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Subject Topic: To waterproof or not waterproof Post Reply Post New Topic
Personviperuk
04/7/2015 at 9:42am
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Hi gear Corado 8 Tent View viperuk's Profile View Profile   Reply to viperuk Reply   Quote viperuk Quote  
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We have a hi gear corado 8 and got it second had, all ok, until we tested it in May and we have a few small leaks! But these only see, to be at seams where the tape has split. We have purchased seam sealer to repair! But we were going to water proof it, but I've read a few things on here that say not to water proof unless it's leaking in etc.

We would be using fabsil , so any tips would be great fully recieved


Persondmsplat
04/7/2015 at 10:02am
 Location: North West
 Outfit: Obelink Familia 6; ESVO Bedouin 280 View dmsplat's Profile View Profile   Reply to dmsplat Reply   Quote dmsplat Quote  
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Personally - apart from sealing the seams - I wouldn't bother.

The manufacturers claim that certain waterproofing solutions increase the UV protection, and therefore increase the life of the tent but I'm not 100% convinced!


PersonBob61
05/7/2015 at 12:51am
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The flysheet of a polyester tent is waterproofed during manufacture and shouldn't leak. I understand the polyester fabric has a layer of polyurethane (PU) on the inside. The outside is then sprayed with silicon which forms a water repelling layer causing rainwater to bead and run off the flysheet quickly and preventing the water from soaking into the out layer of polyester.

This silicon layer will wear off after many months of use and although the tent will remain waterproof due to the inner PU the outer fabric will soak up the rain making it look like a wet rag. It may then be wise to spray with something like Fabsil in order to restore the water repelling properties and help preserve the tent fabric for longer. The tent will also dry quicker on going home day as the material won't have soaked up the dew or rain.

If the water is beading well then waterproofing will not be necessary as it can be quite expensive at about £7 for a 600ml can. My 6 man ex display tent took 3 cans.


Personthebiz
05/7/2015 at 8:58am
 Location: anywhere but here
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I recently bought an ex demo tent from an outdoor tent display. It had been on display for 3 or 4 weeks before I bought it and the shop manager strongly advised that I reproof it before use. ( he mentioned Nikwax ).

I haven't got round to it yet but I've boughtthis to reproof it, wasnt as expensive as buying the cans and hopefully I'll manage to treat a couple of my smaller tents as well.




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Zymocenosilicaphobia-excessive fear of an empty beer glass

' When I die, I will return to seek the moments I did not live by the sea'


PersonBob61
05/7/2015 at 11:34am
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Most people seem to refer to Fabsil when talking about waterproofing. It seems to be the most popular. Of course there are several other products on the market which also do an excellent job. The Nikwax referred to above seems very good and a fair price, especially since it comes with it's own spray nozzle.


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Personthebiz
05/7/2015 at 11:57am
 Location: anywhere but here
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Bob, as I said , it was the manager of the Cotswolds shop who mentioned Nikwax, or I would probably have bought Fabsil just because its a familiar name. I also thought it was good he didnt try to sell me anything from his own stock for the reproofing .



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Zymocenosilicaphobia-excessive fear of an empty beer glass

' When I die, I will return to seek the moments I did not live by the sea'


Persondaveslisa
05/7/2015 at 1:37pm
 Location: None Entered
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We used fabsil to reproof a tent but we painted it on...the shop we got it from told us that it was the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to do it. Luckily my oh is over 6 foot so was able to reach the middle standing on a chair!

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I am who I am


PersonBob61
05/7/2015 at 1:56pm
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I think the name Nikwax itself always put me off...sounds like it is only suitable for horse blankets

The easiest way to do the roof of a large tent if you are only 5'8" like me is to erect it and then disconnect the lower section of the legs. If they are fibreglass poles lodge the second joint into the rings to keep it's shape. Once the roof is done refit the legs and do the rest.


PersonRatherbeinapplecros
05/7/2015 at 6:37pm
 Location: Kelso
 Outfit: Hi gear oasis 6 swift conqueror View Ratherbeinapplecros's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ratherbeinapplecros Reply   Quote Ratherbeinapplecros Quote  
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A vote here for nikwax solar proof I do my tents once a year and have never had so much as a drip.
I am 100% convinced of th uv protection. The tent I use for motorcycle touring was fairly cheap and I have been using it for about ten years including trips in the hight of summer in France and Italy all added up I have spent about seven months or more in it. Now not only has it been in umpteen downpours and never leaks. Also the material has not gone in any way brittle.
It is my opinion that my tent would not have lasted this well without the nikwax


Personheath63
05/7/2015 at 8:40pm
 Location: wirral
 Outfit: Outwell Nevada m Vango sigma 300 View heath63's Profile View Profile   Reply to heath63 Reply   Quote heath63 Quote  
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Nikwax and fabsil do the same job. We tend to use nixwax to wash our outside walking and camping clothes (good stuff).
You can either spray or brush the stuff on to the tent. For easiness just spray it on, if you wanted to you could brush it into the seams and use sealant.

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New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel


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Personmitchells fam
05/7/2015 at 8:48pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: outwell vermont lp View mitchells fam's Profile View Profile   Reply to mitchells fam Reply   Quote mitchells fam Quote  
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after 3 years our tent started with a small leak (we had been in torrential rain for two days though) we sprayed on nikwax and it worked perfectly. My hubby got a huge bottle of it for under twenty quid from go outdoors, well worth it! xx

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Woodthorpe hall april 3 nights
Perran sands august 2 weeks
Hopefully a few more this year!


PersonCW52
10/7/2015 at 8:25pm
 Location: durham
 Outfit: Tent Hi Gear Zenobie 6 Vango Icarus 3 View CW52's Profile View Profile   Reply to CW52 Reply   Quote CW52 Quote  
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Had our tunnel tent for 6 years, only sprayed Fabsil on it once. We had some mildew on a small area 2 years ago, and having washed it off with water with little bleach in it, with tent up in garden, sprayed area with Fabsil. You shouldn't need to reproof a tent annually, as one person suggested. We were in thunder storm last month and tent still fine after 6 yrs.


Personjelboy53
11/7/2015 at 7:38am
 Location: Cumbernauld Scotland
 Outfit: Monty 6Icarus 500 Halo 300 View jelboy53's Profile View Profile   Reply to jelboy53 Reply   Quote jelboy53 Quote  
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Reproofed my old trailer tent and awning(Canvas) with fabsil a few years ago....Decanted the fabsil from the tin into clean(bought for the job)Plastic spray guns from a garden centre....Took a few hrs but every inch of the canvas was well covered....Blocked/covered the edges of all the windows with folded newspaper and masking tape to protect them as I was unsure of the chemical reaction should any fabsil get on the windows...

Inherited an old tent from a friend recently...A bit of TLC needed (Clean up etc) Intend to clean outside of tent and reproof it if we can get a spell of decent stable(Dry) weather....Fabsil and spray guns all bought and ready to go when it does.....

Jelboy.

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Campers of the storm,Into this world are born

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



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