What's the best way to repair silpoly (Dan Durston Xmid) 'dents' in flysheet?

[fqjiopjq28fq]

While I was setting up my tent one of the pole tips got caught in the fly sheet and made a 'dent' accompanied by a nasty stretching noise.

In another case the tip of the pole either wasn't in the grommet or it came out during the night and dented the flysheet in the reinforced area in the peak.

What's the best way to repair these 'dents'?

 

[Jamess]

If the silpoly has stretched I'm not sure that there is a way to repair it.

Providing there's no hole it should still be functional and I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Rickyboyd]

Please see below Dan D’s advice on a similar mishap I had but punctured. Don’t know if any use.

Sorry about the mishap. The X-Mid uses polyester fabric for the fly with a silicone coating on the outside and a PEU coating on the inside. Thus, different products adhere differently to the inside and outside.

For small holes or cuts, you can seal the tent on the outside using clear silicone caulk, such as GE Silicone II. You can buy small tubes that don’t require a caulking gun. Or on the inside with a PU adhesive like Seam Grip.

For larger repairs, first close the wound by sewing it shut or using tenacious tape. Tenacious tape will stick well to the inside of the fabric and will last permanently if it’s applied to clean fabric (wipe with alcohol). The sage color matches the X-Mid remarkably well. With either sewing or tape, you may wish to also seal the outside with silicone to ensure it is waterproof and to add strength. If you sewed it shut, it is best to dilute the silicone cault 3:1 with mineral spirits to create a thinner slurry that will soak into the stitching.

It is also possible to create patches of the fly material by pirating some from the stake stuff sack and adhering it to the outside (with silicone) or to the inside (with SeamGrip) but there is little reason to do this since tenacious tape on the inside accomplishes something similar.

 

[Teepee]

I'd do what Rickyboyd has said and repair it with liquid sealant.

FWIW, a rip won't usually propagate from that exact point...it will tear from a stitch line, likely from the hem. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

I had a shelter get stabbed with a flailing Ti peg in a gale once, made 150 or so torn holes in it around the tie out and into the mid panel. I diligently patched it with glue and fabric and carried on using it out of sheer minded stubbornness.
When it finally got destroyed by a landing Seaking helicopter, it snapped the hem and tore 4m round the stitch lines from the floor hem to the middle of the ridge...none of the repaired holes were touched

 

[fqjiopjq28fq]

Please see below Dan D’s advice on a similar mishap I had but punctured. Don’t know if any use.

Sorry about the mishap. The X-Mid uses polyester fabric for the fly with a silicone coating on the outside and a PEU coating on the inside. Thus, different products adhere differently to the inside and outside.

For small holes or cuts, you can seal the tent on the outside using clear silicone caulk, such as GE Silicone II. You can buy small tubes that don’t require a caulking gun. Or on the inside with a PU adhesive like Seam Grip.

For larger repairs, first close the wound by sewing it shut or using tenacious tape. Tenacious tape will stick well to the inside of the fabric and will last permanently if it’s applied to clean fabric (wipe with alcohol). The sage color matches the X-Mid remarkably well. With either sewing or tape, you may wish to also seal the outside with silicone to ensure it is waterproof and to add strength. If you sewed it shut, it is best to dilute the silicone cault 3:1 with mineral spirits to create a thinner slurry that will soak into the stitching.

It is also possible to create patches of the fly material by pirating some from the stake stuff sack and adhering it to the outside (with silicone) or to the inside (with SeamGrip) but there is little reason to do this since tenacious tape on the inside accomplishes something similar.

Scarp 1. Great on its own. Bomber with crossing poles. https://blogpackinglight.wordpress.com/2020/01/30/scarp-1-mk3-first-outing/

Never had one but if I was looking for a relatively cheap but strong tent I’d consider a Wild Country Helm 1 (or2) https://www.terra-nova.co.uk/all-tents/1-man-tents/helm-compact-1-tent/

I'd do what Rickyboyd has said and repair it with liquid sealant.

FWIW, a rip won't usually propagate from that exact point...it will tear from a stitch line, likely from the hem. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

I had a shelter get stabbed with a flailing Ti peg in a gale once, made 150 or so torn holes in it around the tie out and into the mid panel. I diligently patched it with glue and fabric and carried on using it out of sheer minded stubbornness.
When it finally got destroyed by a landing Seaking helicopter, it snapped the hem and tore 4m round the stitch lines from the floor hem to the middle of the ridge...none of the repaired holes were touched

That's great information, thanks.

 

[fqjiopjq28fq]

I'd do what Rickyboyd has said and repair it with liquid sealant.

FWIW, a rip won't usually propagate from that exact point...it will tear from a stitch line, likely from the hem. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

I had a shelter get stabbed with a flailing Ti peg in a gale once, made 150 or so torn holes in it around the tie out and into the mid panel. I diligently patched it with glue and fabric and carried on using it out of sheer minded stubbornness.
When it finally got destroyed by a landing Seaking helicopter, it snapped the hem and tore 4m round the stitch lines from the floor hem to the middle of the ridge...none of the repaired holes were touched