Recycled Bedsheets Make The Best Waterproof Tarps
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 22 май 2024
- In this video I show an easy way to make your own silicone waterproofing and use it to make fabric tarps. Check out my sponsor, MEL Science, and use the code "nighthawk" for 60% off: melscience.com/sBDy/
I thought to try making my own waterproofing with naptha after watching this excellent video about making deep pour silicone mold material: • DIY POURABLE SILICONE ...
In case there's any concern about the environmental effects of evaporated naptha, from the sources I could find it has a very short half life in the atmosphere and is not of significant concern: webwiser.nlm.nih.gov/substanc...
Big thanks to everyone that supports this channel on Patreon! A special thanks to my top patrons: Teague Lasser, Carl Katzenburger, Dan L, Eugene Pakhomov, Jon Hartmann, and those who have chosen to remain anonymous. Thank you!
/ nighthawkprojects
From now-on, when I need to learn something, I want this guy to do the teaching. No intro, no fluff, just the important stuff with clear delivery.
Exactly, ya don't need the fancy stuff when you are informing people.
@@ThePersonToBlame Better still, he does not sensationalize, just talk to me. I do not need anyone jumping in my face and shouting smiles/appeal. Contrary to popular belief, it is quite unappealing. It is like a fractious dog.
@@josephdonais4778 fractious dog...lol
and alsoa perfect english easyer to understand
Yes!👍👍
No added unnecessary duration, straight to the point, this is legit gold
there was a whole fucking minute of intro and this video could be condensed in half the time
@@neilsullada385 Ah, yes, as if knowing what is actually happening is not important.
I love going into a lesson and learning _absolutely nothing._
You must've had a great time in school! You really fit _perfectly_ into the niche factory worker they crafted you into!
And maybe you should try being a tad more eloquent, learning punctuation and proper capitalization, as well as just being a happier person over-all.
Trust me, it's better than whatever self-inflicted 'scorched-earth policy' misery you've put yourself in.
@@neilsullada385 You saying shorts are better content? xd
I have 9 horses and live in a cold, wet area. The horses' blankets stop being waterproof quickly, and are horribly expensive to replace. This is a game changer for anyone with horses!
Thank you for this video!😊
Don't let your horses smoke cigarettes.
If you use solvents for water proofing it will not be good for the horses though..
But its OK for humans?@@brendaann727
Because horses love caustic chemicals on a sheet applied direct to their skin. If you have 9 horses to feed and you’re upset about the cost of upkeep I shouldn’t have to point out the problem in the situation.
Hay is for horses
This is a pretty cool idea.
Just an FYI if anyone is curious and doesn't have the time or space for a project like this. They make commercial shower curtains that are super tough, durable, flexible, and most importantly waterproof. It's like a canvas material. They might be a suitable replacement for a sheet dipped in silicone if that's what you need.
I've had them outside, in direct sunlight abiut 6 hours per day for years and they are still soft and flexible.
The problem is that they are not large enough. But thank you for that idea. Had not thought of it.
Thank you, great info there. 😮👍
Saw them together. It’s what I am going to do now. I will saw two or even more bed sheets together. :)
Wonderful! I hope it will work on my old tent❤
this is a great idea!
Came for the tarps, stayed for the button technology.
The button is very cool, I couldn't find anyone else who knows this. Does it have a special name?
@@adamkallaev3573 I've been using this for years on tarps that don't have enough tie-out points. It works great!
Penguin mode!!!
@@adamkallaev3573 old boy scout or prepper tech
I am inspired by this video to make items a homeless person can use for camping out in mild weather. I like the button method too. This makes sense for a tarp or tent or personal item poncho. Cover and protect plants from frost!
This is gold! I just made a sailboat sail out of a bedsheet using this method. Please, don't ever take this video down
@@isvaraov No. I guess you missed the point but thanks for the suggestion, Captain Obvious.
@@deltafour1212 "4K Video Downloader" haha. I keep stuff offline. Have a nice day Mr. Serious !!!
Re-watched on suggested vids, have a nice day.
@@stewartmcdonald4121 I was right, you did miss my point. Thank you Captain Obvious and sharing your "worldly wisdom" Have a great day.
Im planning on waterproofing my bedsheet sail with this technique. Do you recommend sewing the rope in the edges before or after waterproofing it?
@@Sawer It really doesn't matter. If it was me, I'd do it without the rope.
A pouring tip:
Orient the can with the spout on the high side when pouring.
Not the low side he is doing.
It keeps the gurgling to a minimum.
You're a gentleman and a scholar
Ah yes, the milk carton hack
BTW once the container is empty enough, the opposite might apply
That's a good tip. I've used it for years and it feels counter intuitive but it works way better!
Use this technique when adding motor oil from the 5 qt bottle and odd shaped 1qt bottles to your car/truck also.
And I thought I was the only one that knew this.
This has gotta be one of the most *OBJECTIVELY USEFUL* tricks I’ve ever learned on RUclips… like holy shit. You mean to tell me I don’t have to pack an awkward, inflexible, heavy ass tarp to take a completely waterproof cover with me when I go backpacking??? And this technology’s been available the WHOLE TIME I’VE BEEN FUCKING ALIVE?!
Have you tested it? I just watched this and got inspired to try to replace my tarp for backpacking as well, was wondering if anyone else tried that application
I too am curious about it's longevity and durability. Whether or not the waterproofing wears off or can get abraded away by being scuffed or worn much. Or if this treatment adds much weight to it.
they make extremely light way silicone impregnated nylon tarps for like 50 bucks
This is just as heavy as a tarp if not more.
