Macpac seamsealing

So when I planned this trip I asked the, issue to grab my 1 man Kathmandu tent for me and bring it back south.... She managed to grab the brand new Macpac minaret (they do look very similar so she has a an excuse) now I have the wonderful job of seam sealing it.... Just been doing a bit of googling and discovered it ain't that easy. To start with you need to stretch it out tight, great do it in the living room in front of the fire, nope need to peg it out!!

Waiting for Macpac to get back to me but has anyone on here had a go at it?

Got a tube of sil nylon applicable stuff but don't want it to look like a bird cramped all over it before I even use the damn thing

Did it once a few years back. Wasn't too bad. I pitched the fly inside out in the lounge. Think I used furniture and safety pins in the carpet to pitch it tight. Mind you it was a flat of outdoor geeks so no one cared.

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Originally Posted by 223nut

So when I planned this trip I asked the, issue to grab my 1 man Kathmandu tent for me and bring it back south.... She managed to grab the brand new Macpac minaret (they do look very similar so she has a an excuse) now I have the wonderful job of seam sealing it.... Just been doing a bit of googling and discovered it ain't that easy. To start with you need to stretch it out tight, great do it in the living room in front of the fire, nope need to peg it out!!

Waiting for Macpac to get back to me but has anyone on here had a go at it?

Got a tube of sil nylon applicable stuff but don't want it to look like a bird cramped all over it before I even use the damn thing

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Did one just after Christmas. Erected the fly inside out on the back lawn and painted on the silicon. Note that it goes on the inside so still looks good from the outside. Think if I was doing it again I'd put the sealant into another container and thin it down a bit.

It's easy as. Just a 50-50 mix of silicone (must be 100% pure silicone, which is easy to find at Bunnings etc) and turps. I did mine on the outside and you can hardly notice it. Mix it in a cup sized container & paint it on. Needs a bit of time to dry, I just got some talcum powder & chucked it on it to make double sure it wasn't sticky for when I repacked it.

Also do a few strips on the inside on the floor so your inflatable mattress doesn't slide around.

Mine's a tarptent and they have a good vid on it here.

Tarptent Videos

It's down the bottom titled "How to seam seal"

Just found an awesome you tube clip of a guy in the UK doing one. Inside job isn't really an option sadly @stug missus is not an outdoor nut and since its her house.... (wait till winter and we R at the Bach!) @gadgetman this guy used a syringe and brush seamed.... To go really well.

Going to have to wait for a fine day and peg it outside, then chuck it in the shed to dry, the UK fellow also recommended to put talcum powder on the sealant afterwards to stop it sticking to anything else.

The tube says to both inside and out.... Now I'm confused :O_O:

@Ricochet have heard of that mix, might try it with an older tent not something brand new. Strips on the floor is a damn good idea.

Tempted just to do my goretex Amy surplus bivy bag and take that, 1800m a.s.l. In the middle of may.... With a dog to keep me warm... Vs carrying a 2person tent and the extra weight... Hmm. Tough call

Inside is unnecessary. The outside is easier & my little 900gm tarptent has never leaked and it's been out in shit like we're having now lol.

Tauranga SAR only practice in storms apparently. It's fucking horrible.


Edit - The mix I suggested is what those flash tubes have in them bro, honestly, it dries clear and works perfectly.

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Originally Posted by Ricochet

Inside is unnecessary. The outside is easier & my little 900gm tarptent has never leaked and it's been out in shit like we're having now lol.

Tauranga SAR only practice in storms apparently. It's fucking horrible.


Edit - The mix I suggested is what those flash tubes have in them bro, honestly, it dries clear and works perfectly.

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That is what I would no next time.

Did it with my macpac microlite or whatever it is not long ago. Easy as. I put on a latex glove and applied it with my finger. Had no idea what I was doing, went well, looks good, tent sealed perfectly first time.

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Originally Posted by Jack_

Did it with my macpac microlite or whatever it is not long ago. Easy as. I put on a latex glove and applied it with my finger. Had no idea what I was doing, went well, looks good, tent sealed perfectly first time.

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Sweet will give it a shot once he weather fines up.... Got 3 weeks till I need to use it so surely there will be a fine day thought looking at the weather tonight not this week

In this age you have to seem deal your own tents, when I did mine I rung them up and told them what I thought...... Why isn't this done from the factory?


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Originally Posted by Smiddy

In this age you have to seem deal your own tents, when I did mine I rung them up and told them what I thought...... Why isn't this done from the factory?


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Their excuse is they don't know how long it will sit on the shelf.... Bet it's going to sit in my toy cupboard longer than their shelf.

Only going to do outside, the minaret has the pole sleeves on the inside of the fly so would be tricky getting it inside out

I've never seam sealed a tent I've bought and have never had one leak :wtfsmilie:

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Originally Posted by JoshC

I've never seam sealed a tent I've bought and have never had one leak :wtfsmilie:

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Better safe than sorry... Only need to do it once and if they say it needs doing I figure I might as well spend a few hours doing it.

Yeah fair enough

I have done a diy seam seal job with the silcone dissolved in turps. it works very well. The biggest issue you have is getting the lump of silicone to dissolve and mix with the turps. Squirt it in a empty plastic bottle and add turps , shake the shit out of it and wait a while then shake again. Lay masking tape down each side of the seam( stitching etc ) to be sealed and have at it with a narrow paint brush or several cotton buds.
Because you have applied the masking tape you can really poke in to the stitches and seams to get a good deep penetration.

mmmm sounds a bit porno eh!

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Originally Posted by johnd

I have done a diy seam seal job with the silcone dissolved in turps. it works very well. The biggest issue you have is getting the lump of silicone to dissolve and mix with the turps. Squirt it in a empty plastic bottle and add turps , shake the shit out of it and wait a while then shake again. Lay masking tape down each side of the seam( stitching etc ) to be sealed and have at it with a narrow paint brush or several cotton buds.
Because you have applied the masking tape you can really poke in to the stitches and seams to get a good deep penetration.

mmmm sounds a bit porno eh!

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Taping je seams off is a damn good idea, not easy with the minaret but with my bivy bag I plan on doing nice and straight stitching so makes it easy

In theory this should work on my coat that the seamsealing has peeled of. Paint it on the seams inside and out. It doesn't see extreme wet because I've a oilskin for that ( or I stay inside til it goes off). It's still a good coat and should hopefully revive it. A can of silicon spray over the rest of it. Job done:thumbsup:
I was looking half hearted at Hunters Element, but will save up abit longer and go Swazi Tahr for when I really need to rely on a coat I think.

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Originally Posted by oraki

In theory this should work on my coat that the seamsealing has peeled of. Paint it on the seams inside and out. It doesn't see extreme wet because I've a oilskin for that ( or I stay inside til it goes off). It's still a good coat and should hopefully revive it. A can of silicon spray over the rest of it. Job done[emoji106]
I was looking half hearted at Hunters Element, but will save up abit longer and go Swazi Tahr for when I really need to rely on a coat I think.

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Look at the recent thread on hunters element. If you want a budget one I really rate the ridgeline deluge.

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