I thought there might be some waterproofing experts here.
I have a 19 year old nylon outersheet Kyham Ultimate. I frequently paint it liberally using a paintbrush with Fabsil waterproofer, yet it leaks, within a week of doing so.
Is there anything else better and more long lasting than Fabsil that I could use please?
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Hi spiritburner, well actually I bought one last week, but I can't get another anything like the Khyam and I did so love the old tent. If I could get keep the rain out even now with the new tent in the shed I'd still use the old one.
Synthetic fabrics do not absorb water or Fabsil solution. The Fabsil dries on the surface of the fabric fibres and is washed away when it rains.
The fibres in cotton fabrics absorb the Fabsil solution so that once dry no further water can be absorbed and transported by the fabric.
Don't waste any more money on Fabsil but don't throw the tent away you can use it as a cooking shelter where a little leak won't hurt.
You still seem to be in mourning for your old tent, I would guess you've gone out and bought something cheap and nasty in a hurry and you hate it. Use the new tent for the rest of this season but spend some time choosing a new tent that you actually like, it will probably be seem expensive when you find it but you are looking for an ideal tent that meets all your needs and expectations.
------------- Enjoy the liveliness of the syntax.
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Quote: Originally posted by JOCUKCamp on 01/8/2019
Hi spiritburner, well actually I bought one last week, but I can't get another anything like the Khyam and I did so love the old tent. If I could get keep the rain out even now with the new tent in the shed I'd still use the old one.
I feel your pain. Our main family tent is well loved & well used & about 13 years old & hard to replace as rare even when we bought it new. Also nylon but still holding up well. I've a couple of pole sections to replace. We dallied with another tent last year but it didn't work out so the old un isn't being retired just yet although it will have a quiter life now we have a campervan. Fabsil can restore the DWR on a synthetic tent but the effect wont last long if the original proofing is shot.
Bramston, I think you have me nailed. I had a load of fun with the old Kyham Ultimate XL - I could even put it up single handed if I needed to. I had a waxed tarpaulin floor that I made for it and it was literally bomb-proof until it let the rain in :-(
I am keeping it though - it's seen an awful lot of marquee duty for family parties and will still serve in that capacity.
The new family tent is a rather costly Vango Ovara - we are off to try it out at the end of August. The obvious drawback at the moment are the thread-it-through poles - I didn't trust the new inflatable tents. I've had it up in the garden, but I not certain it will stand the gales that the Kyham did.