can’t find another one like it. You’re a lifesaver!! ❤
yes!!! thanks for your comment!!
Will it be flexible when dry?
Yes, for sure.
My brother, 53 years old, without permission, used my Coleman 8 pop up tent. problem is that he left the tent soaked to rot in its bag for months. the tent was used just 4 times, I bought it in 2017. Unfortunately, the tent was molded and all the tapes turned rotten yellow. I want to thank you for your video since the gadgets that were being sold only for a tent that is 14' by 10' would cost an arm and a leg! This concussion that you shared is perfect, I lead to get the ingredients but I still have 3 weeks before my hunting trip. Not sure how long it will take but my guess is 4 hours of work for sure. I guess bro will have to find the time and fix the seams. Thanks for sharing!! this is a $$ saver :-)
You're welcome, Joe. What are your plans for mold then? Walmart has good mold and mildew remover spray bottle that is usually used in showers. I wonder how that would work if you sprayed that on there and let it sit for several minutes before spraying it off with a hose. This would be a good fix before sealing the seams maybe.
Do you know how long this method lasts? Should it be re-applied every year?
It should last several years.
oke thanks for video , good info ....
Hi, i've seen some videos AND most people clean the product after aplying it, but you dont. Is it better to let it dry this way?
I'm not sure what there is to clean after application so I don't think there is a reason for it. So what were they cleaning?
Anyone compared this to Mcnett's urethane seam sealer (which is very good stuff, but not cheap, and once a tube is opened you have to use it in a few months, even if kept in the freezer).
Does this chemical combination work for any tent material? Nylon, for example. Thanks
That's a good question and I wish I knew the answer but I don't....sorry.
Thanks just purchased a 12x20 Alaknak that needs this done. Saved me some $$
Wow that sure beats having to use your finger to spread silicone sealant all along the seam. Great video!
Hello, can you show how it´s looks the seam seal when is dry? I love your video, thanks
You end up with a slightly glossy coating that looks like a thin clear rubber. It works very well indeed.
@@AndysEastCoastAdventures shouldn't the whole thing be water proofed not just the seems?
@@TheDcrocks1 The fabric on tents is normally waterproof from new to different levels depending on the tent & budget but where it's joined & sewn they can leak a little. Even the expensive ones. The seam sealer stops this. I seam seal all new tents & tarps just to be sure. Better that than find a leak.
On your video you remove the old seam seals. Why not just stick the old seals back down again. I appreciate the strength is in the stitching, but would the combination with the old seam seal make a tougher repair.
Yes, I would say that if you figure out a good method of using the old tape again that, yes, it would be even better. Using the technique that I am, it would be a sloppy mess and not improve it at all. Those seams were taped in a factory. Just pushing the tape back into the sealer is not really practical considering the floppiness of everything. Do you have an idea of what process one could use to apply that tape again?
@@maxpatch67 There is no need to do that. The tape was originally applied using a heat press (or roller) and its thermal glue has already been used and will not stick very well if re-used. Furthermore, it is not necessary if you apply enough of your silicone mixture to get into all of the seem holes. I would apply it to both sides. ALSO (and this is something that I have done), if you add just a thimble-full of water to your mixture it will speed the curing time. SIlicone thermally reacts with water, but use only a little.
My experience sealing over old tape is the tape has already started to deteriorate and should be removed. The sealant will saturate the seams and waterproof them quite well. In the places I tried to leave the tape in place it often shrunk and flaked up in the sealant. I ended up just pulling it all off and had a much better finished product.
Would this method work with a tent made of polyester ?
I'm not sure how it works on specific fabrics...sorry.
As a residential interior painter watching U use the brush 2 mix the solution made me CRINGE...
Use mom's wisk or egg beater. 🙃 .
how long will it hold up if you tent camp regularly?
It's hard to say, Russel. There are som many variables. You might try it out and see how you like it before you do all that you are thinking of. I think its long lasting like regular seamsealer.
Stupid question lol... but can i waterproof the fabric of my tent or tarp with this or will it ruin it?
When this dries up after a few hours, the surface remains a little tacky feeling forever, so you would not like it covering the entire fabric surface. It would work, but you would hate it. Great question and thanks for asking.