@@hyperboreanforeskinAnd those tear very easilt
I used this compound and a brush years ago to waterproof a wide brimmed had so I could use it to hunt in rainy weather. Worked great and is still waterproof over 20 years later.
A great idea!
can you put this stuff in a sprayer and spray it on?
@@silence-humility-calmness YES, but you would have to clean the sprayer out very well with fresh solvent or it would be a one time use sprayer.....also the internal parts of the sprayer may dissolve with the solvent so you may need a couple different sprayers to try.
I'm planning to use it on edges of a diaper. This diaper will be used 300 times. Do you think it will sustain the wash cycles?
Great
Idea
"Just like that I have a waterproof cloak." This is the fashion advice we need. You can never have too many capes and cloaks.
I need a waterproof cloak infused with intelligence any ideas?
this is freaking awesome. Not only did you explain what you did you showed us exactly what to use and showed us how to do it. With all the fake sh*t on RUclips this video should be given an award for being the most realist informative RUclips videos out there. People should get monetized for how real information is not by the amount of views and likes.
RUclips should receive the Nobel prize.
Ah, what a wonderful world that would create!!!
Wow, you mean he made a basic tutorial???? Absolutely INCREDIBLE!!!!!
@@SnailHatan YES, which is what I'm praising. Simple honest basic tutorial that is being done to share the information, it's not motivated by seeking likes.
is it Hail Satan, or Hell Satan.
I like Hell Satan, because I Hail nothing and nobody that I cannot see.
I saved this video last year and I've just been waiting for the opportunity to try it. We really needed this because we wanted to leave our snow blower on the driveway rather than having to drag it uphill in the snow when we needed it, but, as he says, the cheap tarps you get in stores just disintegrate. So, how did it go?
First, I totally underestimated how easily the silicone would come out. It's one thing when you're squeezing out a little to seal something, but emptying the whole tube requires serious work. My hands are still sore from when I did it last weekend.
Second, I just had a heck of a time distributing the liquid easily over the sheet. All the liquid goes to the bottom, and once it was absorbed by the sheet, it was hard to get a sufficient amount on the rest. I did use his trick of wringing in the dry spots with a wetter spot and that seemed to work, but it was also hard to tell where the dry spots were. It isn't just the completely dry spots, either, but the places that got wet but not saturated.
We just tested it on a small part and I think it worked okay. The water definitely stayed on one side of the sheet and didn't leak at all -- as long as we were on a good spot of the tarp. The back side did feel a little damp when we were done. On the whole, I'm happy with the result and I'm planning on using it. I really want to come up with a better way of soaking the sheet adequately the next time, though. I think ideally I would buy a respirator so I could just squish the sheet around in an open vat, because then I could really see what I was doing and make sure all parts were getting plenty wet.
This is an awesome idea and absolutely fills a need cheaply and relatively easily. As with anything, there are some difficulties that aren't obvious from the video, but this is a trick that really works.
I would be pre washing a new sheet, would be necessary bc of the manufacturing chemicals used to make them crisp and perfect looking for sale, like towels are coated in crap and basically non absorbent until after a few washes.
Anyway, new or old sheeting, I think using a wetted- dried to damp then soaked in the solution would work great to help coat more evenly as the fibers are evenly pre moistened and will evaporate with the Naptha.
I wish every video on RUclips would be like this one. Excellent!! From beginning to the point, clear, concise explanation + “button” bonus. Thank you.
Came for the knowledge stayed for penguin mode
You don't need a pebble. If you tie a simple knot on the end of the rope you can use that as the "pebble" and then just slip knot around it. Been using it in the field for years. You'd be surprised how often a good stone is elusive
This comment should be up there with the 10,000 likes
Really? Here we grow rocks.
@@dogscratchedoor same here in Wisconsin. The farmer's first crop every spring and it's always the kid's job to go pick them out of fields.
@@dogscratchedoor I have a little rock farm on my window sill, right next to the basil
I would imagine a coin about the width of your thumb would also work also, if you happen to have some change in your pocket.
Dude legit. I came here for the waterproof sheet, but im taking this button knowledge with me for the rest of my life. Im absolutely blown away that i never knew how to do that and now im going to start using it all the time
Penguin Mode🐧
I still remember binge watching your channel during lockdown after the woodgas and firework videos popped up on my home page again. With life getting more complicated by the day, I had forgotten how much I enjoy your work. It feels like I’m watching science Bob Ross, always something new to learn; and I get to stand on the shoulders of giants so to speak. Since you always seem to include the things that *didn’t* work- I’m not starting from scratch.
And I learned that Mel Science existed from one of the other videos of yours I’ve watched today. My girlfriend and I are excited to try a couple of their kits.
You’re an inspiration mate, may enthalpy always be in your favor.
For the buttons, I use little pebbles that come from a river. Pick the ones that are perfectly smooth and as round as possible. These won’t damage your tarp. In a pinch you could also use glass marbles.
How about small Cork balls? Do you think they are durable enough? They are lightweight and definetly wont harm the fabric.
@@SkepticalCaveman That's a great idea. These are much lighter than pebbles and possibly last a fairly long time.
A couple of caveats though: if you lose one or it gets damaged, you won't be able to replace it for another cork ball in the field.
Also, they are very light and sometimes the weight of a couple of pebbles can be useful to weigh down something as well: multifunctional.
If you're backpacking that extra weight isn't worth it. Go for actual buttons instead; if you can find thick, sturdy buttons, they weigh next to nothing but surely will get the job done.
Come to think of it, you could also whittle little rounded 'pebbles' from wood. Easily replaced when lost and light as well. And it gives you something to do when sitting at the campfire.
