Re: On Oiled Silk
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2019 3:47 pm
So I just did some tests on various swatches of cloth I got. I tested a couple of pieces of silk--some 4oz raw 'noil' and some 3oz woven 'broadcloth'. I also tested some 3oz linen and some 10oz duck canvas. I treated them with a wax/oil dressing I've used for my raincoats for some time. If anyone's really interested, I can bore you with the procedure and raw data, but here's the analysis:
The noil absorbed more oil, and subsequently more water, relative to its weight than any other cloth. It didn't make particularly efficient use of the dressing, and while it resisted soaking through for a short while, it was ultimately very middle-of-the-road in terms of performance. The main benefits are its low cost and rustic look.
The woven broadcloth absorbed relatively little dressing but also soaked through more quickly than the noil. Once soaked through, however, it didn't drip and performed quite as well as the noil did, drying more quickly afterward, as well. Main advantage is weight, but its main disadvantages are price and a relatively refined look that might clash with a pseudo-medieval kit.
The linen was light and dried VERY quickly. Its primary disadvantage was that it would be utterly useless as a tarp in virtually every way. it soaked through instantly and then dripped a lot. Heavier linen might do better, but pound-for-pound it doesn't hold a candle to silk.
The treated cotton duck canvas was, as predicted, heavy. twice as heavy as the treated raw silk, almost 4x the weight of the treated broadcloth.
On the other hand, it just. Didn't. Soak. Through. Even when immersed in a bowl of water, it absorbed less water proportionately than any other cloth, though thereafter it dried rather slowly. If I knew a gale was blowing up and needed shelter, you'd better believe this is the tarp I'd want. Disadvantages: weight and non-canonical fiber.
for giggles, I tested some untreated canvas as well, the mainstay of our old Scout Camp tents. It absorbed more than twice its weight in water and dried less than half as quickly as anything else.
One final test which was quite illuminating: After thoroughly drying, I tested the flammability of each swatch, touching a corner to the vigorous open flame of a stove. As one would predict, the treated duck and linen burned enthusiastically. Even the untreated canvas sustained a flame.
The silks would not. Infused though they were with wax and oil, as soon as they were removed from the flame they guttered and extinguished themselves. This on its own is a striking characteristic for a tarp likely to be used near a fire.
Conclusion:
...Yikes.
I had really hoped there would be a clear winner, but there isn't. The broadcloth's price and refined look are offset by the noil's reduced performance. Food for thought.
The noil absorbed more oil, and subsequently more water, relative to its weight than any other cloth. It didn't make particularly efficient use of the dressing, and while it resisted soaking through for a short while, it was ultimately very middle-of-the-road in terms of performance. The main benefits are its low cost and rustic look.
The woven broadcloth absorbed relatively little dressing but also soaked through more quickly than the noil. Once soaked through, however, it didn't drip and performed quite as well as the noil did, drying more quickly afterward, as well. Main advantage is weight, but its main disadvantages are price and a relatively refined look that might clash with a pseudo-medieval kit.
The linen was light and dried VERY quickly. Its primary disadvantage was that it would be utterly useless as a tarp in virtually every way. it soaked through instantly and then dripped a lot. Heavier linen might do better, but pound-for-pound it doesn't hold a candle to silk.
The treated cotton duck canvas was, as predicted, heavy. twice as heavy as the treated raw silk, almost 4x the weight of the treated broadcloth.
On the other hand, it just. Didn't. Soak. Through. Even when immersed in a bowl of water, it absorbed less water proportionately than any other cloth, though thereafter it dried rather slowly. If I knew a gale was blowing up and needed shelter, you'd better believe this is the tarp I'd want. Disadvantages: weight and non-canonical fiber.
for giggles, I tested some untreated canvas as well, the mainstay of our old Scout Camp tents. It absorbed more than twice its weight in water and dried less than half as quickly as anything else.
One final test which was quite illuminating: After thoroughly drying, I tested the flammability of each swatch, touching a corner to the vigorous open flame of a stove. As one would predict, the treated duck and linen burned enthusiastically. Even the untreated canvas sustained a flame.
The silks would not. Infused though they were with wax and oil, as soon as they were removed from the flame they guttered and extinguished themselves. This on its own is a striking characteristic for a tarp likely to be used near a fire.
Conclusion:
...Yikes.
I had really hoped there would be a clear winner, but there isn't. The broadcloth's price and refined look are offset by the noil's reduced performance. Food for thought.