@@maxpatch67 thank you very much for answering. Have a great day
my pleasure, child of yahuah :)
Pretty neat, but damn, have you ever heard of a mixing stick? Lol
Does the seal get sticky when the fly is in the sun?
ya, it might...I've noticed a slightly tacky feeling to it somethimes
Just Dont go to all this Work If your tent material is already cheap crap. Buy a quality tent. Then consider this lol
can i use paint thinner as substitute of mineral spirit?thanks
You know I’m not sure on that. I do know they are very similar, but I have not tried it. I wonder how long the smell would be super strong.
No i tried a no odour first it doesn't work you need to use the real mineral spirts ( turps ) i did mine yesterday the smell when very fast as it evaporated. I used anti mould translucent silicone it doesn't smell of vinegar.
Do you think this method is suitable for rain jacket and not allergy to skin when dry?
No, I would not use this on a jacket. This mixture is too thick to create a good surface over large areas of clothing. You could certainly do your seams if you wanted, though. Just use a smaller brush. You could even mix it with more water to make the sealer less thick on the seams.
can you use regular thinner instead of mineral spirit for this??
I think you can, but I'm pretty sure the smell is way too strong and doesn't go away that well over time....so I would not recommend it.
@@maxpatch67 i see...
thanx for your reply!👌✌️
@@maxpatch67 i wonder if denatured alcohol works too??
Great! Might be good on boots too!
do the seams become stiff or rigid???
The seams are still very flexible, but you can see that the seam has sealer on it. Its clear, but has slightly different appearance. Basically, the mineral spirits thin out the silicone very thin so its brushable, so what you see on the seams area thin, flexible waterproof layer.
Once I apply the sealant, how long does it take to dry? Thanks.
It should be a few hours. Humidity makes a big difference along with how thick you apply it.
I used this tutorial to rehab an old tent and it worked really well. But I do have to add, even though it only took about 5 hrs for the solution to dry, it took about 10 days for the silicon odor to go away where the tent was really back to new. Not a problem with a covered area but maybe a problem in an apartment where you can’t spread it out.
hm...why wouldn't you leave the tape in place and simply augment it with your solution, for double protection? Is the tape incompatible with the silicone? Thanks
The tape is very loose and leaving it there creates more of a problem because if I left it there, the tape would allow moisture in along the seam and then trap it under the tape, creating problems. A better choice is to remove the tape and expose the seam so the solution can keep the water completely out.
@@maxpatch67 Gotcha. Thanks!
I've used this concoction on all of my hammock tarps with good success.
Did you use it on the whole tarp or just for the seams?
@@ChildOfYAHUAH777 only on seams. If you make your tarp out of still nylon it should be waterproof already. If you're making it on a ripstop nylon untreated then you will want to spray it with Scotchgard or war other similar product.
@@jpturner73 thank you so much for your response, may GOD be with you.
What is the uk version of odourless mineral spirits called,any idea it isn't methylated spirit is it ? That's pretty smelly
jim malley I think they call it white spirit around your parts, Solvent Naptha; hope that helps.
I used low odour white spirit. Still smells but only a quarter as much and is fine
White spirit but the smell is gone after it dries anyways.
Do you seal the seams from inside or outside? Does it matter?
yes it does matter....seal the inside
I just did it and seem to take long time to dry. After almost 48h feel always sticky
The humidity level makes a huge difference....maybe run a fan on it??
So, what do the mineral spirits do?
They are a medium to thin out the silicone so it's not o thick. The mineral spirits quickly dry up/evaporate and you are left with a thin coating of silicone that does the sealing.
They don't just thin the silicone, they permeate the woven fabric and bring the silicone with it.
@@richcombs4805 Do you know if you can use silicone this way to not seal a tent but attach tent tarp or tent nylon sheets together to make a bigger size tarp? I cant stich or sew.. just curious
@@JediStockTrader no it isn't an adhesive
@@richcombs4805 I was able to piece material together using the silicone.. works fine
Make sure you don't get it on the zipper teeth.
