Hey people. Do this activity outside with plenty of ventilation and use gloves. The end product is healthy, but the process is chemical and vapor intensive. People are doing this in their garage or barn, and that is not enough ventilation for your respiratory health. Solvent vapors in enclosed areas can be explosive. High solvent vapor concentration can make you pass out. So do this outdoors 🎉
It's easier to mix in a 2 liter soda bottle. Fill halfway with solvent, add silicone, then shake vigorously. After there is only a few small silicone pieces sliding around, fill the soda bottle within 2 inches with more solvent. Let sit for half an hour, agitating every few minutes to dissolve all of the remaining silicone. As long as you keep moisture/humidity away from the mixture, it won't set-up. If you have, say half the soda bottle left, squeeze out the remaining air or the humidity in the air gap will set-up a film on top.
Naphtha does not seem to dissolve silicone quicker than mineral spirits. It does seem to evaporate quicker which is why I think the silicone mold people like it better. Otherwise, it's just more expensive. I'm going to try regular paint thinner, even cheaper.
Be aware... I made one of these with a microfiber sheet. I used Coleman Fuel (I liked the Naptha in the Coleman Fuel.) and the silicone from Walmart. The GE brand I think. I still think if I may have permanent brain damage from breathing the fumes of that combination. Maybe next time I will dip my Levis in Parrafin Wax and Unleaded plus Petroleum jelly and baby oil. By the way, if one gets that Mineral Spirits thinner on your skin... May burn. Chemical burns.
Hey, thanks for this informative video! I wanna make a tarp and waterproof it to make my own tent out of. What kind of fabric do you recommend? I see allot of cotton tent tarps are heavywheight but yours doesn't seem to be. Thanks
My guess is that isopropyl or ethanol would not be the best because they are polar solvents. Silicone dissolves better with nonpolar solvents. Naptha and mineral spirits are proven to work well.
I think quite a while. The silicone becomes a part of the fiber structure and is trapped in the fibers. So the cloth is hydrophobic. It will have some level of breathability and porosity. But the presence of the silicone repels water. So, it works excellent as a rain shelter. Pants might be a different story.
Who has thought... I was thinking a silicon layer makes you glow like a christmas tree under nvg due to reflection. It may helps with thermals but I doubt it. And I don't have 40k€ to proof and buy a Andres Industries quad nods with Jerry C5
Hey people. Do this activity outside with plenty of ventilation and use gloves. The end product is healthy, but the process is chemical and vapor intensive. People are doing this in their garage or barn, and that is not enough ventilation for your respiratory health. Solvent vapors in enclosed areas can be explosive. High solvent vapor concentration can make you pass out. So do this outdoors 🎉
That's hilarious!!! I made some tarps out of silicone caulk and mineral spirits back in 2013! Same realtree sheets from Walmart.
@@taterbug70 the sheets work great.
@@FT4Freedom they're actually made out of some badass rugged material!! It'll last you a long time!
@@taterbug70 yah man. Mine are poly-cotton. And the silicone adds quite a lot of strength and abrasion resistance to the fibers.
THANKS ! VERY NICE XPLANATION AND VERY COOL VIDEO, BLESSINGS!
Thanks for your kind words. Blessings to you as well.
Water bottle caps make perfect tie off buttons
@@mauriceupp9381 awesome recommendation. Rock on.
It's easier to mix in a 2 liter soda bottle. Fill halfway with solvent, add silicone, then shake vigorously. After there is only a few small silicone pieces sliding around, fill the soda bottle within 2 inches with more solvent. Let sit for half an hour, agitating every few minutes to dissolve all of the remaining silicone. As long as you keep moisture/humidity away from the mixture, it won't set-up. If you have, say half the soda bottle left, squeeze out the remaining air or the humidity in the air gap will set-up a film on top.
Epic tip.
Naphtha does not seem to dissolve silicone quicker than mineral spirits. It does seem to evaporate quicker which is why I think the silicone mold people like it better. Otherwise, it's just more expensive.
I'm going to try regular paint thinner, even cheaper.
@@peterm.eggers520 good input.
Be aware... I made one of these with a microfiber sheet. I used Coleman Fuel (I liked the Naptha in the Coleman Fuel.) and the silicone from Walmart. The GE brand I think. I still think if I may have permanent brain damage from breathing the fumes of that combination. Maybe next time I will dip my Levis in Parrafin Wax and Unleaded plus Petroleum jelly and baby oil. By the way, if one gets that Mineral Spirits thinner on your skin... May burn. Chemical burns.
Yah. Don't breathe the stuff. Do it with excellent ventilation. Like outdoors. Thank you. Wear PPE. Common sense.
Love that cover marra 👍
Much neater than mine haha!
Bro, are u north, Arizona? Coconino.
@@FT4Freedom I'm Cumbrian, from the North of Great Britain just below Scottish border 👍
@Nosoulnomore my heritage is northern European as well.
Oil cloth is highly flammable. Silicone is a fire retardant
Hey, thanks for this informative video! I wanna make a tarp and waterproof it to make my own tent out of. What kind of fabric do you recommend? I see allot of cotton tent tarps are heavywheight but yours doesn't seem to be. Thanks
It's polyester/cotton blend. Brand name real tree king sheet set. Best wishes to you. Anything with polyester is more UV resistant.
I wonder how good rubbing alcohol would do for this as well?
My guess is that isopropyl or ethanol would not be the best because they are polar solvents. Silicone dissolves better with nonpolar solvents. Naptha and mineral spirits are proven to work well.
How long would this waterproofing work on pants if you wash them before you have to reapply the sealant?
I think quite a while. The silicone becomes a part of the fiber structure and is trapped in the fibers. So the cloth is hydrophobic. It will have some level of breathability and porosity. But the presence of the silicone repels water. So, it works excellent as a rain shelter. Pants might be a different story.
Could the solution be "painted" on with a brush?
Yes! With an air sprayer, roller, brush. But I like the drench method best.
Will the Silicon compromise IRR signature?
Silicone has 4 characteristic IR peaks. It absorbs and reflects IR, so any detector will see some of your heat. It's not invisibility cloak. 😁👍
Who has thought... I was thinking a silicon layer makes you glow like a christmas tree under nvg due to reflection. It may helps with thermals but I doubt it. And I don't have 40k€ to proof and buy a Andres Industries quad nods with Jerry C5
What is NAPHTHA ? Is it a mineral gasoline? What silikone , will any do ?
Naptha is a thinner/cleaner and it has to be 100% silicone
@@vaporholichouston2751 Tried it with 100% silicone. but nothing dissolves!
Naptha is a common hardware store solvent and u can find safety info online. The silicone is a sealant and needs to be 100%.
Lighter fluid ... a lifetime ago.
Why doesn't this guy answer the questions from viewer's.
Easily googled questions
Ha! My apologies. I just don't get time to check my comments often. I do eventually.
Who! Who? Owl?
Cool man. Yes. Always keep my head on a swivel.