11
votes
Can I use a blue plastic tarp to float my vehicle across water?
The whole thing comes down to weight, if your setup can displace more than its weight then it will float, those jeeps were made to be very light. You could be in the situation where your "wrapped car" ...
- 3,270
10
votes
When should I use spray-on versus wash-in waterproofer for treating DWR garments?
Contrary to what a lot of people are saying, the wash-in treatment won't block pores of multi-layer fabrics (unless it's really dirty).
The chemicals used are designed to break down particulates as ...
- 109
10
votes
Accepted
What material is best for durable, waterproof, gloves in many temperatures and weather conditions?
The variety used by pipe fitters working the oil fields in the Great White North:
You sound like you're working on the oil rigs, which explains why the pointer finger on your gloves keeps blowing out....
- 53.1k
10
votes
Accepted
Should I spray a 'good' raincoat with 'water proof' spray?
From a website giving information on jackets, specifically for "Venturi" fabric, the material appears to be similar to GoreTex, etc. and recommended washing is given as:
The durability of Venturi ...
- 5,942
10
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between a sac liner and a dry bag?
The soft dry bags aren't as good as the stiffer sort anyway. My traditional plasticised dry bag can handle long periods in the water if it's been rolled down properly, but my nylon ones eventually let ...
- 23.5k
9
votes
How to repair rubber welly boots?
My personal recommendation would be to use Super/Krazy Glue for any small "cracks" in the rubber. I have successfully used it on rubber and it is quite effective!
for the slightly larger holes than ...
- 4,465
9
votes
Accepted
How to pitch pup tent to avoid puddles
Apart from lengthening the guys on the side panels to get a better angle of pull, the tent can be tightened by raising its support poles.
I use castor dishes in my tent to raise the poles a little bit,...
- 2,910
8
votes
Can I use a blue plastic tarp to float my vehicle across water?
Ok to address your question: Can I use a plastic blue tarp to float my vehicle over water?
Yes
Limits and Considerations:
WILL YOU FLOAT?
First off I will describe the physics of the floating car....
- 882
7
votes
Why is silnylon/silpoly slippery, but silicone sealant is not?
Silpoly is based on polyester, which means it's hydrophobic (doesn't absorb water). Not all slippery materials are hydrophobic, but this definitely factors in. Silicone sealant also repels water, but ...
- 316
7
votes
Can I use a blue plastic tarp to float my vehicle across water?
Based solely on the video you provided the link to, and my experience with blue thick tarp, I have a few things to address. I don't know what kind of tarpaulin you have, how heavy your vehicle is, and ...
- 409
7
votes
Should I spray a 'good' raincoat with 'water proof' spray?
To answer the question simply - no, you shouldn't spray it with anything.
Waterproof fabrics (the higher end kind) are coated in the factory with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish that is ...
- 1,059
7
votes
How do membrane-based boots breathe?
Goretex does two things well.
It's a very light completely windproof layer.
Properly cared for it's waterproof.
There are many places it's used where it's completely inappropriate and just adds ...
6
votes
Accepted
Spray on waterproofing for non-dwr fabrics?
TL;DR - It will help, but it's no magic bullet.
Spray on DWR like nikwax or granger's will help the water bead up for a while when applied to knit fabrics. But the garment will still wet out with ...
6
votes
Can I use a blue plastic tarp to float my vehicle across water?
In addition to previous answers:
Consider the center of mass. The "modern" car usually are quite front heavy (quite often the engine, gearbox, clutch etc. are all in the front) in contrary to the ...
- 1,727
6
votes
Would waterproofing Styrofoam in a boat make water retention better or worse?
Considering the construction principal: "Water Will Find The Failure," water-proofing barriers must be complete, or provide outlets.
If you seal your object 100%, it's ability to retain water will ...
- 361
6
votes
Accepted
Can I waterproof a tent just before it rains?
Most products require 24-48 hours of dry time. Some also recommend multiple coats, with some time (i.e. 4 hours) between coats.
Allow article to dry for 24-48 hours Source
We often spray ...
- 30k
6
votes
What is the difference between a sac liner and a dry bag?
Rucksack liners don't require as much sturdiness as a dry bag since they go inside a rucksack/backpack, which gives it protection and structure. As such rucksack liners weigh less than dry bags and ...
- 6,251
6
votes
Accepted
What preparation is necessary before switching between types of waterproofing on leather boots?
Anecdotally, clean and dry is enough. I've switched between Mink Oil, Sno Seal, Scotch Guard, and Kiwi a few times on my 80's Vasque Sundowners, and it's worked for me. I like the wax/oil based ones ...
- 1,079
5
votes
Restoring water repellency in leather hiking boots
That sounds very strange to me- the leather itself seems like the last thing that would be letting water through, especially if treated with waterproofing products. My immediate thought would be to ...
- 708
5
votes
Should I spray a 'good' raincoat with 'water proof' spray?
The German website you linked contains the following paragraphs under "Pflegehinweise" (maintenance notes):
Die Oberstoffe der Bekleidung werden bereits bei der Herstellung
imprägniert. Diese ...
- 151
5
votes
How to repair rubber welly boots?
A temporary fix I have tried while fishing is to use duct tape. just tape on both sides if the hole and it should hold until you can make some more permanent repairs.
To repair damage in a more ...
- 1,565
5
votes
How can I keep a water-proof barrel dry for use in a canoe?
Always inspect the seal, the closing ring and the barrel lip when buying used barrels, some are pristine and other have been somewhat abused. In certain cases the seal might look good but, from ...
- 3,270
4
votes
What's the difference between water-resistant and waterproof?
In outdoor garments, water resistant means that it will keep you dry in light rain for some time, is not a garment to withstand heavy rain. Water proof means that it will keep you dry in the rain, but ...
- 41
4
votes
Why is silnylon/silpoly slippery, but silicone sealant is not?
I'm not a materials scientist, so can't give you a definitive answer.
But I do know that if you make your own silnylon or silpoly by soaking the base fabric in a solution of silicone and mineral ...
- 11.6k
4
votes
How to waterproof leather gloves & mittens?
I have had the best results "waterproofing" gloves using Snow Seal which is a wax like product. Putting the gloves in the dryer for a few minutes before you apply the wax seems to help in getting good ...
4
votes
Accepted
How to seal a swimming pool/water hole while camping
It is simply just clay. Clay is very water-impermeable in general. This is the reason unfired and unglazed pots can be used to hold water. Some of the water will be absorbed by the clay, but this is a ...
- 7,961
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible