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smarties · Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Posts: 437 Location: Dieppe, NB, Canada

I have a few pieces of fabric I got from my aunt that she used to build flags. I there a simple way to know if it is made of nylon or polyester?

Smarties Razz

Kitesquid · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 4:28 pm Post subject:

If it was from flag building it mostlikly is nylon....

I dont have any good tests in my brain to tell the difrence between Nylon and Polyester...
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KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another long winded post by the Squid..... Shocked

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

stevef · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 4:54 pm Post subject:

I can tell by feel, but it is difficult to put into type...

You can send me a piece if youd like.
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Kitesquid · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 7:11 pm Post subject:

Dorsal · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 10:45 pm Post subject:

Nylon has 1/2 to 3/4" of selvage (unusable area) along the edge of the bolt, but polyester can often be used right to the very edge of the bolt (for a seam or a folded hem). I usually can tell by the way the Nylon edges will fray - entire fibers will pull out for 4 to 6 inches along the length of the bolt of Nylon, but I've never seen Poly do that.
_________________
"The wind is the perfect reminder of God.
The only way we can prove it exists is by observing the things it affects.
That's why I also believe in the wind!"
Dennis

Dorsal · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:11 pm Post subject:

Hmmm - Either my post hit the answer squarely, to everyone's satisfaction - - - Or I'm so F.O.S. that everyone is STILL choking down the laughter.
C'mon now, which is it??

(F.O.S. = full of something-or-other) Wink

_________________
"The wind is the perfect reminder of God.
The only way we can prove it exists is by observing the things it affects.
That's why I also believe in the wind!"
Dennis

Stan · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 11:20 pm Post subject:

Dennis,
I can't think of anthing beyond "how it feels," so your explanation sounds golden to me.
You must be Full Of Sense.

Stan

Spence602 · Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 205 Location: USA TX Houston

I just tried a simple test and got a result, but I need someone to validate it.

Do this in a well ventilated area, and on a non-flammable surface.

Take a 1" square of the nylon and light it with a match. It should catch fire and flare up. Carefully (and quickly) drop it and it should continue burning until it's a small black blob.

Take a 1" square of poly and light it with a match. It should also catch fire and flare up. Carefully (and quickly) drop it and it should go out. Pick it up and light it again. It might burn a little bit more, but it will go out before it burns all the way. It does not burn into a small black blob.

Can anyone who knows he/she has a piece of each test this please?

Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Wink

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Spence
www.kiteshark.org

Dennist3 · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 7:54 pm Post subject:

Spence Did you ever figure it out?

Dennis

Dorsal · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 8:44 pm Post subject:

Maybe the post got lost, but I tried this flame test, and it certainly held true for me, just as described.
_________________
"The wind is the perfect reminder of God.
The only way we can prove it exists is by observing the things it affects.
That's why I also believe in the wind!"
Dennis