I have read posts about silnylon on the $1/yd shelves in Walmart's fabric section. I've never been able to find it. Besides those fabrics don't even seem to have a label indicating what they are. So, what am I missing (besides the silnylon)? How do you identify the items on those shelves?

You're not really missing anything. What I did was, every time I happened to be in Walmart I would check the $1/yd bin, and viola one day there it was. Silnylon for $1/yd. I bought 16yds. I think I still have half of that left. Now this silnylon was definately 2nds. It had all sorts of "bleach" type marks on it, but I made a back pack and a tarp out of it. Mostly I got it so that I could do some experimentation with no worries. Good luck on you search. It took me a year before seeing it, and I have not seen any since.

Oh, as far as identifying the silnylon. Well silnylon is a very unique fabric, and so it should be easy to identify.

Yep - just check it out every time you're there and one day you'll get a nice surprise. You might ask what day they get their deliveries, too.

I've found quite a bit of ripstop, which is good for some hiking applications (like hammocks). I've found ripstop DWR a few times, and I usually buy the whole bolt when I find some. And I've found silnylon once.

Bigger Walmarts often have bigger fabric sections, which often means a bigger $1 bin. In Charleston, I had three Super Walmarts within about 20 minutes (a sign of Armageddon) that had a decent selection - moved to California and nada...not even plain old ripstop.

Maybe it's a Wyoming thing ...but none of the clerks in our Wal-Mart know what silnylon or ripstop is. I've asked several times and they look at me like I'm speaking a foreign language. I'm better off just digging through the bin myself.

'Slogger

Yep - I've never had anyone at fabric stores know about silnylon, either. They often know what ripstop is, but nothing about the treatments. I guess because it's a specialty fabric.

Easy way to tell what it is - you can blow through ripstop, you can barely blow through DWR, and you can't blow through silnylon.

...Easy way to tell what it is - you can blow through ripstop, you can barely blow through DWR, and you can't blow through silnylon.

I'd love to see the look on the faces of those watching you grab a roll of material, try to blow through it, and then sadly put it back in it's bin. :D

Regards,
-MacGyver
GA-->ME

I'd love to see the look on the faces of those watching you grab a roll of material, try to blow through it, and then sadly put it back in it's bin. :D

Regards,
-MacGyver
GA-->ME
I look weird anyway (tattoos, piercings, and dreadlocks), so I guess it is difficult for me to tell why people are staring at me.

I look weird anyway (tattoos, piercings, and dreadlocks), so I guess it is difficult for me to tell why people are staring at me.

But you're also from Vegas, a town known for freaks, so I doubt it can be _that_ bad.....

But you're also from Vegas, a town known for freaks, so I doubt it can be _that_ bad.....
I am not from Vegas, just live here. I get stared at in Los Angeles as well as here. Lots of whispering, and pointing. Compared to some of my friends I look normal...

Just Jeff,

I live in San Jose area- the Mountain View Walmart is where I find most of my Ripstop nylon- DWR or Silicone. I found light purple and Olive at the MV, Gilroy had some blue but 1 yd( remants bin) . Also found poly or taffeta nylon for tent flooring at MV. The one at MV had the name of the mill on the bolt

Weldman, check your PMs, pls.

i've been able to find it twice in two years here... i keep a small swatch in my wallet, so i can show any 'new' employees... it was OD green both times, but a slightly different shade. my store restocks it on thursdays. i was in the 'big city' (lafayette) today, and went to a Hancock Fabric... they looked at me like i was from pluto... had no idea what it was, even after i showed them my swatch.

just have to keep hoping and looking... beats $8 a yard, if you can afford to wait.

Seeker,

Hancocks here in Calif, does carry ripstop 4.99 -5.99 a yd. Hancocks and Joann call it - sport nylon. Look carefully one has the small checker( ripstop) and the other is just plain nylon for flags ( kiddie one!)

Mike

I live in the NY metro are of NJ and don't have any Walmart supercenters close by. In fact, I don't even shop at Walmart that much, so I guess I'll never find silnylon there. Thanks for the replies everyone.

there was two bolts at my local walmart a month or so ago. I bought 10 yds. It's sitting somewhere in a bag. I had hoped to use it in experimenting with making quilts, but I never have.

oh, they seem to always have dark blue

Easy way to tell what it is - you can blow through ripstop, you can barely blow through DWR, and you can't blow through silnylon.

I went to walmart yesterday to look in their fabric section I found about 4 bolts of a unknown material that I believe is one of the three. I did pick it up and try to blow through it. In the assumpitons on the the test I believe it is DWR but I sill have no idea. I didn't buy any because my cash flow was low. So hopefully i'll buy a bolt next week and test it out. and yes they were all dark colors.

