Jacket seam sealing update

[RAW]

I had posted somewhere and got a response on resealing the seams on my Simms jacket. A member mentioned Fabric Fusion it’s fantastic, inexpensive and came out smooth, Ended up doing ll bean raincoats, waders etc. 8 ounces with brush less than $12 at Walmart, still have 80% left. Tent seams, thanks to whom set me on this stuff

[Camhabib]

Curious why you decided to use this instead of a dedicated seam sealing product? May be a bit more expensive, but I'd be worried that something not intended for GoreTex would cause delimitation / breakdown of the fabric. 

 

[RAW]

On other jackets some other products got soft when wet or rolled off. The pictured jacket was redone by Simms and last 1 fall. Gear aid products are basically the same and the price comes out to be 4-5 times more. I wasn't price. Its identical in ingredients. Some, I have 2 sets of waders, a backpack and a tent. The brush when dried had the sealant on I could not remove, Will see.

[Camhabib]

4 mins ago, RAW said:

On other jackets some other products got soft when wet or rolled off. The pictured jacket was redone by Simms and last 1 fall. Gear aid products are basically the same and the price comes out to be 4-5 times more. I wasn't price. Its identical in ingredients. Some, I have 2 sets of waders, a backpack and a tent. The brush when dried had the sealant on I could not remove, Will see.

Interesting. I have found that the quality of my results with sealing is strongly correlated with how well I prep the jacket. I give the item a good wash, clean off any existing residue, prep the area with 70% IPA, and give the sealant 2x to set before manipulating the fabric. You can also use a roll of seam tape to help secure everything together and protect the sealant. When done this way, I have found my repairs last >5 years with very heavy use.

[RAW]

I’ve used aquaseal and Cottel , just didn’t have or anyone close by . Will see, it’s that time year to bundle and fish in snow and ice

[EricDice]

On 9/21/2023 at 1:48 PM, RAW said:

I’ve used aquaseal and Cottel , just didn’t have or anyone close by . Will see, it’s that time year to bundle and fish in snow and ice

I know you’re in ME, but snow & ice already? Don’t you go to FL too?
 

Might be time for Florida, lol. 

[RAW]

12 mins ago, EricDice said:

I know you’re in ME, but snow & ice already? Don’t you go to FL too?
 

Might be time for Florida, lol. 

No more Fl. Sons and grandson go to NY for steelhead starting around Nov 1st thru April , I thought about it decided I’m past those type days of fishing . So all equipment being brought to them in Western Ma, . Waders , jackets, studded boots, korkers, wading staffs, and all various rods and reels and shoreside cooler etc. , I do fly fish trout here October- April

[EricDice]

On 9/22/2023 at 4:55 PM, RAW said:

No more Fl. Sons and grandson go to NY for steelhead starting around Nov 1st thru April , I thought about it decided I’m past those type days of fishing . So all equipment being brought to them in Western Ma, . Waders , jackets, studded boots, korkers, wading staffs, and all various rods and reels and shoreside cooler etc. , I do fly fish trout here October- April

Thats really great stuff! We’re fishing salt for much smaller fish!! And only two generations. 

[TopStriperAngler]

RAW have u done any testing with the jacket to see how good the fabric fusion does at stopping water? I'm thinking putting on a black shirt longsleve shirt or something then the jacket and getting in the shower. 

 

I believe fabric fusion can be diluted with water and that might be useful for really getting it into the pores of the fabric. 

 

Fabric fusion and liquid fusion also good for as a fly head cement. I believe Jonny King uses the liquid fusion, watered down, to make stiff-head style flies. Can't remember the name or style name right now but it'll come ot me. 

[TopStriperAngler]

It might be good to contact Goretex--whoever makes it--and ask them if they have any opinion on use of Fabric Fusion as a seam sealer. Goretex seems to take their fabric performance really seriously and might have some interesting advice on sealers. No clue who to contact--I'm thikning whoever makes goretex rather then the people who made/sold the jacket. 

[RAW]

After applying I let brush dry  by mistake, water would not loosen the product. I had to peel off with difficulty, where it penetrated the bristles It could not  be pulled off. Compared to the Simms repair it looks far more durable, not a pretty, but inside it doesn’t matter and it feels comfortable on neck, 22 yr old jacket, just Did Simms waist high guide pants one the bootie seam to goretex ,, Will post a revue after giving it a good workout