Most of us DIYers have seen teasing references to sil-polyester ripstop, but most of us haven't been able to locate any of this mystery fabric. So my question: Has anyone tried making his or her own sil-poly yet? I'm seriously considering using a light woven taffeta to make the bottom (bathtub floor to keep the male dino happy) of a double under-tarp bivy instead of sil-nylon.

Polyester's hydrophobic property and the woven variety's resistance to stretching should make it a superior product to nylon for this application.

Most of us DIYers have seen teasing references to sil-polyester ripstop, but most of us haven't been able to locate any of this mystery fabric. So my question: Has anyone tried making his or her own sil-poly yet? I'm seriously considering using a light woven taffeta to make the bottom (bathtub floor to keep the male dino happy) of a double under-tarp bivy instead of sil-nylon.

Polyester's hydrophobic property and the woven variety's resistance to stretching should make it a superior product to nylon for this application.

FD-

I would never attempt something like this, but if you do, I'd like to be there.

You could present this in your own forum at the Gathering? You would have a packed house.

FD-

I would never attempt something like this, but if you do, I'd like to be there.

You could present this in your own forum at the Gathering? You would have a packed house.


I've sewn many a yard of 1000 denier polyester fabric, urethane coated. Made duffle bags of the large size to contain rolls of carpeting. Used as shipping containers for industrial exhibit manufactures. It was required that they be waterproof and durable. Urethane coating was and still is the coating of choice.

The backpacking world creates their own preferences, titanium, silnylon, etc.

Many times we need to think outside the box in order to advance/diversify in a certain area.


Most of us DIYers have seen teasing references to sil-polyester ripstop,


I think I was the one that asked if anyone had used/hear of polyester ripstop, and stated a link to the kite making site that referenced to it.

Here is a little/lot information on urethane:

Urethane is also known as thermoplastic polyurethane (http://www.industrial101.com/services/urethane.aspx). Urethane is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) that combines the positive properties of rubber and plastic. Characterized by an unmatched toughness, urethane is the material of choice for a wide range of applications such as industrial, pharmaceutical, recreational, clothing, and several others. Polyurethane is superior to several other types of TPE's as it is malleable even at low temperatures, unlike polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which turns brittle when it is too cool.
Based on its chemical structure, a urethane, in its soft phase, is usually a polyether or polyester, which is further separated in hard segments of aliphatic or aromatic. A polyether delivers greater softness and fungus resistance compared to polyester. However, polyester is tougher and is resistant to oxidization. Aliphatic urethane does not degrade in ultraviolet light and it delivers greater visual clarity. Aromatic urethane is an all-purpose resin, but it is not UV light resistant.
Urethane was invented in the 1950s and it is now commonly used to replace parts and compounds that used to be made of plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Urethane possesses many characteristics that are useful in the manufacturing industry as the materials’ compounds contain electrical properties, which makes urethane an ideal and commonly used electrical insulating material.
Because urethane is very durable it is often used instead place of plastics and metals in situations where abrasion and friction usually wear down the part or the product. Along with being erosion resistant, urethane is also resistant to a variety of greases, oils, solvents and chemicals. The material can also be stretched into various shapes and thicknesses and it will still keep its original characteristics and return to its original shape. This is possible as urethane retains its elasticity and strength when it hardens.
Urethane is commonly used in the manufacturing of heavy-duty operations such as shock absorbing gun mounts and the tire tread of escalators and elevators, as well as in delicate usages such as trans-dermal patches, compression dressings, orthodontic bands, and ear plugs, etc. Urethane is expensive compared to other TPE's. It is a versatile material and can be bonded, cut and stitched to a wide range of substrates.

Now, if we can break away from thinking rip-stop silicon coated, and think of the durability of polyester that is urethane coated, we may be able to break away from the backpacking standard way of thinking.

