Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: n3303j on May 25, 2025, 11:30:54 AM
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(https://i.ibb.co/Y7CN2Mdd/20240520-181546-001.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Y7CN2Mdd)
So I bought this NOS military surplus one man combat tent directly from Eureka in Binghamton, NY about 20 years ago.
The fly is internally blackout coated with a waterproofing agent. After 20 years it has some spots that flaked off and they drip in a heavy rain.
I tried a water based sealer. It dissolved in a heavy rain. Duh!
Was thinking about dabbing the leaky spots with Flex Seal.
(https://i.ibb.co/ZR9zXPj7/b4e3f959-a491-4970-98bb-51dbc436418b.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZR9zXPj7)
Anyone know of any reason this should not work?
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Weight?
What about thinned silicone?
Or spraying on Nikwax?
Or melting in paraffin wax?
Here’s a YouTube video on both silicone and wax methods:
https://youtu.be/HedRbIsM75M?si=zHkrKAP4qo5HFoLR (https://youtu.be/HedRbIsM75M?si=zHkrKAP4qo5HFoLR)
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All decent ideas except I already have a can of Flex-Seal in my shop.
I'm not looking to treat the whole fly. I just want to dab it over the pinholes. Just a matter of hang the fly stretched out. Backlight it and dab the sealant over the spots I see light through.
Just want to know if anyone has had problems with Flex-Seal becoming tacky with age or any thing else that would make it unsuitable for repairing a fly that gets rolled up with the tent.
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You have had it 20 years
A new tent will fix it LOL
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Friend with a soft top on their Jeep tried patching it with flex seal tape and then spray, neither held up to folding and may have also failed in part to UV exposure.
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You have had it 20 years
A new tent will fix it LOL
I've had it ONLY 20 years. It's military quality and made in Binghamton, New York. I don't have anorher 20 years. Don't want to waste a good tent on an old guy. It's younger than any of my bikes. I don't get rid of them just because they need maintenance. They will outlast me.
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Among other things, we have a mint 1967 Commander pop-up and are involved in 1-2 old camper groups/forums. Flex seal does not have a good track record in those groups. It works for a while (apparently just long enough to film a tv commercial...), then reportedly becomes a total abject failure and liability to adequately remove in hopes that a proper repair can be made.
My wife worked as a professional guide, running camps, lived in a tent for 4 years, etc etc hard core btdt doesnt screw around with such things. We have had our big Eureka Copper Canyon tent for nearly 20 yrs and love it. Dont waste a good tent. Fix it right. Use legit product like nikwax waterproofing or seam sealer as suggested.