You can even use coins, or, in a pinch... buttons.....
A dice also?
Marbles...
**ProTip:** When pouring from a spouted can, turn the can so the spout is on top; there is much less splashing because the air can get it more easily.
Last spring, I used naptha and silicon like you demonstrate here and brushed it on my convertible car's fabric roof - amazing! Not only did my roof stop leaking in the rain, whenever it snowed this winter, I never had issues with the snow melting and seeping through my car's roof! A new roof would have cost me $360; the current one is 6 years old but other than seeping/leaking, it's in great shape, hated idea of paying to replace it. A quart can of naphtha and a single tube of cheapest silicon cost me $11 total last spring, and I spent around an hour, maybe bit more, mixing it up and brushing it all over my car's roof. I did, however, have to throw the brush I used away as I forgot to clean it lol
Thanks for sharing your experience!
@@Nighthawkinlight You're welcome, and thanks so much for sharing how to do it!!
I saw this technique last year on skill tree. I used this technique to make a rain jacket for myself. It's not something fancy basically just a layer of fabric to shed the water. So i first sew the jacket without a zipper or buttons. I then soaked it in the solution and let it hang outside for about 2 days - mostly because i forgot it.
It was dry afterwardsso i put in the zipper and buttons and till now it really served me well.
I had to adjust my breastpockets. Because when it reains heavily the water would collect in there and i didn't really have a way to realease that water.
And what you can tell about the breathability? I would like to waterproof my canvas anorak but I would like to know how bad will affect the breathability. Thanks!
@@schiaucugabriel6202 with this method there is zero breathability. it becomes a solid waterproof membrane. so, it will keep the rain off you, but you will still end up soaked by your own sweat! lol.
i would love to see a durability update on this in a few months. great ideas as usual. keep up the good work.
Ditto
Comes with a 20 year warranty. :)
Same here
If it's silicone it should be far more durable than a professional paint job on a car.
The example at the start had wetting and he never showned an example from the sheet he created even though he had a still from the shot on the thumbnail. Truth is it doesn't work well even from fresh treatment. I know this because i tried before and the results shown here look suspect when you know what to look for.
I have successfully replicated this tutorial using mineral turpentine instead of naphtha, which is not sold locally in my country.
It took a little longer, 36-48 hours to fully dry. The material I used was 100% cottons and extremely thin fabric. You could see straight through the fabric in good lighting, so probably a 60-120 thread count, but the water repellant quality is still there even using a single layer. The tarp is unbelievable light weight and compact.
Do you think gasoline would work? It's usually my go to instead of spending 5-10x as much on naphtha.
@@bullschitt3666 No, I don't think it would be a good choice, but I'm not completely sure about it.
I'm in the UK - what would anyone recommend as a good alternative to naphtha? I want to waterproof some cycling gear. Thanks for any information. 👍
@@marknorman8588 Like I mentioned, mineral turpentine/mineral spirits works fine, but needs to dry for a little longer.
The smell goes away I presume when dried?
I was thinking about this myself after noticing the silicone I wiped on my work pants made a nice waterproof area, knowing that you can dissolve the silicone in naphtha makes the concept way more viable!
Great observation! Thanks
This sounds like a great way to make designer shower curtains. And I love the button!
I like the way you think!!!
And table cloths!
I want to make my pants waterproof
@@user-sg2yt6nc1z just get a diaper
@@user-tr2dh4xx6u cant wear diaper doing my security job lol
Very well presented and explained. Most refreshing to listen to and NO hideous music nor attitude nor posturing. Brilliant.
common resources + clarity + need = solutions that can be used by anyone. Fantastic show.
This from a woman's point of view was straight to the point and a excellent video! Now I can repurpose old sheets into several projects. Thank you very much!!!♥️🙏🇺🇲💯👍
The thrift store has sheets ,curtains
and clothes if you are doing outdoor
furniture upholstery.
I don't know how you always manage to knock it out of the park with your ideas, but you do.
update: I combined this with your can stove project to make a CAMPING SAUNA. My life is complete.
Make a video!
I need a sauna in my life right now
Regarding the button technology, my grandfather used to use pennies, as they had a uniform shape and were plentiful (for the time). Interestingly, I remember him showing me when we were bird hunting and a button came off his jacket…and he field repaired with change in the truck’s ashtray. Later, I observed him use it with canvas tarps across his truck bed and across wood stacks. Nice reminder!!
Older generations were far more intelligent & creative than we are. We are spoiled with readymade solutions for everything in life that our creativity is perhaps the lowest among all generations since the dawn of civilization.
I have a 5 metre x 3 metre garage roof that is letting in rain water. I painted about a metre square over the felt roof where the rain penetrates with emergency roof repair. Do you think the canvas tarp like your dad used would stop the rain getting in until I can replace the roof covering or large tarp in drier weather?
@@mortimp Yes, in theory. But if you miss a pinhole size it'll let water in that will erode it. There's thread count, too. Also there's the sun and wind that can weaken the bonds. Treat a pillowcase (maybe twice) and then fill it with water in the shower; let the success or failure decide.
@@knewsome69 Thank you for the useful information.
How did he fix the jacket with a penny?
The most innovative, most effective, most valuable, cost-effective, humorous, and useful video I have seen for a long time, thank you.
Wow!! I am absolutely in love with the button!! I’ve used many alternative ideas to get things done but this is something I never thought of! Live the button & the tarp ideas! I’m sold on following you!!
If you don't have a pebble, just tie the line around a corner of the sheet with a little extra sheet sticking out, then fold that part back over itself, and tie around the bunch- the first knot becomes the "pebble" for the second! Brilliant video, thanks!
