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HI ALL

I am new to camping i have just purchased a new tent on the instructions it said with all nylon tents have their seams sealed with a suitable seams sealent, how do i do this? me not have a clue. 

cheers for the advice

if its brand new the seems are all ready sealed and don't need doing again.
what make and model have you got, oh and welcome to the best site on the web

David and jenny

sorry to jump on your band wagon, hi by the way! I'm a newbie too!

I was wondering how you are meant to "water" a tent in and is it entirely necessary? We have a hosepipe ban down this way and am wondering do I really need to do it. May help with the sealant question.

Tell me to butt out if you like!

thanks

Jodie

Hi

I will try to explain as best I can, It has been said that new tents have already been seam sealed, to check the seam might be taped ( you will see the tape over where the seams are if this has been done), if not taped look for a shiny clear coating over the seam its just waterproof glue to stop any water seeping through the stitching holes.

"Water" a tent mmmmmm I think this is only done to a CANVAS TENT to make the fibres swell and therefore make it waterproof, New manmade tents nylon ect, are already waterproof.

I think I have got it right .........but if not an expert will no doubt be along shortly and give me some grief. hahaha.

Welcome to the site, we are a great bunch on here and are always happy to try to help.

 Steve.   

Actually, not all brand new tents are fully seam sealed.  The Sunncamp Vario range ( not the 2006 model ).  Had big labels stuck on it warning you to seam seal the skylights before its first use.  There was a thread about this sometime ago.  Everyone came up that the reason for this was the time the tents spent on the production line and because of the drying time of the seam sealant it was not production efficient to do it at the factory.  There are a few others that warn you about seam sealing certain parts before using.  I have only had one tent with that warning, and I didn't seal it and luckily it didn't leak.  But I have heard horror stories.

One of my local stores ( Camping and General ) have the 2005 Vario errected in their showroom and on all of them they have a label hanging from the skylight saying the following 'These skylights MUST be seam sealed prior to use to prevent leakage'.

Only canvas tents need to be made wet and allowed to dry prior to using them. This process tightens up the canvas especially around the stiching. I don't have a canvas tent and the only one I have ever had is extremely old and in my attic somewhere.  I read somewhere that with the very new ones this process is not as neccessary anymore.

A lot of the tents are now hot taped around the crucial areas which is why they don't require you to seam seal them prior to use.  But the tape can come off after some use and then they would need to be seam sealed round those areas.

To seam seal, just buy some good quality seam sealant from a camping store and go round the seams ( where the stiching is ) on the outside of the flysheet.  Allow it to dry for about 48 hours before folding the tent up and dont allow the area you have seam sealed to come into contact with any other area of the tent.  A lot of the instructions say 24 hours but I would leave it 48 because if it isn't quite dry, it will basically stick your tent together and could ruin it completely.

Quote: Originally posted by langleys on 05/5/2006

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To seam seal, just buy some good quality seam sealant from a camping store and go round the seams ( where the stiching is ) on the outside of the flysheet.  Allow it to dry for about 48 hours before folding the tent up and dont allow the area you have seam sealed to come into contact with any other area of the tent.  A lot of the instructions say 24 hours but I would leave it 48 because if it isn't quite dry, it will basically stick your tent together and could ruin it completely.

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Quote: Originally posted by B Chrystie on 06/5/2006

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Quote: Originally posted by langleys on 05/5/2006

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To seam seal, just buy some good quality seam sealant from a camping store and go round the seams ( where the stiching is ) on the outside of the flysheet.  Allow it to dry for about 48 hours before folding the tent up and dont allow the area you have seam sealed to come into contact with any other area of the tent.  A lot of the instructions say 24 hours but I would leave it 48 because if it isn't quite dry, it will basically stick your tent together and could ruin it completely.

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Do check the tent instructions carefully. On our new tent it says that if you find you need to seal any seams it must be done on the inside otherwise the guarantee is null and void. Worth checking.

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Thats extremely unusual.  The reason it is usually done on the outside is to stop the water penetrating the fabric in the first place.  By doing it on the inside, potentialy water is already getting through the fabric before it hits the seam sealant.  On a long seam that runs vertically, the water could run down the stitching behind the seam sealant.

Which make and model is that?

Quote: Originally posted by langleys on 06/5/2006

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Quote: Originally posted by B Chrystie on 06/5/2006

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Quote: Originally posted by langleys on 05/5/2006

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To seam seal, just buy some good quality seam sealant from a camping store and go round the seams ( where the stiching is ) on the outside of the flysheet.  Allow it to dry for about 48 hours before folding the tent up and dont allow the area you have seam sealed to come into contact with any other area of the tent.  A lot of the instructions say 24 hours but I would leave it 48 because if it isn't quite dry, it will basically stick your tent together and could ruin it completely.

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Do check the tent instructions carefully. On our new tent it says that if you find you need to seal any seams it must be done on the inside otherwise the guarantee is null and void. Worth checking.

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Thats extremely unusual.  The reason it is usually done on the outside is to stop the water penetrating the fabric in the first place.  By doing it on the inside, potentialy water is already getting through the fabric before it hits the seam sealant.  On a long seam that runs vertically, the water could run down the stitching behind the seam sealant.

Which make and model is that?

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Thanks for all the information,  think i am supposed to water my tent according to the instructions as it is made from polycotton.