The following links will give some info on the subject:

http://www.rochfordsupply.com/product_listing.asp_Q_CatID_E_419_A_SubCatID_E_484 _A_ProdID_E_3274



http://www.rochfordsupply.com/product_listing.asp_Q_CatID_E_419_A_SubCatID_E_484 _A_ProdID_E_3075


Here is more info found after making original post:

An instant hit with walkers, who have proven what we already knew (http://www.platypusoutdoors.com.au/www/182/1016952/displayproduct/1020347_1019359_.htmlsiliconised polyester); with its roomy interior, ventilation, space for gear and ease of set up this is the outstanding solo tent in its class. (Only available with the hi-tech 40d siliconised polyester outer tent fabric).
More Info
The DART is our compact 1 / 1.5 person super-light tent for solo travellers. Its roominess, useful space, stability and ventilation are quite exceptional. The use of 40d siliconised polyester for the outer tent and the mesh inner canopy coupled with our unique tub floor design have allowed us to achieve the impressive specification.

And this one also: http://www.seatosummit.com.au/showdetail.php?Code=WEOHSIL
About This Overhang
Deluxe, lightweight version of our Overhang fly. Siliconised polyester resists sagging, shakes dry and handles UV with ease. High tenacity polyester resists wind gusts for max strength at min weight. All sizes in the Overhang range feature a reinforced ridge seam and simple, catenary cut fabric panels each side of this. We cut these panels from fabric that is nominally 1.5m in width. Because the usable, coated width of fabrics does vary from lot to lot, and because we like to use as much as we can, you will see some variation in the finished size of our Overhangs, noted by the "approximate" specifications below. If yours is a few centimetres smaller than the next person's remember, it is also a little lighter!

This fabric may be availabe from the above gear outlet or they may put you in the right direction as to where it can be purchased.

tsk tsk guys.. havent you guys heard of spinnaker fabric? its polyester that is silicone impregnated. i've got some yardage of it for some stuff sacks, was going to use it for a bivy floor, but it's kind of noisey at first, and im worried about it's abrasion resistance. a good amount of gossamergear's stuff uses the spinn fabric, as do several other small cottage places.
mike!
http://www.thru-hiker.com/MaterialDetail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=MG155&subcat=Coated+Ripstop (they sell it at thru-hiker) (they also have it at owareusa.com)

Spinnaker sail cloth is what the Luxury Lite pack cylinders are made of.. And they make a version of the tarptent with that stuff too..

I just check about a dozen places that sell fabric to make sails -- all said something similar this:Spinnaker clothis woven from Nylon. In spinnaker cloth, one of the greatest challenges is making it as light as possible while retaining strength and incorporating enough yarn to minimize airflow through the weave. The photograph illustrates how carefully the yarns are flattened and laid out to achieve maximum cover. Coatings may be used to enhance stability and reduce porosity. North's Norlite™ and NorLon™ fabrics combine low stretch, excellent tear strength, specific porosity and superior color acceptance.None were made of polyester.

Did you look at the link mike! posted?Duh - No I didn't.... thanks Mike! and Boston.

Mike!, can you tell why the fabric is so noisy? Is it the coating or the very thin fabric? I was wondering if a heavier polyester fabric or maybe cuben fiber might be a better choice for a bivy floor. Your thoughts?

Most of us DIYers have seen teasing references to sil-polyester ripstop, but most of us haven't been able to locate any of this mystery fabric. quote]

[quote]
mike!tsk tsk guys.. havent you guys heard of spinnaker fabric? its polyester that is silicone impregnated. i've got some yardage of it for some stuff sacks, was going to use it for a bivy floor, but it's kind of noisey at first, and im worried about it's abrasion resistance. a good amount of gossamergear's stuff uses the spinn fabric, as do several other small cottage places.
mike!
http://www.thru-hiker.com/MaterialDe...ated+ Ripstop (http://www.thru-hiker.com/MaterialDetail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=MG155&subcat=Coated+Ripstop) (they sell it at thru-hiker) (they also have it at owareusa.com)

Very good!!!! The mystery cloth has been solved:banana

Thank You Very Much Mike!!!!!

