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Topic: Fabsil & Seam Sealing

CamperStoke

08/6/2015 at 11:36am
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Outfit: Vango Asante 500 & Coleman Instant 4

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I have recently been given a Lichfield Stafford 100 (ridge tent) by my dad which I last used when I was about 10. It hasn't seen much use as it has been packed away in his loft for about 15 years, but the material is in excellent condition as it hasn't had much exposure to the weather and in particular the sun!

As it is an older tent, the seams aren't sealed inside but it didn't leak after a quick blast with the hosepipe yesterday.

What I am looking to do it seal the main seams on the outer flysheet and possibly treat the outer flysheet with Fabsil. I've washed the groundsheet and attached inner and repaired a small hole in the groundsheet.

My question is..

Should I seam seal the inside flysheet seams first, or treat the outside with Fabsil first (wait for it to dry) then seal the seams inside with a seam sealer? I am only thinking about the order as Fabsil is solvent based and some seam sealers are water based, so I was wondering if I seam sealed first then used Fabsil would it remove the sealant..

Any thoughts on whether the order I do this in matters or not?

This isn't a major project so if it's a disaster it's not a big issue, was just looking to protect it from the elements a little so I can leave it in the garden for my daughter as a play tent!

Post last edited on 08/06/2015 11:52:56

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April 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
June 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
July 2015 - Pillars of Hercules, Fife
August 2015 - Fforest Fields, Powys

jelboy53

08/6/2015 at 4:05pm
Location: Cumbernauld Scotland
Outfit: Monty 6Icarus 500 Halo 300

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I would go with the Fabsil 1st Spraying it on all over the area you want to do...Then maybe brush some on the outside of the seams giving them 2-3 coatings...Letting each coat dry before applying the next...Paying particular attention to the stitching...

I have always thought of seam sealer as an emergency stop gap sealant applied when your out in the tent in a downpour and the seams widen and rain comes in through the stitching...

I would think a few coats of Fabsil would seal the seams sufficiently on the outside to negate the use of seam sealant...

By the sounds of it the tent seems waterproof to a fair degree already as you have had the hose on it and it didn't leak....

Jelboy.

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Campers of the storm,Into this world are born

Some days are Diamonds...Some days are stone...

CamperStoke

08/6/2015 at 4:28pm
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Outfit: Vango Asante 500 & Coleman Instant 4

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Many thanks for the reply.

I agree that the seam sealer may be a step too far as it stands. The reason for the Fabsil (or similar) was as much to protect the flysheet from UV exposure as it was to waterproof as it will be left in the garden for a few weeks at a time. Like you say I did have the hose on it and it seemed to be OK (albeit the hosing was short lived and probably not comparible to one of our UK downpours!)

I think I will treat the flysheet with either Fabsil, maybe some Nikwax solarproof or similar.

Thanks again.

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April 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
June 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
July 2015 - Pillars of Hercules, Fife
August 2015 - Fforest Fields, Powys

CamperStoke

08/6/2015 at 4:39pm
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Outfit: Vango Asante 500 & Coleman Instant 4

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This is the tent for anyone interested, a bit of a classic..

Excuse the dodgy pitching and finger over the camera lens! The dodgy pitching was due to the rubber bands for pegging the flysheet having perished due to age (bar one front centre that you can see in the photo) so I had to peg it through the stitched on hoops. No excuses for the finger over the lens..

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April 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
June 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
July 2015 - Pillars of Hercules, Fife
August 2015 - Fforest Fields, Powys

Bob61

09/6/2015 at 12:31pm
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Hardly worth Fabsil and seam sealant for that...just stick an umbrella over it

CamperStoke

09/6/2015 at 1:12pm
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Outfit: Vango Asante 500 & Coleman Instant 4

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Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 09/6/2015Hardly worth Fabsil and seam sealant for that...just stick an umbrella over it

Good idea, I do have an old fishing umbrella in the garage that is bigger than this tent

I still can't believe how good a condition it's in, it must easily be 20 years old (at least) and its been in my Dad's loft for all of that time bar a couple of uses as a kid. That said, lack of exposure to the elements has probably kept it decent!

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April 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
June 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
July 2015 - Pillars of Hercules, Fife
August 2015 - Fforest Fields, Powys

Bob61

09/6/2015 at 7:53pm
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I had an old Gelert dome tent in similar condition. Used it a few times for wild camping and then put it away when I started big tent camping. It was in lovely condition and I took it down the tip and gave it to the lads who worked there. I think they almost came to blows arguing over who was going to have it

With regards the Fabsil and seam sealant I think I would be inclined to let one dry before applying the other but I shouldn't think it matters which order.

Post last edited on 09/06/2015 19:59:59

andredup

10/6/2015 at 2:18am
Location: kent
Outfit: tent

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Can get Fabsil at the uk campsites shop (in the 2nd row down,4th box from ''tent review '' http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/membershop/dept.asp?dept=Online%20Shop&type=Tent%20Spares%20and%20Accessories

Wish I'd discovered this last week as I had to reproof a fabric tent rebuild. Cost almost the same as the spraycan of Fabsil (Mixed 1 l white spirit with a 300ml tube of flexible mold resistant bathroom silicone sealant .

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