Seamsealing inside or outside in high-humidity weather (Trailstar)

B

balder

Hiker
Hello.
My first post here, but I've been lurking for quite a while.
If everything works out well I'm getting a used, only pitched once, bright orange MLD Trailstar soon. It isn't seamsealed yet though.
However I'm in Denmark, and our weather being very similar to what you have in the UK, I figured I would ask here if anyone's got any tips for seamsealing inside, or outside in conditions where it might start raining any second. I haven't done any big seamsealing jobs like this before, only the occasional bit of maintenance on a few tarps.

Thank you,
Balder
 
Shewie

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
I usually do my sealing inside, with my Trailstar I suspended it form the top loop and then did a couple of seams at once, stretching each one with weights. When dried I moved onto the next couple of seams.
A bit of a faff but better than waiting for a dry day in Yorkshire :)
 
Teepee

Teepee

Thru Hiker
Just go camping Balder with some sealant and little bit of talc when it's not due to be very cold :)

Done in the afternoon, as long as it's light showers and you have a couple of hours of dry after initial application, it's fine to pack away with a bit of talc rubbed on the sealant to stop it sticking. Silicone will set more quickly than PU, PU needs talcing more throughly than Silicone.
 
Graham

Graham

Thru Hiker
Hi @balder

I sealed my TS inside my house. The TS and other MLD seams are now flat on the outside so you don't need to worry about putting any seam sealant under a fabric flap.

I recommend turning up the heating in that room, the warmer the better. I laid two panels of the TS out flat on the floor, used heavy weights on the panels to pull the seams tight. Used the supplied SilNet, undiluted and used my finger to rub it onto the seam. Left overnight to dry and cure. Next day, did two more seams in the same way and left overnight. Finally, sealed the last main seam plus the apex spiral stitching. Left that over the third night. Although SilNet is touch dry in a warm room quite quickly, leaving overnight is important for proper curing of the sealant. IMO applying the sealant on the floor gives the neatest finish, you can also press down pretty hard with your finger and smear the SilNet thinly. You might end up with a blistered finger :(. Also having an understanding (or at least reconciled to the facts) family helps.
 
FOX160

FOX160

Thru Hiker
Not a Trail star owner, but I seam sealed my Tarptent inside and out.
i pulled the guy lines taught to brush the silicon into all the necessary areas.
 
Graham

Graham

Thru Hiker
That's very interesting @Ken T. do you have a link for further information on that by any chance? I wonder why all the tent manufacturers IIRC recommend choosing a dry, sunny day for sealing outdoors?
 
FOX160

FOX160

Thru Hiker
Graham said:
That's very interesting @Ken T. do you have a link for further information on that by any chance? I wonder why all the tent manufacturers IIRC recommend choosing a dry, sunny day for sealing outdoors?
Click to expand...

Basically it dries quicker, and no moisture within/surface of the fabric.
Why outside ? because your breaking down the silicon with solvent based liquid.
Obviously if used inside make sure the room is vented.
 
Graham

Graham

Thru Hiker
FOX160 said:
Basically it dries quicker, and no moisture within/surface of the fabric.
Why outside ? because your breaking down the silicon with solvent based liquid.
Obviously if used inside make sure the room is vented.
Click to expand...

The initial drying I get, it's the curing I'm interested to hear more about.

Applied indoors. Didn't thin, didn't vent. Pretty much Plumber style.
 
WilliamC

WilliamC

Thru Hiker
From the Silnet Technical Data Sheet: "Silnet™ is a self-leveling, one-component silicone sealant, which cures at room temperature under the influence of moisture...
Application Recommendations:
Temperature - Room temperature
Relative humidity - There is no recommendation on humidity other than that you need some."
 
Graham

Graham

Thru Hiker
Ha... didn't read the Technical Data Sheet :whistling:

We don't get static shocks indoors (did do in other climes in winter even with the humidifier running) and we're not constantly misting up, so I assume that we've got something like the 30-50% 'optimal' humidity range indoors, so sufficient for curing?

Anyway, my TS seams are really a thing of beauty ;)
 
B

balder

Hiker
Thanks for the useful replies :). My TS is on it's way now.
I've got a mount for a hammock-chair in the ceiling of my living-room, so the plan right now is to suspend it from there, with a carabiner, and do one or two seams at a time.
Thankfully my girlfriend is tolerant, and likes backpacking too, so I think she'll be able to put up with it (even though pregnancy has heightened her sense of smell to superhuman levels).
 
Ken T.

Ken T.

Section Hiker
I have used Permatex flowable windshield silicone for seam sealing and at work for years. Zero odor and have gotten away with sealing a Duomid in the living room on a miserable winter day. Could handle in half an hour. Inexpensive, easy to find(here), comes with an applicator. Great for doing strips on shelter floors or the underside of pads to keep you from taking a tour of your shelter. Never used talc. Me thinks Silnet is way too thick. Have unopened tubes. Had MLD seam seal my last purchase. Have to say they did a nice job.

More on curing,
"For one part condensation silicones, increasing the humidity will speed the curing process. A particularly desirable cure cycle for silicone adhesives/sealants involves exposure to 130-150°F and 95-100% relative humidity. "

Thailand would be a good locale.
 
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F

Franco Darioli

Ultralighter
The longest time for silicone to cure is indeed (counterintuitively) on a hot sunny day.
To speed up the curing I, on a couple of occasions , used one of those jug sized steam cleaner (at a distance...)
I do think that keeping the seams in tension does work best as it does wiping the excess away as done at Tarptent.
BTW, I don't use gloves but if you have skin problems you probably should.
 
B

balder

Hiker
My TS arrived today, and I just need to get some SilNet from a local retailer and then I'm ready to get started. I'm wondering how everyone treated the stitching that connects the hang-loop to the outside of the apex. Did you put SilNet on it, or did you leave it as is?
 
Lady Grey

Lady Grey

Thru Hiker
balder said:
My TS arrived today, and I just need to get some SilNet from a local retailer and then I'm ready to get started. I'm wondering how everyone treated the stitching that connects the hang-loop to the outside of the apex. Did you put SilNet on it, or did you leave it as is?
Click to expand...

How many weeks wait for you TS, Balder?
 
jj1

jj1

Summit Camper
balder said:
My TS arrived today, and I just need to get some SilNet from a local retailer and then I'm ready to get started. I'm wondering how everyone treated the stitching that connects the hang-loop to the outside of the apex. Did you put SilNet on it, or did you leave it as is?
Click to expand...
I sealed mine. Made sense because there is stitching and needed that part of the trailstar to look as unkempt on the seams as the rest of the tarp
 
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