See a knot known as a "sheet bend".
@@hanelyp1 Might work here, if you keep it under tension? I'd be worried it'd slip out if the wind flutters.
@@SoybeanAK Can always tie a double sheet bend
@@hanelyp1
A sheet bend is used to tie two ropes together or at least that's what I learned. How would you use it in this instance?
@@rogermccaslin5963 the other rope is the sheet
I'm much more impressed by the cloth button at the end. The one used to tie in the cloak. I always used to walk around by holding both ends together with my hands. You learn something new everyday. Although I feel a bit stupid for having walked like that for so long
I use a pool cue ball in this way to skin animals. Start to skin around the hind legs and work past the tail. Use the cue ball like a button, attach the winch from your vehicle or quad...and peel the hide off in short order!
I felt the same way!
We can't all start off being expert cloak wearers. I'm sure Dracula and Darth Vader had their moments before they got the hang of it. Look at the bright side: now you can make ANYTHING a cloak, keep your hands warm in your pockets, AND stay dry if it rains at the outdoor cloak convention you're attending. Win city!
@@YerBrwnDogAteMyRabit let's see if you have any nerd in your background....have you ever read the forgotten realms series?
I figured out the button technology on my own when I had to make a tie down point in the middle of a tarp.
I've been watching your videos for about 13 years now. Everytime I see a new upload I learn something new and get super excited. Thank you
This is awesome! I’ve been up cycling old bed sheets and table linen into clothes. Now I can make raincoats too! Thank you 🙏
I drove across the country this fall with some of my most prized possessions in the tarped bed of my truck. I used 3mil contractor bags to keep my taped totes of books safe and basically used all the tarps I had, of various sizes and degrees of wear. Nearly none of the grommets were where I needed them to be, to pull it all tight for the trip. I made extensive use of the button method to customize the tie downs and was pleased with nary a flutter the whole trip (lots of wind 3/4 of the way and lots of rain at the end and all stayed dry.) I learned the button method at The Tracker School. You can use one in the middle of a canopy tarp to make a peak so the rain doesn't puddle and collapse it as well as endless customizing configurations, since you can put one anywhere you need it.
This is the same formula that we used to water seal cinder block walls. Mix it up in a cheap pump sprayer and apply to brick, wood fence even canvas drop cloths
Would this work for a small cinder block pond?
Engine block cylinders
can you put this stuff in a sprayer and spray it on?
VERY interesting!
@@silence-humility-calmness If you thin it out with solvent enough for the spray gun to handle it I can't see any reason why it wouldn't.
Now this was an excellent how-to/diy instructional video! Clear, concise, and skillfully demonstrated. Everything we needed, nothing we didn't. Wonderfully focused. 💯🎯
You are the BEST TEACHER I have ever seen!! And the information is so pertinent and functional!
Another thing to keep the tarp from ripping, is to use bungee cord in addition to rope to allow the wind to be able to stretch out the tie down spots. Tie a rope between trees, attach the tarp to the rope with bungees. I used to rip all my tarps until I learned that trick.
Good tip!
post picture please
good idea... bunjee cords seem to always deteriorate after a season or two though so i dont like buying them anymore if theyre going to end up in the trash so soon
excellent tip.
This reminds me of a technology called “poor mans fiberglass”. Basically hard shell waterproof items from bedsheets and wood glue. Boats campers etc.
That's a great trick
If you ever get into wooden bow making, you'll find that all kinds of glues in all kinds of fabric are common backings especially among the more experimentally minded of us.
It is amazing what PVA glue and thin linen fabric can do.
I have gone looking for this video over and over again to send to friends and to remind me of the ratios you recommend for making tarps.
Great work man! I am about to attempt my first set of canvas boots for getting in the mud with. Don't need em to breath, just keep me dry.
Old sheets make great tarps! Thanks again!
What a brilliant video, one of the most useful I’ve ever seen for outdoors and bushcraft. Thank you, & I’m now a new subscriber.
Made one today. I did the 5:1 ratio with naphtha, did a small test section after only about 5 or 6 hours of drying and I'm impressed with the results so far.
I already want to do another one with 4:1 ratio with a 1000 thread count sheet and mix in a cup of outdoor paint for UV protection...
Will give updates on this after more testing
Let me know if the paint mixes well, that's a good idea if so.
Will do. I'm trying/testing 2 different mixtures now and will do another sheet with the winner and adding the paint.
Having fun with this. Thanks for the idea!
The paint didn't thin down as well as I had hoped. So now I kinda have a tie dye camo effect 😆
But!, The area that is coated well with the paint is much more rigid/durable feeling, I think it will do and last longer.
Next test run will do another sheet of microfiber sheet (best results so far) going to try mineral spirits to break down the paint or try an oil based paint? I'm not sure which will be best but I need it to thin the paint out better... More to come
Sweet ass Sweet!👏👏👍👍👍
Updates, yes please!
Just to be clear you should state that you are using silicone caulking. It really makes a difference. If you go into a hardware store and ask for a tube of silicone they will ask for more information. I know it’s pedantic but may help someone get the correct product at the store. Otherwise this is a super cool idea and I can’t wait to waterproof the crap out of all of my outdoor fabrics. Thanks for this idea. It’s much appreciated!!
thanks for clarifying that. That helps me.
100% silicone caulking
Do you mean like silicone bathroom sealant? thanks
If the sales personnel ask you for more information on what kind of silicone you want, what else do you think they're thinking of?
Other caulking materials like acrylic are not silicone and thus not what you're looking for.