George, I've been careful about this just as a precaution, but what happens if you do??
would this work on tarps like for covering the whole tarp
Shawn, it would not be have a pleasing feel to it. Technically, it would work, but you wouldn't like how it would be kind of thick and heavy.
i know this video is a year old but hopefully i get a reply back. im getting a new tent but want to put seam sealer on it just in case. would i go and peel off the seam tape or just apply this sealant over it. and is this method good for the materials of the tent which its made out of Polyester Polyethene?
Leave that tape on there from the factory and put your seam sealer over it, making sure it goes over the edges of the tape where it would begin leaking. If the tent were a few years old, I'd suggest pulling off the tape since it will likely be loosening and falling off by itself anyway and then you could for sure get a good seal on the exposed seams. Yes, this sealer works perfect on your fabric type.
@@maxpatch67 thanks you are awesome
I can't see replies to comments! 😭 I wanted to see if I could apply this to the underside of my outside 10 by 10 canopy. It was a bitch to put on and it would be easier to paint the underside at this point, but would that do the truck? Do I need to find a ladder and do the outside of the canopy?
The consistency is better for seams. Its kind of thick to have it over a large area....it would work, but it wouldn't be nice with this thicker coating over it all...maybe thinning it more would work? I just don't know.
@@maxpatch67 they are saying for larger polyester canvases like this use a ratio of 5:1, mineral spirits to silicone... So it is thinner, I just need an opinion on whether or not I can do this while the canopy is on the frame and do the underside. That's what I'm trying to determine, if I can paint the underside of the canopy and still get waterproofing effects
For waterproof sealing, it is always more effective to seal on the outside, if not both outside and in (cuz sunlight would also impact integrity of the sealer in the long run)
Is any silicone good for this? Like silicone for aquarium glass.
I've never used that kind and don't know if its any different or not......
The red one he’s using is 100% pure silicone. Some of the other ones have things in. It
Can't find the Klean Strip odorless mineral spirit. Can anyone recommend me a substitute (brand) for odorless mineral and for silicone sealant? Thanks
If you want to, you can use the Amazon links I have below the video in the video description....
Dang - Odorless? no wonder my tent stinks so bad. haha. I wish I knew you could get odorless mineral spirits. Mine says "Low Odor" hmm..."Odorless Mineral Spirits has the same basic properties as paint thinner. ... Low Odor Paint Thinner contains approximately 6% aromatics, while Odorless Paint Thinner contains less than . 05%. " WOW - I'm totally using ODORLESS next time. My tent stanks. I hope it evaporates. haha. I have another tent on order. Still better than the PVC smell that the tent originally had.
You can also use white gas, or camp fuel, like Coleman fuel.
how long to dry?
that is so variable...how thick you apply it, temperature, humidity, air movement and all...
Can i use turpentine
It's super smelly...I don't know if the smell would ever go away...
This will probably sound stupid... But can you use builder's water repellent solution (that you use on bricks etc) on the exterior of the tent? Not too sure if it would just slide off when spraying... But I have a tonne of that stuff! Cheers :)
Wow, Mario, I think that is a great question, but I just don't know the answer!! It would be nice to have a cheap tent to experiment with that on!! If you happen to try it and figure it out let me know ok? Have a good day!!
Yes but dilute it 50/50 denatured alcohol mix. Strait it makes the tent more fire hazardous. Diluted the alcohol dissipates! I used to apply it with a spray bottle before the first usage of the season every year!
are you sure this works? better do some videos afterwards to see if it realy works
Ya, you're right, I should have follow up on it. Yes, it works perfectly. Its flexible, long lasting, and water proof. You won't regret making this product.
is mineral spirits the same has white spirit
yes, use low odour. Use a weaker mix to create a general waterproof for all fabrics
wonder if that would work with leather
ya good question...i dunno
Instead of brushing would it also work if i were to do a 2 to 1 mix of mineral spirits to silicone to make it thinner and put it in a paint sprayer and just hit the whole tent possibly doing multiple coats to compensate for the thinner mix
You know I have been asked that before and just don't know the answer!! Maybe you should be the one to try it and settle this!! I really have no idea.....but some have also suggested just using a spray bottle, but I really don't know...