I went to walmart yesterday to look in their fabric section I found about 4 bolts of a unknown material that I believe is one of the three. I did pick it up and try to blow through it. In the assumpitons on the the test I believe it is DWR but I sill have no idea. I didn't buy any because my cash flow was low. So hopefully i'll buy a bolt next week and test it out. and yes they were all dark colors.
Don't sweat too much on the lack of sil-ness. You can turn ripstop into silnylon really easily. Wait until after you get the project made, though. It's easier that way.

1 part pure silicone, 2-3 parts coleman fuel--according to how heavy you want the coat to be. Brush it on. If you're doing a good bit, you'll have to add more fuel to the mix as you go; it gets thicker as the naphtha evaporates.

Don't sweat too much on the lack of sil-ness. You can turn ripstop into silnylon really easily. Wait until after you get the project made, though. It's easier that way.

1 part pure silicone, 2-3 parts coleman fuel--according to how heavy you want the coat to be. Brush it on. If you're doing a good bit, you'll have to add more fuel to the mix as you go; it gets thicker as the naphtha evaporates.
Odorless paint thinner ( mineral spirits ) works much better. I found GEII silicone caulk works great as the base. One part silicone to 3 parts mineral spirits and adjust from there. Thank the Dinos ( I think ) for that recipe.

I have never found silnylon ( or any other ) at wallyworld, but my local fabric store has silnylon always. It's around 1.65/yd, but doesnt have any defects as have been posted here.

I have 6 Wally Worlds within a 30 min drive from me. I checked all of regularly for silnylon. I just found 15 yards of it in a gray color. It took about 3 months before I was able to get some. Patience is the key here.

I had also picked up some other waterproof material from Wal-Mart before I found the silnylon. It is much heavier than silnylon, about the same weight and feel as umbrella fabric. I have been using it to make test project since I suck at using a sewing machine. I am getting better though. I completed my first stuff sack and was slightly impressed with the results. I sealed the seams and now it will actually hold water without leaking.

WooHoo! I found my first batch of rip-stop fabric at the local thrift store. There was about 4-5 yds in OD green (blah!) for only $1.50. (not per yard, total!!)

Now, my question is.... What do I do with it?

I had read all these posts about not being able to find the fabric, so soon as I laid eyes on it, I grabbed it up. Now, I have no earthly idea what to make... Thinking stuff sacks... I have some already, but all the ones I have ever seen tend to be rectangular (tall, with a narrow opening). Thinking of making some that are more square, or at least a wider opening. Ive used shoe laces as the drawstring (and doubles as emergency replacement if neccessary) and got free cord locks here: http://www.itwnexus.com/catalog.html

Any other ideas on what I can make?

Now, my question is.... What do I do with it?


Any other ideas on what I can make?

I will be making a couple of Jeff's All-In-One. (http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearPackCoverGearHammock.html)

I will also be making some stuff sacks and hopefully a tarp once I improve my sewing machine skillz! I had also thought about making a silnylon liner for my Osprey pack.

Now, my question is.... What do I do with it?
Just send it to me. :D

Odorless paint thinner ( mineral spirits ) works much better. I found GEII silicone caulk works great as the base. One part silicone to 3 parts mineral spirits and adjust from there. Thank the Dinos ( I think ) for that recipe.
.

Can this mixture be sprayed do you think? would make things alot faster

Oh, as far as identifying the silnylon. Well silnylon is a very unique fabric, and so it should be easy to identify.

Ok so I went searching at walmart for silnylon, only to realize I have no idea what it looks like... seriously. I did find some stuff that was gray and kinda reminded me of umbrella fabric, 2 yards of it weighed around 12 oz, and when I ran water over it, it did bead up and roll off. I couldn't really blow through it.... but then again I couldn't really blow through any of the other fabrics either (weak lungs?) I figured I could make a groovy rain-outfit out of it. but I really don't think its silnylon.

Can anyone give me any hints at to what this stuff looks like/feels like?
Also, does anyone have any idea of how much a yard of silnylon weighs? Does 6 oz/yard seem to heavy to make some rain pants out of?

Starryliza, go to an outfitter and look at / feel something that is made of silnylon. It isn't hard to spot once you've seen and felt it.

The sil used for lightweight hiking gear usually weighs 1-2 oz per yard. FD has a great suggestion there, too.

Got it at the local thrift store instead of WallyWorld. It looks like a rip stop-type fabric (you can see the little squares...) havent given it the waterproof test yet.

Wondering... :-? I would like to protect the bottom of my SD Lightning and dont want to drop $25 for the footprint. I have grommets that will fit the tent pole ends. Could I (should I) cut the fabric to fit, and add the grommets and have a homemade footprint?

:confused: Is this fabric going to be sufficient to stop the sticks/rocks/bumps from poking thru to the tent floor?

Sil doesn't have a very high puncture resistance but it'll work ok for a footprint. You're not using it for waterproofing, just to protect the tent, so it doesn't matter if it gets banged up some. When it wears out, spend another $3 on some sil and make a new one.

You'll still want to get the sticks and rocks out from under the tent, though.