Gadgetgeek wrote:Vinyl adhesives are generally toluene solvent based, (the red hot stuff is MEK, similar in effect) so they actually dissolve part of the material you are gluing. Solvent based glues are very specific to the material you are fixing, so I don't think that is a good idea. A solvent bond is generally stronger since its more like welding than just gluing, but you have to get it more right. The dunlop stuff is for flooring, and I doubt that would remain flexible.
As for how the silicone works, its a mechanical bond, the glue fills in all the microscopic gaps, and itself is quite strong. i've only ever done it with normal clear selly's multi-purpose or roof and gutter, and both low-odor and regular turps, and I've sealed both sil-nylon and sil-poly tarps. Seems to work pretty well. I've had it not stick to some mystery fabric, and some polyurathane stuff, but others have had it work, so I don't know what I did wrong.
Please don't take this as an offense, you seem to be trying to re-invent the wheel. That's fine, but then you will have to do your own testing, and put your own time and money into it. If the normal methods won't work, I don't see how we would know what else to try. I feel like a downer telling you why I don't think ideas will work, but unfortunately, I don't have much else to offer.
Can you post a link to the type of fabric you are using, as well as some more of your overall design ideas? That might help us give better feedback. Right now I'm not so sure I fully understand your goal.
No worries, the stuff I have isn't up any more so I'll look around for it.
As for a seam sealer, I agree that the vinyl sealant will probably be too heavy and hard.
I think I have found a solution though and have heard that this can be workable.
I just bought some Bull Glue (Cheap Shoe Glue $5 for a 50ml tube) from BIGW. I just glued two pieces of Polyurethane Laminate together that I'll be using for my tent and it works great! The only thing is the smell. Maybe that will go away with a wash and dry in the sun.
It's very strong when dried, and will easy to apply my strips of PUL to the seam. I can see that it's chemical welded the pieces together quiet well. I've wet it, scrunched it up, placed it in the sun and it has bonded well and is very flexible. Very happy to have found this stuff.
It's just the smell that's the issue now. Any clues how to get rid of that?
I thought I might paint over it with a silicone and spirits mixture. That would possible work!
Not re-inventing the wheel, just looking at alternatives. It's just a 1 man tent I'm making so I intend to make a few different colors and shapes.