My guess is, this will probably kill the breathability of the fabric and create a major condensation problem and make it super hot in warmer weather. It will probably also add a bit of weight to your tent. Proper fabric waterproofing treatments don't seal between the strands of material like the silicon will. This is a great solution for treating seams, but i really think this would be a terrible idea for treating the entire tent or fly.
hi can i use paint thinner instead of miniral spirit?
I'd to a test area and pay close attention to the extreme odor of paint thinner. Maybe see if the odor goes away?? You could try it, but I don't recommend using it myself.
@@maxpatch67 hmm. how about denatured alcohol? its the only thing i can get close to odorless spirit.
I really don't know....better look it up and research it.....
Can I use thinner instead white mineral?
I can't say for sure, but I think you can. I don't think you would like the smell and I'm not sure how long it would take for the stink to go away..
I just did this to my beloved tent (in the UK if people want advice about UK equivalent products). Any feedback on how well it works and how long it lasts?
It works perfectly and will last many years.
Thanks, good to hear and thanks for the info I really appreciate it. Saved me quite a bit of money and my tent will be a lot more flexible than if I used the pre made stuff.
hi, please can you advise me on what uk equivalent products you sued and how you found it worked. thanks
What is mineral spirit?
White spirit (UK & Ireland) or mineral spirits (US, Canada), also known as mineral turpentine (AU/NZ), turpentine substitute, and petroleum spirits, is a petroleum-derived clear liquid used as a common organic solvent in painting. There are also terms for specific kinds of mineral spirits, including Stoddard solvent and solvent naphtha (petroleum). Mineral spirits are often used as a paint thinner, or as a component thereof, though paint thinner is a broader category of solvent
@@maxpatch67 well explained, thanks mate, truly appreciate
Would you recommend wearing gloves?
To be safe
Yes
not really...you don't want to be that sloppy while working on your tent that you are trying to take care of and improve....do neat work and don't use gloves for this
Does this method work on canvas? I have a camper trailer that needs the seams to be redone.
I would think there would be a better method, though, I don't know of which one, but using this method, you'd have kind of a shiny, strange look and feel across all the canvas....this in not bad on seems because it is serving an important function for you, but it wouldn't seem nice across a big surface.
Yes as long as the canvas is clean and dry when you apply!
@Matthew Hodges - did you try this method on your canvas tent seams? Did it work? If so did you seal the inside or outside? Cheers
Can i replace mineral spirits with paint thinner?
Julius Michael Honrada Good question but I don’t know that answer.
yes
if greasing all parts of the tent. is it okay?
this is best used only on the seams. It has a little texture and thickness to it and it would not be nice over large areas.
whether when the liquid is used in all parts of the tent. does it damage the tent?
if for the base of the tent can you?
@@maxpatch67 means making the tent stiff after using the media?
I only seen you use this on the inside of the tent and the underside of the rain fly did you use it on the outside of the tent also just curious
Nope, the best application method is applying just on the inside/underside of the fabrics.
maxpatch67 Thanks Max that's what I'll do by the way great video thanks for all your information
I do the same to all exterior seams on all my tents & tarps.
Why not use a syringe and apply it also on the outside seam, soaking into the seam for extra protection? Best to keep the rain repelling on the outside and not going into the seam to find a weak point?
@maxpatch67 Thank you for sharing this! It’s good to know that there are alternative and effective ways like this that is easy and affordable. I just have one question tho, whats a great alternative for mineral spirits? I live in the philippines and every hardware shop I went they dont have mineral spirits.
Joseph Escobar I’m sorry I don’t know of any alternative. There might be one.
You could try rubbing alcohol (IPA, Isopropol alcohol)
What exactly is mineral Spirit? The name of the solvent? There is not mineral Spirit in mi country. Thanks
Any paint thinner will work. Or Xylene also a chemical used in "paint thinner"
Here in UK we call the stuff "White Spirit." It is used for thinning oil paint and brush cleaning. In this way it is used as a substitute for much more expensive "turpentine" .... and has the alternative name "turps substitute."
Perhaps this extra information will help people find sources of the same thing.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_spirit?wprov=sfla1
Would you like to use white spirit instead of Odorless Mineral Spirits?THQ
Man, I don't even know anything about that proiduct. Do you think it would work?
No it doesnt i tried it needs the proper stuff
I couldn't be arsed. Just buy a new tent
Waste not
want not 😎
more like,
your a dumb ass!
How long does the smell take to go after painting,?
It really depends on humidity levels and other conditions so it really varies.
@@maxpatch67 i did this yesterday morning im in the uk last night it rained and it didnt leak at all thanks so much it works 👍 smell went within a day
No more than a day or two. I've used paint thinner (which I'm no longer recommending) it's a stinkier lower grade of mineral spirits. It quickly evaporates. Set it in the sun.
Great video. Can you think of a reason not to brush the mixture on the rain flap completely to create a very solid seal?
Yes. Because it will need to come off and be re-sealed in a few years. Better to use a tent waterproofing spray for that large of a surface area-- something like this can be found at W-Mart, or any camping supply or sporting goods store. www.amazon.com/s?k=Atsko+Silicone+Water-Guard&ref=nb_sb_noss
can i use it in my outdoor curtains ?
It meant to be used on the seams only, but yes that would work! For the rest of the curtain, you would need to use a can of spray bought at the store.
I am not able to find this odourless mineral spirit, do you know about some other solvent which will give me the same result?
Maybe this link will work for you to easily get some: www.walmart.com/ip/Klean-Strip-Odorless-Mineral-Spirits-1-gal/17208810
Hi there, so glad I came across your video. I had just emailed the customer service re my 2 Clam quickset units & waterproofing seams & the covers. I own more then 6 canopy/screen house units & this will hopefully save me $$. Can I use this to waterproof the entire outside cover or only good on seams? I was looking at Atsko silicone spray, thanks
No, you wouldn't want to do the whole outside cover. The coating would not be nice over a big area, but for seams it is perfect.
@@maxpatch67 thanks for the advice
Hi I have been trying this but can't get the silicone to thin out, it just stays in lumps. I'm using clear silicone and odourless paint thinner. Please can someone help
When you first start stirring, did you use the brush to push down on the silicone to start the mixing process? Once you do this it seems like it starts breaking up and mixing together easily, but it does take several minutes....that's why I fast forwarded the video through that process. It definitely helps to smash out the lumps of silicone on the side of the mixing container. Do you think this tip will work for you?
maxpatch67 thank you for replying. I manged to get it to thin out it just takes a bit of time and lots of mixing. It's not all out but it's almost there. I had another question? I painted it onto black fabric material and it's worked but it left the material with white stains all a over. Is there a way of not getting these stains as I'd like to use it on a black hoodie. Thank you.
In my experience the solution created always applies clear and dries clear with no spots or stains....so I'm not sure how to address your question unfortunately. I don't know how that could have happened. It should work great on the inside of your black waterproof hoodie, though. Let me know if you get it figured out.
maxpatch67 do you think it's the silicone? I'm not using 100% silicone, its just some random clear silicone I found at the hardware store. That's a plan I could use it on the inside. I'm gonna try it and see what happens.
Well, that must be it then. It definitely needs to be Clear 100% Silicone. I'm glad you thought of that. There is no way this silicone that stain your fabric. You should have a great jacket afterwards!
I've tried this. The Silicone does not dissolve in mineral spirits. The result changes the silicone into a sticky compound which doesn't dry well. Naptha dissolves the silicone perfectly, leaving you with a thinned out version which can be applied easily. The Naptha then evaporates without changing the chemical makeup of the silicone. Naptha is also "White Gas" or Coleman fuel.
Bruce Stouter Bruce Stouter Interesting...I winder why it didn’t work for you like it was supposed to. Since I wasn’t there I’d say that you just needed to use more mineral spirits, but anyway thanks for suggesting the naphtha.
Just tried this method. Definitely dissolves well. But I can't compare it to mineral spirits as I never tried it. Some buddies rented a tent from an outfitter once and I noticed that the seams were re-sealed likely in the same fashion. Outfitters have a lot of heavy-duty repairs to make. There's no way those little expense tubes you buy at camping stores are any good for anything other than spot treatment. Big thanks to both of you!
Thanks for show this awesome way to seal seams.
My pleasure....thanks for the comment, Tiddybearkush!!