DIY Silicone Seam Sealer for Waterproofing


This is a very useful and inexpensive item to have that can ready your gear for the elements. This silicone based mixture will work best best applied on silicone impregnated materials such as silpoly and silnylon.

Your local hardware store will have all the supplies you need. It is as simple as mixing two ingredients together. Please mix this project in a well ventilated area or outside, the fumes may be strong. And when you apply this seam sealer, do it in a well ventilated area or outside as well as much as possible.

Tools:

Mixing Container- Plastic Cup or glass jar will do great

Mixing Tool- Popsicle stick is great

Cheap small Paint brush

Materials:

Mineral Spirits

100% Silicone Caulk – clear

Directions:

First go outside or to a very well ventilated space. The fumes in this one are heavy.

Squeeze out 1 parts silicone caulk, and pour out about 4-5 parts of mineral spirits in volume relative to the silicone caulk.


Take your popsicle stick and mix it well until your solution is homogeneous.

Take your finished piece that you want to waterproof, and paint over the seams with your new sealer.

All done!

Discussion:

The challenge is preserving your mixture. I would suggest mixing your best estimate of the amount that you will need. If you save your leftovers in a jar, any part exposed to the air even within the jar will dry, i.e. the top layer will cure.

You can also accept that if you save the remains in a jar, a top layer will form the acts like a cap. Every time you use it again, you can remove that layer and place it back on top, to keep the lower contents unexposed to the air.

This project will cost you about $20 to get started in gathering the materials, however you will be able to make a lot of batches out of this. If you will be making enough waterproof pieces and compare it to seam sealer that you buy already mixed (around $5 – $10 for 2 oz), this has an overall lower cost per unit.

This silicone based mixture will work best best applied on silicone impregnated materials such as silpoly and silnylon.


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