If, however, they ask you whether you want tin-cure or 2 component platinum-cure, go with the latter if you can, as tin-cure silicones are not skin-safe
Fascinating, I learned a lot. I'm completely sold on the bedsheet idea, considering the sheet is already lighter and much more durable than a plastic tarp. I'll use the button idea too, great video!
PSA: There are two main types of "cheap silicone", and several types of non-silicone tube adhesives (usually latex or acrylic based). silicone I smells like vinegar. This is the easiest to cure and best for tinkerers, if you can tolerate the smell and acidity. Silicone ii smells vaguely of methanol, and does not always cure as easily.
Silicone I is "the good stuff", but it's getting a bit harder to find. Probably because of the smell. S1 can be used for "oogoo" - diy Sugru using cornstarch or food coloring. S2 *will not set up as easily*, if at all, when doing this trick. So if you try this and it stays sticky after days, get yourself a tube of Silicone 1.
i was wondering about this while i was watching. TKOR taught me about the distinction between the 2. thanks for the info! I have both kinds lying around and wanted to do this but wasn't sure whether to cheap out and use the old cheap S2 or the new unopened S1.
It tastes like vinegar too :)
Here, the easiest to find is the type I. Not by chance they are called Acetic Cure Silicone
@@cleitonfelipe2092 that explains it. Acetic acid is vinegar.
wear a damn resperator instead of huffing solvents all day
This trick is awesome! My grandpa used to do that to waterproof his boots! So great to see you putting it on video!! Thank you!! Miss you pa.
He used the brush, as you say in the end of the video. Wow, that bring back memories.
Anyway, I never knew that it would work in sheets or any fabric!! Thank you so much for that, I'll definitely try it!!
@@ulysses_grant My granddad did that exact same thing too! He used to go kayaking so waterproofing stuff was a necessary skill. Naphtha and silicone, applied with a brush, and I think he came up with it himself - he was that kind of guy.
It works?! Oh thank goodness I been skeetin on these boots for a week now.
Best how-to video ever. Keep to the point, a little humor, and excellent demonstration. I'm going to go waterproof some outdoor pillow cases now.
You have such a pleasant voice and manner of conveying the information. You are a genuine good and intelligent person, it's a pure joy just to take all in you have to tell.
Clear, concise and extremely helpful. Zero fat. Rare on RUclips these days. Kudos.
Or you could use a marble in exchange for the pebble to prevent tearing through the sheet if the pebble has any sharp corners, it's what I used and some helpful advice.
Or a button…🤗
I was going to suggest a marble myself. A river stone works well too. He did suggest an acorn in the video, which is very smooth without the cap and when you burnish off the point.
Just find a smooth pebble...
@@randallsmerna384 I'm just saying if you have one on hand. I live in California unfortunately and the closest to finding a pebble is gravel. LoL
Or Slingshot mables then you have extra ammo if you need it. Then you could start to look for round pebbles by the river when you fishing or hunting.
Incredible! Thank you for this lesson! Im tired of expensive tarps shredding into pieces after one use and my creative side is working at full mode right now thinking on how else I can use it.
My family of 8 is finishing up an old Airstream to live in while we make repairs on our farmhouse. (real farm, not decor farmhouse) and down on the coast of southeast texas, the heat scorches but sometimes the thickness of the trees doesn't let enough air blow through. So we are making a 16' x 12' awning using patchwork old sheets on the Airstream to catch shade under for the kids when we are away from the trees. Thanks for this! I was not willing to spend the high prices (like $700) for a premade awning. So far I've only spent the cost of the silicone and naphtha.
I was so glad to have this video come up. I think this method could be used to "make" outdoor fabric for deck cushions.
That's exactly why I watched this video, too!
@@CindyOrangeNeely Great minds think alike. 😎
Great idea!
Frances McMillan - Thanks for that idea! I'm going to try that on my outdoor swing cushions that I have to keep putting up before the rains come!
@@annwithaplan9766 You're welcome!!
This would make excellent cushion covers for patio furniture.
That’s why I’m here! I just actually need new stain/waterproof fabric for dining room chairs! I have the fabric and don’t want to buy anything else but it’s light colored and I’m not about to attempt it without some kind of treatment
Also for yacht berth and cockpit upholstery....methinks 🤔
I would waterproof the top and edges but allow the bottom to drain and/or dry if moisture winds up getting in through any defect. We found that wood fully painted would rot at the bottom of the boards from retaining water, but we could prevent this by not coating a portion of the back and bottom and they would last much longer. I am thinking cushions might be similar in this regard.
Great ideas!
Great idea
Your a great teacher!!! Yes, I sure learned a lot!!!! I can’t stand purchasing cheap expensive products.
As a designer and seamstress I can now put fabric to another use.
The button technique is very cool ❤
Yes, all you tube videos should be this good. Tarps are so expensive and don’t last nearly long enough. Thank you for this simple fix. Love the button idea.
You could get sheets for 2 dollars
at a thrift store.
I've never in my life seen someone use the button technique. That seems like a superb idea, I wish I had known it sooner
Big Button (LLC) doesn't want you to know.
Textilers hate him! RUclipsr fixes cloth to hardpoints without stitching or cutting with this one weird trick
@@InnuendoXP I used golf balls I had lying around. Did not know it had a name...
What do you think aboriginals used to hold tents down with. We've been using stones or marbles to secure our tipi's for decades.
