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Re: Skin-on-Frame: Shrinking nylon
By:Ken Blanton
Date: 9/27/2012, 3:28 pm
In Response To: Skin-on-Frame: Shrinking nylon (Stefan)

I use Dyson 12oz nylon and I sew and shrink using the same method as Corey has outlined on his site. I wet the skin and go over it with a hot iron set on the cotton setting. The iron setting isn't too critical ... you're not ironing a crease in a pair of pants ... you're just going over the wet nylon until it steams. Keep the iron moving of course so ya don't burn a hole in the darn thing. I iron over the cloth until steam is released and the skin shrinks a bit and I stop when the cloth is just a tiny bit damp. You want to be careful that you don't shrink the fibers to the point that they're over stretched ... ya just wanna shrink out the wrinkles by tightening the skin a bit. When I'm done with the iron I move the kayak into the house where the temperature is stable and let the nylon dry out ... it will tighten up a bit more. I leave it in the house until I'm ready to coat the fabric. I use oil based ZAR. When the boat is in use the tightness of the nylon will vary with the moisture content in the air, water in the boat and the temperature. IMO the more penetration you can get with your coating the less this will happen. I tend to pick up some very minor wrinkles for the first few months of paddling but they go away when the boat dries out and they decrease as the boat gets older ... in my case the cause is mostly water inside the boat. Shrinking the stuff is pretty easy ... easier than ya think if ya haven't done it before.

Ken Blanton

: Hey All,

: Finally getting my skin sewn on. I am using Corey's 12oz ballistic
: nylon. Is shrinking recommended? If so do I wet out the nylon
: and iron it. If so what temp setting on the iron?

: Thanks,

: Stefan

Messages In This Thread

Skin-on-Frame: Shrinking nylon
Stefan -- 9/26/2012, 3:55 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Shrinking nylon
Bill Hamm -- 9/27/2012, 1:58 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Shrinking nylon
lance buck -- 9/27/2012, 2:46 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Shrinking nylon
Ken Blanton -- 9/27/2012, 3:28 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Shrinking nylon
stefan -- 9/27/2012, 3:43 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Shrinking nylon
Ken Blanton -- 9/27/2012, 5:05 pm