Walmart Sil

So I found myself rummaging through the bargain bin in walmart and picked up about 10 yards ripstop. It is some nice light stuff. I'd say around 1.5oz weight.

I did a little water test. I simply poured some water onto the fabric and created a little pouch. After squeezing the pouch pretty hard the water began to bead through. I am guessing this is not silnylon?

Would this work for a tarp? It seems to not allow water through without force...

Regardless I can find some use for it. Perhaps a gathered end hammock..

That is most likely the infamous "pseudo-sil" of Walmart. It's probably a 30 or 40 denier ripstop that is calendared and has a DWR (durable water repellant) coating.

It shouldn't be considered waterproof, but I can tell you that if it's the same Walmart stuff I got years back then it can work for a tarp. Not one I would trust to the wilds, but I made some prototype tarps with that stuff and they've held up just fine in the back yard for years - I leave one out all summer over my 2yr old daughter's hammock and it's been dry all summer.

That said, I wouldn't make another tarp from it. DWR can shed water fairly well, but it's not ideal and in the long run isn't really worth it if you want a long term tarp. That material is likely better suited to other projects like quilts, hammock socks, bivy tops, etc.

Oooo maybe I'll make it into a winter sock.

I made a tarp out of the red sil from your shop. It turned out great! I was wondering if it was worth trying to make a second out of this stuff since it might compress down smaller.

You can always DIY sil it! (I did for my first tarp)

If it's the sharkskin grey stuff, it would make a great TQ, UQ, DL hammock, etc. I bought all they had many years ago... I keep going back, hoping, but never found it again.