Silicone for waterproofing

I recently bought a cheapie vented jacket with padding ect. I wasn't that concerned about waterproofing but it does have a removable liner which works pretty well. Problem is it doesn't meet in the middle so a 2inch strip down the front of your shirt gets soaked. My question is this, on the label it says "A proprietary silicone or fluro carbon spray will help maintain the water resistant qualities of this garment" Anybody ever done this or knows what they are talking about? Thanks

 

It sounds like they're talking about silicone water repellent spray like Camp Dry or Tectron. You can buy these sprays or similar at any sporting goods store.

Well, it's available at any sporting goods store in the US. I don't know how commercially available it may be in South Africa.

 

Not exactly sure I follow your explanation. Are you saying the liner itself appears to small to actually close?

I'm not familiar with brands that are available in South Africa, but there are numerous products available here in the states that can be used to re-waterproof garments.

Nikwax | Waterproofing, Cleaning and Insect Protection products

Penguin™ Shoe Care

Gore Tex Sprays (check various links via Google)

 

Trust me. There is nothing out there as far as treatments that make any garment water proof. About the best you are going to get is weather resistant even on the very much over rated Gortex. The Nikwax is a great product for Gortex but again, all that you are going to get is a garment that sheds very light rain or mist for someone walking running or cycling in the light rain. To expose yourself to heavy rain or ride a motorcycle in the rain requires nothing short of a rubber lines rain suit. There are many silicone sprays out there. If you are going to use such on your gear, read the label and select one that is no less than 15% silicone.

 

I have always had good luck with GoreTex, even in downpours, don't know why you would have had any problems. Every garment design is tested in deluge conditions by the people at Gore.

As for the original question, the answer, I think would be if it is vented for hot weather, it really isn't meant to be ridden in the rain. They liner may work for a summmer shower, but really isn't made for serious rain. Especially if the design is such that the liner doesn't even meet in the middle. That is a pretty good indicator of the design intent. No matter what you coat the liner with, if it doesn't meet in the middle, it will leak in that part. If you coat the outer jacket enough to be water proof, you are going to have to get something that is so thick that it plugs up all the holes, thus rendering the venting useless.

 

I have to agree with Randy on this........I have try soooooo many top brand out there and they are not quite water proof as avertise. Even with Alpine Drystar....I rode for hours in the last storm in Ca wearing BMW Motorad jacket and Alpine Drystar pant and I am wet. The jacket seem to hold water well except around the sim area in the front and around the pockets. As for the pant the wet area is at the crotch area. If you really want to be 100% water proof my suggestion is wear a dry suit or a big condom.

 

just get the rain suit........

 

Condoms are for penises. Also refered to as pricks. Well I am retired now!

 

Just a side note here. If you spray such products on your gear in your garage, and you also use your garage for a wood shop....big mistake. One little micron of a droplet of silicone on a piece of wood will show up a couple years after you have finished the product.

FYI for you woodworkers out there.

 

Not real pretty but camping tent seam sealer works well. Nikwax is a UK product and may be available in your part of the globe. They have an entire line of product.

 

You are 100% right there Billy. Joe Rocket suggested I try that on a jacket I bought from them and man was it gross. JR ended up buying me a new jacket. It probably worked if I dared to wear that mess in public, but I would't recommend it outerwear. Mind you, maybe he can apply it on the inside somewhere that it is not noticeable.

 

Camp dry is a good repellant and it might work for something like that. Its clear but stinks for a while til it dries. I used to spray it on what boots I was riding with on the street, and on my moto boots and work boots. But Randy probably is right when it comes to some heavy rain, water finds its way into everything.

 

One must always decide between wet and fashionable.

 

I agree. I am probably the icon of the fashion world when I gear up for my commute at this time of the year....usually anyways. Right now we are having a blizzard and there are whiteout conditions on the Sumas Prairie, if the freeway is even open right now.

 

Ah yes, lovely Sumas. A great place gas up before heading South on 9. Sumas was first "Sumas Prairie".

Much more fun on 9 than the slab.

As a near fashion icon, will you be sporting a mullet anytime soon?

 

kinda off the subject, but as a woodworker myself, thats far too true! always sucks to put hours and hours of work into a piece only to have it look like it came from a cheap foreign factory

 

and how would a cheap foreign factory be any different from a cheap domestic factory

 

Try applying the sealer with something smaller than a 4" paintbrush.

I really should have stipulated that the seam sealer goes on the inside of the jacket but I had a lapse in judgement. Measure once, cut twice.