:D well im glad i could help some ppl out, almost makes me feel better about the bears loosing the super bowl. in fact, when people ask me about if im afraid of the bears when i hike, ill say no, it's the colts you gotta worry about. (hah)
the thing i've noticed with the spinn fabric, is it does soften with age, i have a stuff sack and after about a 6 trips it became as quiet as silnylon. hmm i geuss the noise must come from the coating? (i've never seen any polyester make any kinda noise etc) i'd email gossamergear about it, they were the first to use spinnaker cloth into the backpacking world i think?

in regards to the bivy question.. hmm it's a toughh one, the only cuben fiber that you can buy by a yard weighs in a .48 ounces (that im aware of) (you can also buy it straight from cubenfiber.com but they might hit you with a minium order) i'd get a sample from questoutfitters, and check it out because it's a very unique material. however, they dont give you much to play with. if you get a sample pack from cubenfiber.com they give you a very good selection. i know there's a cuben fiber with a finished weight at around .6 ounces i believe that ron bell (MLD) uses for his projects, aswell as Bill F. (you should go check out some of bill's works at backpackinglight.com, he made a cuben fiber bivy himself) that would be a good canidate, however.. with all cuben, it's very $$. I was going to use Spinn on my bivy floor, and by my scientific test of poking spinn and silnylon with a pen, they both seemed about the same level of resistance, with a slight favor towards silnylon. i chickend out because i already had the sil, and knew it would last a little longer on a thru-hike, and piss less people off in the begining when spinn could be crinkly. however, if you go the spinnaker route, email Mike Maurer @ maurer@earthlink.net (maurer@earthlink.net) because he's selling some (if he still has some that is) for cheaper like.. 12$/yard i think in white only.
sorry.. but my friends and family just dont like to talk about lightweight fabrics as much as me, so this was a good vent.
mike!

Mike!, you need to hang out with us more - we could discuss fibers for hours and it sounds like you could add a lot to the conversation. :)

Thank you for the info - and sorry about the Bears. I don't much about football, but I have followed Peyton Manning's career. He is a great person as well as a great athlete.

ooh ahhhh,

Take a look see here for polyester ripstop (http://www.seattlefabrics.com/nylons.html#1.9%20oz%20Urethane%20Coated%20Polyest er%20Ripstop)and the reflective stuff below it.

Here is what it says: 1.9 oz Urethane Coated Polyester Ripstop
1.9 oz. sq. yd. before coating 70 Denier. Similar to the above polyurethane coated ripstop, this fabric is suitable for tents and lightweight tarps. Now on special while supplies last!
Uses: Tent rain flies, lightweight tarps, ponchos, pack covers, kites, wind socks, vapor barrier liners for sleeping bags.
Width: 60"
Colors: Yellow, Royal Blue
Fire Retardant Colors: White
Normally $7.25/yd, now on special for $5.75/yd
Normally $8.75/yd, now on special for $7.25/yd for fire retardant finish
$2.00 for a Sample Pack
Please keep orders to 1/8 yd increments. Minimum order is 1/2 yd.
1/8 = 0.125
1/4 = 0.25
3/8 = 0.375
1/2 = 0.5
5/8 = 0.625
3/4 = 0.75
7/8 = 0.875


here is the reflective:1.3 oz. Heat and Solar Reflective Ripstop

1.3 oz. per sq. yard. A tightly constructed ripstop weave with a metalized urethane/silicone coating on each side. Very light weight plus heat and solar reflective. Perfect for tents in hot climates where staying cool is necessary or cold climates where staying warm is necessary. This fabric will both reflect heat away or inwards.
Width: 64"
$14.95 / yd
$1.00 for Heat Reflective Sample Pack (http://www.seattlefabrics.com/samples.html)
Please keep orders to 1/8 yd increments. Minimum order is 1/2 yd. 1/8 = 0.125
1/4 = 0.25
3/8 = 0.375
1/2 = 0.5
5/8 = 0.625
3/4 = 0.75
7/8 = 0.875

Thanks Zelph. That solar / reflective fabric might make a mighty toasty bivy.