It is a neat life hack for camping
lol i've used those buttons in my street riggings. I thought i invented them and this is the first time i ever saw a precedent
I like this. Here's a tip, as I live out in the desert w/lots of wind, if you are going to tie it off to hold it down get some coil springs that have half-round hooks on each end from an old sofa or recliner ... make that "button" connection but turn the long end into a small loop that you hook the spring into and take a another rope n tie it to your anchor point and to the other end of the spring and pull snug. The spring will absorb the shock the wind whipping the tarp so it won't tear as easily
Trampoline springs?
@@solarsynapse - Yes, stuff like that
To cover our sailing boat, we used empty plastic engine oil canisters at the rope ends and filled them with pebbles, to weigh down the tarp.
You could also try heavy duty bungee cords. Less agressive on 5he canvas and l8ghter weight.
@@hugbearsx4 bungee works well in rainy conditions. Salt water and/or direct sun and the rubber degrades fast, plastikote/silicone dipped metal springs last the longest for stuff kept out on deck
I personally logged in to RUclips just to give this man a sub, because at first this was found on a google search from another device. I know one subscriber ain’t much, but you earned it mister “penguin mood”.
This is an excellent idea! I now have a use for my old sheets! Thank you for this video!
I've been wanting to make an oil-skin tarp for camping, but now I'm going to go with this! It seems like it'd be a much lighter option by weight instead of canvas and oil/wax combination as well as a much easier process! Thanks!
Plus, you can order some california king sheets or bigger!
Just make sure you don't have an allergy to the silicone, also uv resistant silicone is definitely the way to go
Be careful to put some fireproofing on this before it's anywhere near a campfire, I found out the hard way that this combo is incredibly flammable.
@@TheZombieOfDrake even after it’s cured? Huh. That’s a consideration too. I wonder if there’s a chemical you could mix in to make it flame retardant when mixing the silicone.
@@TheZombieOfDrake I mean it's cotton and lighter fluid mixed with the silicone
By the way, loved the outdoor shots. If possible please do include it more often. It was refreshing compared to the workshop
Finally! A no-nonsense tutorial, making this person and video more appealing than those that try to be.👍X2
This is genius. I will make many of these next year. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us all. ❤❤❤❤
When I was in the military, we used naptha and clear silicone to dilute the silicone to a syrup like consistency. We spread it onto the weapon's fin base in wavy lines to allow ice buildup to break away easily.
That's pretty neat
What is a fin base??😟
And what kind of weapon has this..?😒
@@warriorson7979 guns, chud
@@warriorson7979 i'm betting it's flying weapons like missiles.
Just guessing, but when they said this, I pictured a mortar round which has a fin base (guidance systems aka wings in a circle etc.) and I secondly think it’s mortars because they mention ice easily breaking off fins, and I remember ice on mortar rounds being a bad deal if you needed to launch. But who knows. I’m just speculating.
In Seattle, back in the '70s, I coated a sheet of thin ripstop nylon with silicone rubber paint. I worked quite well and never degraded in any way. I used it as a groundsheet. When camping on snow, I put aluminum foil under the tent to reflect body heat back to the occupants. This is a cool demo.! I bought the silicone rubber originally to line my steel drum composter. Thanks. My groundsheet was light and didn't crackle.
i heard about the aluminum foil trick before, but forgot about it. thanks for the reminder.
Another good product is to use a mylar blanked between the tarp and tent. Trends to be less expensive than aluminum foil and can be reused many times
I'm about 20 mins north of Seattle!
The foil like emergency blankets are great for under the tent or under the sleeping bags, a little loud right under sleeping bags if you wiggle in your sleep and can be annoying but under the tent on top of the tarp works great, also can put them on top of tent under tarp or rain shield to keep it much warmer while camping, anywhere you can line the tent with these makes the tent so much warmer, talking form lots of experience! Good luck everyone!
@@joshuamorin2762 and wont have any sharp edges.
This guy is really brilliant. Loved watching this and so down to earth and to the point!
Excellent presentation, delivery was perfect speed to absorb the info and what an easy survival solution! Thank you!
Ben, thank you for never changing the way you do things. Your content has been consistently straightforward, immensely creative and interesting, and never EVER fails to rouse my creative and problem-solving tendencies, and I'm extremely grateful for that. Coming back to your channel, after watching you progress since very near the start of your channel, is a real joy, and a breath of fresh air in the midst of the world's seemingly constant mess. Thank you for doing what you do!
Thanks for the encouragement!
This was great, thank you. Making your own button tie was something I will never forget, and made me see how clothes in times long gone may have been held together, nice and strong.
When I was a kid, I remember som elderly ladies who still used stockings (not pantyhose), basically fastened their stocking using buttons like that. They would use a little button, a small coin or token and their girdle had a loop-like piece that was pulled around the button to secure to the stockings. You can still buy elastic band bedsheet fasteners that has a similar fastening contraption.
can you put this stuff in a sprayer and spray it on?
My gosh thanks so much! I never knew any of this, especially the "button" technique. Thank you for the intelligent information that is valuable knowledge to have.
That expression when you talk about buttons- priceless.
Loved it 😍
Thank you so much!! I now have a way to make horse blankets that don't cost an arm and leg, and then get destroyed on the first wearing. And, with the button truck, I can actually get said blankets to fit properly!! Double win! Thanks for the info 😁
This is one of the most generally useful ones I've seen in a while. Not only is it something everyone has a need for but it's something most everyone can easily do. Thanks!
for the best possible results, you should do this with a hemp or bamboo based cloth. hemp is best but bamboo also very strong. silk is great but more expensive and not functionally much stronger than hemp.
@@onemadhungrynomad indeed hemp is incredible much stronger, like 10 times 👍
you’re so good at this and while being a regular humorous and friendly guy. great vid! love the poncho. such a great idea. :) 🌷🌱
the best video on this topic as he provides the ratios of silicone to solvent and the volume needed for the sheet. He also provides a ratio for the volume of the item being treated. Seriously informative so watch this one and ignore the others, everything you need to know is here. thanks for such a helpful guide video 10/10
UPDATE. Because its hard to get naptha I was forced to use turpentine. At first it looked as though the silicone wouldn't dissolve but after about 10 mins of mixing everything was dissolved into a clear liquid. I used the exact ration suggested in the video and 1.5L of turps with 300g of silicone was just enough to fully treat a king sized cotton sheet. Perfect result. The sheet was hung dry and then left in the sun for a day to ensure that there was no turps smell, none. I then treated 100m or para cord, the zip off legs for my tramping pants and some colour faded swim shorts. All worked perfectly. I added some paint to the mix for my swim shorts and they are no longer faded with the added bonus of instant dry after a swim. This process works perfectly
I wonder if you could make a diy umbrella with this cloth using bent steel wires as a frame.
Yea, pretty easily in fact. Although youll have to skip the folding mechanism
@@CAMSLAYER13 I've seen folding umbrellas made entirely from wood with only a few metal pins for the moving parts to pivot on. It may take more time than a reasonable person would consider spending on a project like that, but it's entirely possible.
@@ParadigmUnkn0wn its certainly possible, the concept is pretty simple. Just quite time consuming to implement.
Bet it wouldn't take anytime to make out of bamboo.
Unwanted umbrellas are everywhere. New ones are probably cheaper than 2L of naphtha and some silicone lol. But it might be cool to make one anyway.
Shellite is the equivalent product for naphtha in Australia, available in our biggest hardware chain store. Finished 2 sheets today; one sheet was a little bigger so went with 2lt of shellite to 1 x 300g tube of silicone to get complete coverage and it still worked a treat. Thanks
Thank you i live here too and i wonder if it was a colored silcone would that work grey black white just curious thanks for the shellite tip he used clear silicone ther is also a vinyl paint we used to use years ago i wonder if that would work we sprayed it i suppose this could be sprayed just curious regards lee 😊😊😊😊😊
thankyou Queensland here
Thanks mate for shellite tip. Hope you enjoyed your snagger
Can it use your method to waterproof the canvas on my pop-top caravan?✌️🇭🇲
Gold mate
This is my first video of yours and when you got to the button technique I couldn't help but truly laugh from pure joy because of the simplicity of these techniques, their practicality and your teaching style. Thank you for this, you have my attention. Phenomenal work sir!
I just came back to check mixing ratios as it has been awhile since I watched this. So if I've not said it before I'll say it now - This is a Great Video! A excellent example of how YT vids should be. No wasted time and to the point. I wish others would follow yr example.
Not only that but your subject matter is why I'm here, I really like your channel😁
Very cool vid. We're about to replace a set of sheets, so this will definitely come in handy. Now that was all pretty great, but the BUTTON TECHNOLOGY was *mind blowing*. Of course a pebble/nut and a slip knot. Simplicity always has its own elegance. Brilliant.
They'll be uncomfortable to sleep in after doing this though.😄
you can use the pebble knot to strip the hide off deer also
Same! It was "light bulb goes on lol"
@@carmineredd1198 every deer season several hides each year has the pebble knot used and has been for many years here. An 'Ol timer back then seen me fighting a hide as a child and offered some advice ..... that's been neigh on 50 years and have been using it ever since.
I know - wow - so happy to hear of that one..the old KISS theory - keep it simple stupid LOL
We also made buttons out of just a wad of leaves in the corners of our ponchos to make a tent years ago when we went primitive camping. Glad to see this knowledge being spread!
Thank you, I have a canopy I want to make into a tent and I thought some colorful sheets would look great. No one had videos using large fabric until I came across this one.
Thank you so much! I am planning on making a rain coat and have been struggling to find a decent fabric. This looks like it will work perfectly!
This is exactly what I thought when watching this. Good for raincoats, jackets and bags. It means you could use any fabric from your stash.
I completely reproofed a tent using this method about 12 years ago.
Some points:
I used white spirit (you'd call that mineral spirit) and it doesn't 'dissolve' the silicon (perhaps naphtha does in which case it would be better). Instead it forms a very fine emulsion. It's easier to just beat the crap out of the mix with a drill and paint paddle but it's a good idea to have a lid with a hole in it to prevent splashing. Old paint buckets are ideal.
You can, and I have, just apply the silicon directly with a roller and a flat surface then turn it over and do the other side for complete penetration. The down side is that you need a large flat surface available when your wife isn't there. The up side is that this will fill any stitch holes if you have a seam.
The main, indeed only, problem with the tent was stripping off the old worn out PU coating. The answer is soaking in dilute ammonia overnight. It worked a treat.
Nice video, good luck.
hmmm i saw the video which posted , they used mineral spirit , its odourless ? wonder will it work with paint thinner
@@sdqsdq6274 I believe that 'mineral spirit' is American for 'white spirit' and no it isn't odourless. It's paint thinners and as long as you can make an emulsion with a volatile liquid then it will work. Technically you could use petrol but that would be really dangerous.
As a wife I would have been very grateful that my husband was doing this and wouldn't be complaining about the space used
@@faithreturns333, I think that would depend on WHAT flat surface he was taking advantage of! 😁
Great advice, thanks for the tips!!
I always thought you're a wizard. Now you have a magical cloak too.
Fantastic video!!!! No BS, just straight up sharing of knowledge!! Thank you, very useful information!!
Thank you for showing as well as telling us the process. Really enjoyed it. I'm now a new subscriber.
Absolutely brilliant. The applications are endless. (I.e., pillowcase = dry bag.)
I've been watching you since I was 12, you've taught me a lot and helped me pursue my current career goals for becoming an engineer. Just wanted to say thanks 👍
Nicely done! I appreciate the lesson because I made a cloak many years ago when I was playing with the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) and I have always wanted to make it waterproof. The spray-on water repellent never worked. I will give this method a try! Thanks!
Exactly what I need for my cold frames and garden shades! Plastic tarps break down and contaminate absa-freaking-lutely everything!
ive always had doubt about the durability of spray on water resistant coatings, this definitely seems like a better waterproofing method.
I think spray on coatings are often a very similar silicone and solvent mixture. This method I think is longer lasting because you get way more silicone soaked into the fabric instead of a surface layer.
@@Nighthawkinlight I think the spray is mostly starch.
there's also the ones that wash in but i'd imagine that a whole bag of 20% silicone gives you a lot more waterproofing than anything you can put in a washing machine.
Do you mean just the consumer level stuff?
@@Nighthawkinlight I believe it’s more like a silicone oil. I don’t think it hardens/cures like tube silicone.
I have worked in the textile industry and have applied both silicone and wax and oil to rolls of fabric. Loved your hands on presentation!!
What kind of wax and oil did you use? Filson traditional outback style coats are waxed cotton.
@@fieldlab4 we used a bulk paraffin wax also used for candle making. We used kerosene to thin the formula and for uniformity. All application equipment except for the drying drums were heated with steam. Used kerosene for cleaning up.
@@andybrandsma How do the waxed fabrics hold up in extreme cold?
@@beccagee5905 Ontario cold does not affect the water proof properties or the stiffness to the fabric in a significant way. These fabrics will leak through in wet weather over time.
@@andybrandsma - How much time, in your opinion? I was thinking that this is a great techniques for boat covers … also located in Ontario. 😊
Man man man, you talking about learning something today!! This was very useful, definitely using all of that. Great Vid Bro!
I enjoy the straight-to-the-point plot! Thanks!
Hmm.. interesting, here is a couple ideas for "part 2":
- What would happen if you stretch the fabric really good (have it pre-tensioned like they do with concrete) before silicone set, would it make the fabric stiffer ?
- How if you give same treatment to a cardboard ? would it turn amzon box into water tight cooler or temporary water storage ? see where I'm going with that ?…
Very good questions, hope he follows through
1. it would wrinkle up when you take the tension off. 2. yes
I've used silicone solution on cardboard, it makes an amazingly useful material. Lightweight, easy to cut or pre-form into unique shapes, and if you bond 2 or more layers together in the drying process, it can become shockingly durable. If you used it to make a water bin though, I think it would warp from the weight, and eventually leak, cuz water gets really heavy in large amounts. So you'd need some kind of rigid box first, maybe plywood. And at that point, you may as well just paint the plywood with pure silicone and skip the cardboard. At which point really you have a "treated wooden trough".
UV breaks down silicone caulk in about 5-20 years outdoors. But if you paint over it with something very UV resistant, you could extend that considerably. Truck bed liner comes to mind. Even if the truck bed liner breaks down, as long as it shades the underlying silicone, it would last a really long time. I'm curious how 2-ply silicone bathed cardboard, top-coated with truck bed liner, would work as roofing tiles.
I made a box/tray for the trunk of my car with 2-ply silicone bathed cardboard. It's warped to fit an odd shaped area which otherwise isn't very useful space in the trunk. 2-bins with a divider. It's had various things spill inside it, from oil to grocery store milk. It protected the trunk's carpet, and stays in place well. Keeps things from shifting around much.
It's a good insulation material, both thermally and acoustically. Easy to trim, and 1-ply can be bent for odd shaped areas. The rigidity goes up shockingly fast the more layers you bond together though. So you'll need to warp multi-layer laminates before they dry if you want unique shapes. Can be used in place of foam-board for many things too.
I've also used just pure silicone caulk to bond together pieces of plastic. Like the stuff they use for 32oz cups at the quick-mart. It gets drastically stronger & more rigid when bonded in layers, because to bend, the layers have to slide past each other slightly, and the silicone doesn't want to allow that. Basically the same idea as in laminated wood, which was the main material for WWII aircraft, where thin bonded sheets are more rigid than a single piece of wood of the same thickness, and you can warp it before it cures to make more interesting shapes (though germany went with a saw-dust+epoxy blend which was a bit like MDF).
There's probably better materials for it on an industrial scale, but silicone solution bathing of porous materials, and silicone bonding of layered materials, gives you a lot of "back-yard" options to make interesting things.
It probably will work on cartboard but i'm not so sure it whould be foodsafe or watertight.
@@Erbmon yeah, better as a cooler than as a water bin. Could buy some tempered glass & make an aquarium though. that'd be food-safe water storage (for a while).
The most absolute useful thing I've seen on RUclips yet. Thank you... you saved me hundreds. I am a hiker/camper these are light enough to pack and heavy enough to offer warmth and dry without destroying my expensive tarps for tarp camping.
What would you use your expensive tarps for, if not for tarp camping? Might be a silly question, but aren't tarps mainly used for that exact purpose?
ARe they as noisy as actual tarps? Could we call these more quiet tarps?
@@Mdaberk71 I can tell you from experience these are as quiet as they were when they were still simple sheets
@@DKFX1 I take a lot of care for my good tarps. Homemade tarps I would be abusive. Like over stretching or just using a stick to prop the center up instead of toggles and paracord
Agreed, same. Money saved!